A+ Program
Pat Clary, Program Administrator
Marla Elliston, Secretary
107 Pirate Parkway
Belton, Mo. 64012
(816) 348-1036

Belton High School is one of seven high schools in Missouri to earn designation as a new A+ School. As a result, eligible BHS seniors may receive state-paid tuition assistance to attend a Missouri community college of public technical school. State education officials made the announcement April 19.

To qualify for tuition assistance, high school graduates must attend an A+ high school for at least three years, have a grade-point average of at least 2.5 on a 4-point scale, maintain a 95 percent attendance record, and perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring in the school district.

The April 19 announcement signaled the completion of a three-year process initiated by the Belton School District. Earlier this year, Belton High School was evaluated by a panel made up of A+ coordinators from designated schools and Missouri Department of Education officials for the purpose of designation. Now that the district’s program has been formally approved, students who have signed up for the A+ Schools Program become eligible by meeting some basic requirements in grade point average, discipline, attendance, and community service. They can begin to access the benefits in college when their class graduates from high school.

Participating in the program is one of the objectives in the district's strategic plan, and Achieving designation required some major curriculum revisions, an increased emphasis on career education, and the infusion of technology in our curriculum said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Mike Slusher.

We are pleased to finally be in a position to make this available to our students," Slusher said. "It will be a benefit for kids because it will give them the financial resources to pursue a college education, especially for those who might not otherwise be able to afford college.

Another benefit of the program noted by Slusher is the requirement of tutoring for students involved in the program. Slusher said the program has the potential to benefit every student in the Belton school district.

We're putting things in place for kids that will also have an overall positive impact on the entire school district," Slusher said. "We would expect most of the tutoring to be done by students participating in the program to be done within our school system with our younger students, so they will benefit as well."

More than 200 Missouri high schools have earned A+ designation through introduction of more technology in classrooms, integration and alignment of curriculum through the school system, and improved use of career education in guidance and regular classroom curriculum.

So far, more than 33,000 students have taken advantage of A+ tuition benefits in Missouri, and several thousand more have received scholarships on the basis of their A+ participation at four-year colleges and universities.

Parents who are interested in their freshman or sophomore students participating in the program should contact Pat Clary or Marla Elliston by calling 348-1036.

More information about the A+ program may also be obtained on the web HERE.
       
A+ Documents