Print Student Name: ___________________________________________________
Year of Graduation: __________
DIAMOND R-IV SCHOOL DISTRICT
A+ CITIZENSHIP GUIDELINES
Participation in the A+ Schools financial assistance program is an honor and a privilege. To qualify, a student must meet all the eligibility
requirements as listed in the A+ Schools Agreement, including that of good citizenship.
A+ SCHOOLS QUALIFICATION STANDARD OF GOOD CITIZENSHIP
Good citizenship, as established by the program, is a measure of the quality of conduct in school and away from school. All of the A+ Schools
financial incentive eligibility factors are indicators of good citizenship; additionally, participants are expected to exhibit standards of behavior that will
bring credit to the student, the A+ Schools Program, the school, and the community.
Diamond R-IV School District encourages values that exemplify good citizenship. These values include respect, honesty/integrity,
knowledge/learning, responsibility, and compassion/kindness. The intent of this good citizenship standard is to encourage students to develop
patterns of behaviors that will help them become productive, successful citizens and reward those who demonstrate and exemplify positive attributes
of citizenship. Student behavior shall be in compliance with Diamond Board of Education policies, the Administrative Guidelines on Student
Discipline, Safe Schools Act policies, the Student Handbook, the A+ Schools Guidelines, and federal, state, and local regulations and laws.
As mandated by State Law 5 CSR 50-350.040, a student will forfeit the opportunity to earn the A+ schools financial incentive for any drug
or alcohol violation committed at any time throughout the four years the student attends high school.
Disciplinary infractions may result in the student being considered out of compliance with the A+ Citizenship Standard. “Out of Compliance” means
that the student has shown a pattern of repeated disruptive behavior, either through referrals, ISS, or OSS assignments. Once a student has been
deemed out of compliance, it does not automatically mean that he/she will be eliminated from participating in the A+ Program. The student may
regain good citizenship standing if a pattern of improvement in behavior is achieved.





Repeated Referrals: Student should be aware that a continuous pattern of repeated referrals may lead to more serious consequences
and may disqualify the student.
Suspensions: Repeated assignments to ISS/OSS would be evidence of a pattern of breach of Diamond Schools’ values of respect,
honesty, or responsibility.
Tutoring Participation: To participate in the Tutoring program, student must receive A+ Coordinator approval and meet the A+ Schools
Program state law requirements (2.5 non-weighted GPA, 95% attendance, and good citizenship).
Post-Graduation Violations: Students need to be aware that citizenship violations incurred after graduation, but before the submission of
qualifier to the state, may eliminate them from the A+ Program.
Violation of Safe Schools, federal, state, or local laws: Any student in violation of Safe Schools, federal, state, or local laws will NOT
be eligible for A+ financial incentives. Eligibility of students with misdemeanor offenses will be determined by the Diamond Board of
Education.
REVIEW AND APPEAL PROCESS:
 Review: During the students’ senior year, all potential qualifiers’ files will be reviewed for A+ compliance of standards. A determination
will be made by the A+ Coordinator and the high school principal and/or high school counselor regarding whether the student has satisfied
the guidelines established by this document.
 Process: Seniors who are notified that they are out of compliance with district or state A+ standards may file an appeal for review of their
A+ status. The appeal form must be returned to the A+ Office within 10 days of receiving no-compliance notification.
 Appeals: Appeals can be made only by seniors who have compliance issues. No appeals are allowed for grade point average. All
appeals must be finalized before June 30 of the senior’s year of graduation.
 Appeal Team: The appeal team is composed of the high school principal, high school guidance counselor, two high school teachers, and
the A+ Coordinator. The appeal team will review all pertinent information and make a decision about the student’s status. Depending on
the appeal team’s decision, the student’s status could be reinstated or denied. the decision of the appeal team is final.
 Notification: The student will be notified of the appeal conference and will be invited to attend. A good faith effort to invite
parents/guardians to the appeal conference will also be made. Once a final decision is made by the appeal team, a written notice of the
decision will be mailed to the parent/guardian with 5 days.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
_______________________
Date
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature
_______________________
Date
Revised DHS A+ Schools Program
2011-2012
Print Student Name: _____________________________________________________________
Year of Graduation: ______________
DIAMOND R-IV SCHOOL DISTRICT
A+ SCHOOLS AGREEMENT
The A+ School Program provides a framework for school improvement and student recognition for good grades, good attendance, and good citizenship during high
school. A+ qualifying graduates earn scholarships which may be used to attend participating public community colleges, vocational/technical schools, or certain
private 2-year vocational/technical schools. A+ eligibility is an achievement that can be listed on resumes and college applications. A+ graduates may qualify for
competitively awarded, privately funded transfer scholarships or incentive scholarships from 4-year institutions if they choose to pursue post-secondary education
beyond that completed with the state funded A+ Scholarship.
Diamond High School graduates who meet all state-mandated A+ participation requirements may be eligible for these financial incentives, 1) provided state funds are
appropriated by the legislature or 2) subject to state funding approval. Eligible students must be US citizens, eligible non-citizens, or lawfully present in the US. Postsecondary institutions will determine whether students are eligible for A+ Program financial incentives.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
To qualify for A+ eligibility upon graduation from high school, the student must do the following:

