PURPOSE: This rule establishes minimum requirements for the administration of the A+ Schools Program.

1. (1) The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), Division of School Improvement (the division) is authorized to establish procedures for the implementation of the A+ Schools Program including:

   1. (A) Public school district participation;
   2. (B) Annual grant award amounts and requirements;
   3. (C) Initial and continued designation as an A+ school; and
   4. (D) Initial and continued student eligibility to receive reimbursement for the cost of tuition, general fees and up to fifty percent (50%) of the book cost subject to legislative appropriation to attend any Missouri public community college or vocational or technical school.

2. (2) To participate in the A+ Schools Program, the chief administrator of a public secondary school district must:

   1. (A) Demonstrate a commitment to the established program goals. These goals are to ensure that all students:

      1. 1. Graduate from high school;
      2. 2. Complete a selection of high school

studies that is challenging and has identified learning expectations; and

1. 3. Proceed from high school graduation

to a college or postsecondary vocational or technical school, or high wage job with work place skill development opportunities;

1. (B) Provide assurance that the district will:

   1. 1. Establish measurable district-wide

performance standards for the program;

1. 2. Specify the knowledge, skills and

competencies in measurable terms, that students must demonstrate to successfully complete any individual course offered by the school, and any course of studies which will qualify students for graduation from the school;

1. 3. Establish student performance stan-

dards that lead to or qualify students for graduation, and that these standards will be revised to meet or exceed the performance standards adopted by the board;

1. 4. Not offer a general track of courses

that, upon completion, can lead to a high school diploma;

1. 5. Require rigorous coursework with

standards of competency in basic academic subjects for students pursuing vocational or technical education or employment; and

1. 6. Develop a partnership plan in cooper-

ation and with the advice of local business persons, labor leaders, parents and representatives of colleges and postsecondary vocational or technical schools, with the plan then approved by the local board of education. The plan shall specify a mechanism to receive information on an annual basis from those who developed the plan in addition to senior citizens, community leaders and teachers to update the plan in order to best meet the goals of the program. The plan shall detail the procedures used in the school to identify students that may drop out of school and the intervention services to be used to meet the needs of such students. The plan shall outline counseling and mentoring services provided to students who will enter the work force upon graduation from high school, address apprenticeship and intern programs, and shall contain procedures for the recruitment of volunteers from the community to serve in the school;

1. (C) Designate a salaried employee to serve as the A+ Schools coordinator;
2. (D) Assume at least fifty percent (50%) of the salary, fringe benefits, and other program related activity costs of the coordinator;
3. (E) Provide at least twenty-five (25%) percent matching funds from local sources for all remaining grant funds expended;
4. (F) Make facilities and services available for adult literacy training;
5. (G) Be classified by the board as an accredited or provisionally accredited school district under DESE’s Missouri School Improvement Program; 5 CSR 50-350
6. (H) If seeking a grant, prepare and submit a three (3)-year grant proposal in response to the division’s request for proposals; and
7. (I) Schools not receiving a grant, may request a designation review (as funds are available) when they feel they have met the requirements of the program.

1. (3) School districts with more than one (1) high school attendance center may make grant applications for a maximum of two (2) of these attendance centers in a single grant year.
2. (4) As funds are available, a request for proposals will be made available to eligible school districts by the division by January of each fiscal year. Grants shall be funded with the amount subject to legislative appropriation, less those funds necessary to reimburse eligible students. Existing grants, if any, will be given priority. Applicants must develop a grant proposal and forward it to the division no later than March 31 of each fiscal year in order to receive consideration for a grant. Grant awards will be effective July 1 of each year.

