PROGRAM `PLUS' IS TUITION INCENTIVE FOR STUDENTS

Cape Girardeau Central High School students can earn tuition for state community colleges or vocational-technical schools through Missouri's A+ Schools Program.

Missouri students who meet specific requirements and attend high schools that meet specific criteria can qualify for state-paid tuition, books and fees for four years. Cape Girardeau public schools are in the process of meeting the criteria.

Money for the tuition incentive is part of the Outstanding Schools Act or Senate Bill 380 tax increase, approved by the legislature in 1993.

The A+ Schools Program provides grants to schools pursuing three goals:

-- that all students be graduated from school.

-- that all students complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and for which there are identified learning expectations.

-- that all students proceed from high school to a college or postsecondary vocational or technical school or high wage job with work place skill development opportunities.

Fred Linhardt, director of vocational planning and evaluation for Missouri's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said money to pay the tuition incentives is being used to fund A+ grants.

Schools are using the grant money to meet criteria to designate them as A+ schools. No schools are designated yet.

A+ funding for fiscal year 1995 is $5 million. That money supports grants to 38 school districts, including $145,000 to Cape Girardeau.

Caruthersville and Farmington are the only other school districts in the region that have secured A+ funding.

Once schools have received an A+ designation, the money will be shifted from grants to tuition incentives. Tuition incentives would start the year after a school earns A+ designation. Dr. Lanny Barnes, coordinator of Cape Girardeau's A+ program, said this year's sophomores could be eligible for the tuition grants.

The governor has proposed legislation for an additional $2.5 million to bring the total to $7.5 million for fiscal 1996. The governor also projects another increase of $2.5 million for fiscal 1997, when the total would be $10 million. The key to the tuition program is continued funding from the legislation, Linhardt said.

The education department predicts that less than 20 percent of the senior class would meet the criteria, Linhardt said.

This year, Missouri has 52,653 seniors, so about 10,530 seniors would meet the criteria, under the state's 20 percent projection.

Dr. Dan Tallent, principal at Cape Central High School, estimated that closer to 80 percent of his students would meet the C-plus grade average and 95 percent attendance requirements.

Those are two of a list of requirements students must meet to qualify for the tuition grants.

Tallent said the number of students interested in pursuing this tuition incentive would likely be lower than 80 percent because Cape Girardeau doesn't have a community college.

"We don't have a real high percentage of students going to community college because students would have to go to Mineral Area College or Three Rivers," Tallent said.

Central High has 267 seniors this year, so 53 students would be eligible under the state's prediction.

Tallent said the tuition incentive might mean an increase in students attending Cape Girardeau's vocational school for adult education courses.

Barnes, who coordinates the program, said this tuition program will likely appeal to students who might not pursue training after high school without a financial incentive.

"We have so many kids who do have the ability but not the opportunity," Barnes said.

Linhardt said top scholars already have other forms of financial assistance available, namely scholarships, to attend college.

The A+ program, Linhardt said, puts pressure on students to do well in school, on schools to improve their courses, on parents to encourage their children and on the legislature to keep the funds going.

"In 25 years I've never seen a program like this to tie all these different elements together," Lindhardt said.

Financial aid requirements

To qualify for tuition, books and fees, each student must:

-Enter into a written agreement with the school during the last three years prior to high school graduation.

-Have attended an A-Plus school for three consecutive years prior to high school graduation. At Cape Central, this year's sophomores will be eligible.

-Graduate from high school with a grade point average of 2.5 on a 4 point scale (a C+ grade average).

-Have at least a 95 percent attendance record for the three- year period.

-Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring for younger students.

-Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoidance of the unlawful use of drugs.

The tuition will be available only after the student makes a documented effort to first secure other financial aid grants.

To maintain eligibility, students must during the four-year period

-Attend on a full-time basis a Missouri public community college or vocational or technical school.

-Maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4 point scale.