Sign an A+ Schools Agreement prior to high school graduation.

Attend an A+ designated high school for the last 3 consecutive years immediately prior to graduation. If a parent is a member of the military on active duty
or has retired from the military and relocated to Missouri within one year of his/her retirement, the student is exempt from this requirement. However, the
student must attend an A+ designated high school and meet all other high school eligibility requirements in the school year immediately preceding
graduation.

Graduate with a cumulative, un-weighted grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Have at least a 95% cumulative (grades 9-12) attendance average by graduation.

Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid, school-based academic tutoring. Only A+ Office approved tutoring will be included in students’ A+ eligibility files.

Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol.

File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Show proof of registration, if required to register under the US Military Selective Service Act.

Have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I End of Course Exam. Beginning in 2015, if a student does not meet the Algebra I EOC
requirement, eligibility may be gained by competing the first semester at a participating institution with a minimum of 12 hours and achieving a 2.5 grade
point average. Costs incurred in the first semester will not be retroactively reimbursed.
REIMBURSEMENT INFORMATION
The A+ Scholarship will reimburse the unpaid balance of tuition and general fees after all available, non-loan federal financial assistance, such as the federal Pell
grant, has been applied to the account. this may result in a zero award if a Pell grant is sufficient to cover all tuition and general fee charges, but the recognition of
being an A+ graduate remains intact. General fees are fees that are charged to all students and do not include fees specific to an individual program or group of
students. Reimbursement will be made for completed coursework for which a standard grade was assigned and that is required by the institution for degree or
certificate completion. The amount reimbursed may be reduced if there are insufficient state appropriations.
The amount of reimbursement paid for coursework for which a standard grade was not assigned (dropped coursework), including coursework in a withdrawn status,
will be deducted from subsequent reimbursement requests. Repeat coursework will not be reimbursed. Coursework that is part of a higher level certificate or degree
taken after receipt of certificate will be reimbursed if it is related to the ordinal certificate.
All A+ qualifiers may use their A+ Scholarship the summer semester immediately following high school graduation if enrolled full time.
MAINTAINTING POST-SECONDARY A+ ELIGIBILITY
Students must be enrolled full-time, maintain a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, and maintain a cumulative completion ratio, if established by the college. If students
lose their A+ eligibility, they can regain it within the 48-month period immediately following high school graduation by re-establishing their GPA and/or completion
ratio. A+ will not pay for coursework while students are working to re-establish their eligibility.
POSTGRADUATE ELEGIBILITY EXPIRATION
Eligibility expires when the earliest of the following occurs:

48 months after completion of high school coursework. (Students providing service to any branch of the US armed forces can defer their eligibility beyond
the 48 months if they return to full-time status within 12 months of the end of their military service.)