3. (5) Grant proposals must contain at least the following:

   1. (A) The name and address of the high school and school district applying for a grant award;
   2. (B) A statement of commitment to implement the content of the grant proposal bearing the signature of the chief administrator of the school district submitting the grant proposal;

   3. (C) Statement(s) of assurance that the school district will:

      1. 1. Demonstrate a commitment to the

established goals of the A+ Schools Program and to implement its proposed plan to receive designation as an A+ School;

1. 2. Designate a qualified salaried

employee to serve as the A+ Schools Program coordinator;

1. 3. Establish student performance stan-

dards that lead to or qualify students for graduation, and that these standards will be revised to meet or exceed the performance standards adopted by the board;

1. 4. Expend local funds in an amount

equal to or greater than fifty percent (50%) of the grant award expenditure for the A+ Schools Program coordinator and the coordinator’s related activities;

1. 5. Expend local funds in an amount

equal to or greater than twenty-five percent (25%) of any remaining grant award expenditures to implement the proposed A+ Schools Program; SECONDARY EDUCATION

1. 6. Provide fiscal control, property man-

agement control and fund accounting procedures;

1. 7. Deliver, implement and annually

update a partnership plan;

1. 8. Establish a data and accountability

system necessary to determine and report at least student demographics and enrollment, student completion and performance of coursework, student follow-up after leaving high school, program outcomes and student success relating to the implementation of the partnership plan, and student eligibility to receive student financial incentives available through the A+ Schools Program;

1. 9. Comply with all reporting require-

ments of DESE relating to this grant award program;

1. 10. Develop and implement a plan in

compliance with all applicable state law and regulations; and to report students who drop out of school; and

1. 11. Make their facilities and services

available for adult literacy training;

1. (D) A three (3)-year plan of implementation which addresses each of the program requirements specified in this rule, including:

   1. 1. A listing of major objectives; and
   2. 2. A listing of activities and timelines

for each objective;

1. (E) Description(s) of how the funds made available by this grant award program will be expended to implement the established program requirements as previously specified in this rule;
2. (F) A detailed, line item budget of anticipated local and grant fund expenditures for year one (1) and anticipated major categorical expenditures for years two (2) and three (3);
3. (G) A description of the process of the identification of and planned services for students considered to be at risk of educational failure and dropping out of school, including those services supported by funds made available by line fourteen (14) of the school foundation formula;
4. (H) A plan to evaluate the effectiveness of the A+ Schools Program implementation;

5. (I) Historical data for the past four (4) years, disaggregated by year, including:

   1. 1. Annualized high school drop out rate;
   2. 2. Graduation rate;
   3. 3. Number of students enrolled by grade

level, kindergarten through grade twelve (K–12);

1. 4. Number of high school graduates

continuing their education at four (4)-year colleges and universities, community colleges, or vocational or technical schools. This data shall be recorded separately by category of institution;

1. 5. Number of high school graduates

entering the labor force;

1. 6. Vocational education enrollment dis-

aggregated by vocational education program/course and by location (home school district and area vocational school); and

1. 7. Vocational education follow-up/place-

ment rates for home school district and vocational education programs in the area vocational school; and

1. (J) Name and description of each course offered at high school(s) and area vocational school(s).

1. (6) As funds are available, the division will review all grant proposals submitted by public high school districts based upon the extent to which the grant proposal:

   1. (A) Demonstrates a commitment to meet the established goals of the A+ Schools Program;
   2. (B) Provides for structured implementation and is sufficiently comprehensive to assure successful achievement of the proposed objectives and activities, and fulfill the established program requirements;

   3. (C) Is educationally significant to produce:

      1. 1. Curricular and instructional change;
      2. 2. Lower drop-out rates;
      3. 3. Student mastery of measurable learn-

ing expectations; and

1. 4. Successful transition from high

school to continued education or employment; and

1. (D) Is complete and received prior to the proposal deadline.

1. (7) After year one (1) of this grant award program, the division will give, subject to legislative appropriation, continued funding priority to those high school districts that have previously had grant proposals approved and are seeking additional annual funding to implement their three (3)-year plan.
2. (8) The designated A+ Schools Program coordinator shall be employed no less than half time without additional district responsibilities, and have specified coordination and implementation duties to administer the district’s proposed A+ Schools Program objectives. In addition, the designated individual must possess a valid Missouri certificate of license to teach in the secondary grade levels or an administrator certificate of license to teach.

