Shortfall in scholarship funding may affect students

If the A+ Scholarship program isn't fully funded soon, hundreds of Southeast Missouri students might have to pay for a portion of their postsecondary studies.

State budget restrictions and growing use of A+ could reduce reimbursement for tuition and fees by up to four credit hours in the 2014-2015 academic year, said Liz Coleman, director of communications and marketing for the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

However, the department won't know how big the hit is until later this year or early next year. It will depend on how many students are getting reimbursed for the 2014 summer and fall semesters and whether state budget restrictions are lifted, Coleman wrote in an email to the Southeast Missourian.

In June, Gov. Jay Nixon imposed spending restrictions because of a shortfall in state revenue.

Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the governor has been a strong supporter of the A+ program and worked to expand it to nearly every school district in Missouri.

Joe Boguslawski recruits students for the A plus program Thursday at Cape Central High School.

"But the state can only spend what it takes in and the governor has a responsibility to balance the budget," Holste wrote in an email. "That is why, after the Legislature passed a budget that was nearly $800 million out of balance, spending restrictions and line-item vetoes were needed to bring the budget back into balance and keep the state on a fiscally sustainable course."

Nixon made "every effort" to protect funding for public services like kindergarten through 12th grade and higher education by using restrictions that can be lifted when resources become available, Holste said.

"In the case of the A+ program, the governor restricted a portion of the increased funding for fiscal year 2015. The current available funding after this restriction is $31.1 million, an increase of $700,000 over fiscal year 2014," Holste said.

Nixon will continue to monitor the budget situation and release funds if revenue becomes available, Holste added.

Under the current A+ program, students who meet certain criteria can receive scholarships to attend public community colleges and public and private vocational/technical schools. The schools are reimbursed for tuition and fees not covered by federal Pell Grants, Coleman said.

The Department of Higher Education estimates 14,000 students will receive the scholarship during the 2014-2015 school year, with a 3 percent rise in the anticipated number of recipients, Coleman said.

A+ has been popular among high school students in Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Scott City, and educators say some students might not be able to further their educations without it.

Joe Boguslawski, A+ coordinator at Central High School, said 200 students are enrolled in the program, with 40 tutoring to be eligible for the scholarship at the end of the year.

Boguslawski said a number of students took advantage of the scholarship last year, using it to attend Cape College Center, formerly known as the Cape Girardeau Partnership for Higher Education. Housed at the Career and Technology Center, it consists of Southeast Missouri State University, Three Rivers College and Mineral Area College.

Central High School senior Noah Smentkowski is in his first year in the A+ program. He heard about it through school by talking to other students and gathering scholarship information. His required volunteer hours are spent tutoring children.

"I wanted to see what it was like to help other students," Smentkowski said, and added that any budget cuts would be unfortunate.

In the 2013-2014 school year, Jackson had 87 eligible students. The district has 173 seniors, 183 juniors and 148 sophomores enrolled, said Wade Bartels, associate superintendent of finance/business operations.

Bartels said it's a program the district hopes will continue.

"They have to get a certain number of volunteer hours, which has really been a win-win for the district," Bartels said.

Scott City High School has 120 students in the program, said Dr. Keisha Panagos, K-12 curriculum/A+ coordinator, in an email.

One of the requirements is to log at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25 percent may include job shadowing.

Panagos said students especially like this aspect of the program.

"It is a great incentive for students to work hard and exhibit leadership qualities all through their high school career. An A+ student is a great example of someone who has worked hard, maintained good grades, attendance and behavior throughout high school," Panagos wrote.

"We encourage every student to sign up for the program during their freshman year so that they can set their goals early on. Students really like feeling in control. This scholarship puts the responsibility on the students, but in return, gives them the opportunity to attend a community college or technical school at very little cost. For some students, this may not have been a realistic goal without the A+ program," she added.

College impact

Opinions differ on the effect of A+ funding reductions.

Mineral Area College president Steve Kurtz said he doesn't think enrollment will decrease. But Karen Walker, director of Financial Aid at Southeast, said it's possible.

Kurtz said in an email his college has registered 415 students for fall 2014 who are using the A+ scholarship. These students do not have enough Pell Grant money to cover full tuition.

Of that 415, 14 students attend Cape College Center.

As a four-year institution, Southeast doesn't participate in A+, but it processes aid for Cape College Center on behalf of Three Rivers College, Walker said. Three Rivers does all the reporting and billing correspondence with the state.

For the 2013-2014 academic year, 25 students received A+ funds. So far this year, 30 students received funds at Cape College Center.

"In my opinion, it is possible to see a minimal enrollment decrease in the spring due to the reductions in funds and would likely impact mid-income students rather than students whose family household incomes are very low and those whose family household incomes are high," Walker wrote. "I think there may be a greater chance for enrollment decreases in [2015-2016] if the funding remains insufficient to cover all tuition or that students will consider other options for their education."

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

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A+ Scholarship requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or lawfully present in the U.S.
• Enter into a written agreement with your high school before graduation. Some high schools like to start students off freshman year because the grade-point average, attendance and volunteer hours are cumulative, educators said.
• Attend a designated A+ high school for 3 consecutive years immediately before graduation. 1
• Graduate with an overall grade-point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Have at least a 95 percent attendance record overall for grades nine through 12.
• Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25 percent may include job shadowing.
• Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Beginning with the high school senior class of 2015, have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam or a higher level Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-approved end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics.

For more information, visit dhe.mo.gov/ppc/grants/aplusscholarship.php.