Receipt of an Associate’s degree.

Completion of 105% of the hours required for the program of study in which a student is currently enrolled. The 105% limit includes 1)all hours, including
developmental/remedial hours, taken at the student’s current post-secondary institution, 2) all known hours, including developmental/remedial hours,
taken at any other A+ eligible institution; and hours taken at any non-eligible A+ institution, including out-of-state institutions, that the current institution a
accepts in transfer. The 105% limit excludes 1) college credit hours earned for work completed before high school graduation, including (but not limited
to): dual credit, dual enrollment, Tech Ed articulation , AP, International Baccalaureate; and 2) hours from a non-participating institution not accepted in
transfer by a participating institution.
The A+ Schools Agreement is intended to inform students and parents of the opportunities afforded by participation and/or eligibility in the A+
program. Signing the Agreement neither obligates the student to participate in the A+ Schools Program nor to use the A+ Scholarship.
____________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
_____________________________________
Date
____________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature
_____________________________________
Date
Revised DHS A+ Schools Program
2011-2012
Print Student Name: ___________________________________________________
DIAMOND R-IV SCHOOL DISTRICT
ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES
Year of Graduation: __________
To qualify for the A+ financial incentive, a student must have an attendance rate that averages at least 95% during the four years of high school. Attendance is
averaged and cumulative over 4 years. 95% attendance in a regular school year would mean missing not more than approximately 32 days over four years or an
average of 8 days per year. This approximation is based on the assumption that a student will attend a full seven (7) period day all eight (8) semesters.
Students transferring between public or private Missouri high schools will have all four years computed in their final attendance average. Students transferring from
an out-of-state high school attended during 9th grade will have only three (3) years computed in their final attendance average.
A+ participants are not disqualified for dropping below the 95% attendance in any one given year, but must have a cumulative attendance rate of 95% at the time
of graduation. Students or parents with questions or concerns about a student’s attendance may call the A+ Coordinator’s Office.
When the A+ Status Notification indicates that a student has become ineligible because of attendance (or other factor) a Letter of Ineligibility will be sent to parents
through certified mail. Parents/guardians may then follow the appropriate appeal procedure if desired.
Any student transferring to Diamond High School who is ineligible because of attendance from his/her previous school is also considered ineligible at Diamond High
School.
APPEALS PROCEDURE
Students are allowed one attendance appeal prior to graduation. The appeal should be requested no later than April 1 of the graduation year. Only absences
involving extremely extenuating circumstances will be considered and must include verification from the appropriate agency including specific dates and times from
which the student should be considered excused. Waivers may not be issued for absences that include: truancy, skipping classes, vacation, transportation problems,
school suspensions, work, driver’s test, and non-emergency situations.

A parent/guardian or student must submit to the A+ Office a request for a waiver on the A+ Attendance Appeal form available from the A+ Office. To be
considered, this appeal form with documentation must be filed by April 1 of the graduation year. When the information is received, a review committee will
meet to determine if a waiver of absences for A+ status determination will be granted. The review committee will be comprised of the following: HS
principal, HS counselor, school nurse, board member, two teachers, and A+ Coordinator.

If a waiver is granted, those days remain a part of a student’s A+ attendance record but those absences accepted for waiver will not be calculated as part
of the 95% attendance for A+ status.

The A+ Coordinator will notify the parents by letter of the decision.

Upon receiving written notice of the committee’s decision, the parent/student may file an appeal with the superintendent of schools within fourteen
calendar days of the postmark date of the notification letter. Appeals after fourteen days will not be considered. Upon receiving the superintendent’s
decision, the parent may request to appeal within seven calendar days with the Diamond Board of Education.
ATTENDANCE EXPECTATIONS

Participants in the A+ Scholarship program are expected to attend school regularly. Students must graduate with a minimum cumulative (grades 9-12)
attendance rate of 95%.