3. (9) To maintain eligibility to continued funding, subject to legislative appropriation, under this grant award program, participating public high school districts must:

   1. (A) Accomplish at least the following requirements during the first grant award year:

      1. 1. Establish measurable district-wide

performance standards for each of the three (3) established program goals and specific measures to determine attainment of each standard;

1. 2. Demonstrate that developmental

activities have taken place within the district or high school to specify the knowledge, skills and competencies, in measurable terms, that students must demonstrate to successfully complete all of the individual courses offered by the school, and in any course of studies which will qualify students for graduation from high school;

1. 3. Demonstrate that developmental

activities have taken place within the district or high school to measure and record mastery of each item of knowledge, skill or competency identified;

1. 4. Demonstrate that procedures have

been implemented within the district or school to eliminate the offering of a general track of courses that do not provide sufficient preparation for students upon graduation to successfully enter and progress in employment or postsecondary studies;

1. 5. Establish a schedule of rigorous

coursework with standards of competency in basic academic subjects for students pursuing vocational or technical education;

1. 6. Organize a local advisory committee

of individuals representing each of the following groups to cooperatively develop the school’s partnership plan and document formal meetings of the committee:

1. A. Business person(s);
2. B. Labor leaders;
3. C. Parents;
4. D. Community college and postsec-

ondary vocational or technical schools;

1. E. Senior citizens;
2. F. Teachers; and
3. G. Students; and
4. 7. Develop the school’s partnership plan

as specified in this rule; and

1. (B) Accomplish at least the following requirements during the second grant award year:

   1. 1. Demonstrate that specific knowledge,

skills and competencies have been identified, in measurable terms, that students must demonstrate to successfully complete all individual courses offered by the school, and any course of studies which qualify students for graduation from the school and are a part of the school’s curriculum;

1. 2. Demonstrate that specific measure-

ment and student mastery record keeping procedures have been developed for each item of knowledge, skill or competency identified for each individual course that the school offers;

1. 3. Demonstrate that continued action

has taken place within the district or school to eliminate the offering of a general track of courses;

1. 4. Demonstrate that a review for the

purposes of updating the school’s partnership plan has taken place with information received from the individuals who originally assisted in developing the plan; as well as senior citizens, community leaders and teachers;

1. 5. Show evidence that a reduction in the

number of high school students dropping out of school has occurred;

1. 6. Show evidence that procedures to

ensure students who plan to participate in the A+ Schools Program financial incentives understand that:

1. A. Student financial incentives will be

available for a period of four (4) years after high school graduation;

1. B. To be eligible, each student must

enter into a written agreement with the school prior to high school graduation and:

1. (I) Have attended a designated A+

School for three (3) consecutive years prior to high school graduation;

1. (II) Graduated from high school

with an overall grade point average of two and five-tenths (2.5) points or higher on a four (4)-point scale, or graduated from a high school with documented mastery of institutionally identified skills that would equate to a two and five-tenths (2.5) grade point average or higher;

1. (III) Have at least a ninety-five per-

cent (95%) attendance record overall for grades nine through twelve (9–12);

1. (IV) Performed fifty (50) hours of

unpaid tutoring or mentoring for younger students; and

1. (V) Maintained a record of good

citizenship and avoidance of the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol;

1. C. To maintain eligibility, each partic-

ipating student must during the four (4)-year period of incentive availability:

1. (I) Have enrolled and attend on a

full-time basis a Missouri public community college or vocational or technical school; and

1. (II) Maintain a grade point average

of two and five-tenths (2.5) points or higher on a four (4)-point scale;

1. D. The tuition incentives will be

made available, subject to legislative appropriation, only after the student has made a documented good faith effort to first secure all available federal postsecondary student financial assistance funds that do not require repayment; and

1. E. The tuition incentives will only be

made available to reimburse the unpaid balance of the cost of tuition, general fees and up to fifty percent (50%) of the book cost subject to legislative appropriation after the federal postsecondary student financial assistance funds have been applied to these costs:

1. (I) If changes must be made to the

above incentives due to legislative appropriation, DESE will endeavor to reimburse;

1. (a) First, the full amount of

tuition;

1. (b) Second, the general fees; and
2. (c) Third, up to fifty percent

(50%) of the book cost;

1. 7. Show evidence that procedures are in

place to document student attainment of the qualifications of the A+ Schools Program student financial incentives while in high school as specified in this rule, and the ability to provide this information to the institutions that graduates choose to attend as well as to DESE;

1. 8. Provide the results of the evaluation

of the schools first year implementation of the A+ Schools Program and a plan for improvement for any negative findings; and

1. 9. Show evidence that the local advisory

committee established during the first grant year has continued to meet on a formal basis; and

1. (C) Accomplish at least the following requirements during the third grant award year:

   1. 1. Demonstrate that the district or

school has eliminated offering a general track of courses;

1. 2. Demonstrate that an annual review

process to update the school’s partnership plan is in place;

1. 3. Show evidence that a reduction in the

number of high school students dropping out of school is continuing;

1. 4. Show evidence that procedures are in

place to document student eligibility in the A+ Schools Program student financial incentives;

1. 5. Provide the results of the evaluation

of the school’s second year implementation of the A+ Schools Program and a plan for improvement for any negative findings; and

1. 6. Show evidence that the local advisory

committee established during the first grant year has continued to meet on a formal basis.

1. (10) Public high schools may be designated by the board as A+ Schools when they demonstrate that they have:

   1. (A) Made significant progress or attained the three (3) established program goals of the A+ Schools Program; and 5 CSR 50-350
   2. (B) Met the established program requirements of the A+ Schools Program.

2. (11) In order to maintain designated A+ School status, a public high school must:

   1. (A) Sustain or improve its graduation rate;
   2. (B) Demonstrate a continued reduction in the number of students who drop out of school;
   3. (C) Continue to meet the established program requirements of the A+ Schools Program;
   4. (D) Sustain or improve its placement rate of graduates who continue their education at four (4)-year colleges or universities, community colleges, or vocational or technical schools, or enter employment in a high wage job with work place skill development opportunities;
   5. (E) Maintain a system of reporting student eligibility for the A+ Schools Program student financial incentives; and
   6. (F) Submit an A+ School annual report as prescribed by the division.

3. (12) Missouri public community colleges or vocational or technical schools shall verify, for each student intending to participate in the A+ Schools Program student financial incentives at their institution that:

   1. (A) During the first semester of the student’s participation:

      1. 1. Verification of student eligibility has

been received from the high school from which the student graduated;

1. 2. The eligible student is enrolled as a

full-time student;

1. 3. A good faith effort has been made to

secure federal postsecondary student financial assistance funds; and

1. 4. After federal postsecondary student

financial assistance funds are applied, the A+ Schools Program student will receive financial incentive funds. The amount of funds will depend on the remaining costs of tuition, general fees and up to fifty percent (50%) of the book cost subject to legislative appropriation to attend that institution; and

1. (B) During the second and subsequent semesters of the student’s participation:

   1. 1. The eligible student continues to be

enrolled as a full-time student;

1. 2. Good faith efforts continue to be

made to secure federal postsecondary student financial assistance funds;

1. 3. The student has earned and maintains

a grade point average of two and five-tenths (2.5) points or higher on a four (4)-point scale; and

1. 4. After federal postsecondary student

financial assistance funds are applied, the A+ Schools Program student will receive financial incentive funds. The amount of SECONDARY EDUCATION

funds will depend on the remaining costs of tutition, general fees and up to fifty percent (50%) of the book cost subject to legislative appropriation to attend that institution.

AUTHORITY: section 160.545 and 161.092, RSMo Supp. 2002.* This rule was previously filed as 5 CSR 60-120.060. Original rule filed Nov. 10, 1993, effective June 6, 1994. Changed to 5 CSR 50-350.040 and amended: Filed Sept. 27, 2000, effective May 30, 2001. Amended: Filed Feb. 28, 2003, effective Sept. 30, 2003.

*Original authority: 160.545, RSMo 1993, amended 2002 and 161.092, RSMo 1963, amended 1973, 2002.