The A+ Scholarship Program makes no distinction between excused and unexcused absences. Attendance for the A+ Certification is determined by state
guidelines, not the Diamond High School Handbook.

Attendance is based on Monday through Friday when school is in regular session. Only days and times, which are calculated for Average Daily
Attendance (ADA), will be used to determine the 95% attendance requirement. Summer school is considered a special session and cannot be used to
calculate ADA.

Rounding up of attendance percentage is NOT permitted.

It is the responsibility of each A+ participant to closely monitor his/her attendance. Semester updates will be made available to A+ participants in the A+
Status Notification.
Students will be allowed one appeal for attendance prior to graduation. This appeal must be submitted no later than April 1 of the year of graduation.
ATTENDANCE WAIVER GUIDELINES
At the time an attendance appeal is filed, official documentation stating the reasons the student was absent from school must be provided to the A+ Coordinator.
Any student submitting a request for an A+ attendance waiver of days missed shall provide the A+ Coordinator with the following official documentation:
Chronic, ongoing health problems
Letter from physician with explanation of illness.
(Copies of bills or school excuses are not sufficient.)
Hospitalization
Letter form physician.
Catastrophic Illness (long-term hospitalization)
Letter from physician.
Court Dates
Court letter.
Funeral
Obituary/Memorial Pamphlet.
Religious Holiday
Letter from Clergyman.
Personal/Family Calamity (fire, flood, etc.)
Principal’s and/or Counselor’s Approval Letter
Attendance waivers will NOT be granted for the following (A+ Attendance requirements are determined by the state and should not be confused with the general
attendance requirements as printed in the Diamond High School Handbook):

Personal/Family Vacation

Transportation

Routine Dental or Doctor Appointment

Work

Other non-emergency situations

Suspension from School for any Reason

Truancy
We have received the A+ Schools Program Attendance Policy.
___________________________________________________________________________________
Student Signature
___________________________________
Date
________________________________________________________________________________
Parent Signature
________________________________
Date
Revised DHS A+ Schools Program
2011-2012
Print Student Name: _______________________________________________ Year of Graduation: __________
DIAMOND R-IV SCHOOL DISTRICT
TUTORING/MENTORING CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
An A+ Program Student is required to perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring/mentoring. The following guidelines have been
established for A+ tutoring:
 Official tutoring log sheet must be kept by the student, signed by a school official sponsoring the activity, and turned
in to the A+ office.
 All tutoring/mentoring must be done on Diamond School District premises under the supervision of a teacher
(tutoring may not be done at an individuals home or at a school not within the Diamond School District).
 The A+ Coordinator or the sponsoring school may terminate the tutoring experience.
 The A+ Program Student is responsible for being present at the agreed upon day and time for the
tutoring/mentoring. If absent, it is the responsibility of the A+ Program Student to notify the adult in charge of the
A+ tutoring experience.
 All tutoring MUST be approved by the A+ Coordinator.
As a Tutor/Mentor for Diamond High School, I also understand the importance of confidentiality concerning any student that
I assist during my assignment and after my assignment is completed. I realize that I could be exposed to privileged
information given by the student, the student’s parents, teachers, counselors, and/or administrators. Privileged information
is private and confidential and should only be discussed with those who are actively involved with the student.
I, __________________________________________________________________, understand the significance of this
(Tutor Signature)
confidentiality agreement and agree to abide by the stipulations as discussed concerning confidentiality of any students that
I may tutor. I promise never to discuss any confidential information concerning a student with anyone but those who are
actively involved. I fully understand that such disclosure to others not involved with the student, will be considered a
BREECH OF AGREEMENT, AND I WILL BE DISMISSED FROM THE TUTORING ASSIGNMENT.
_______________________________________________________________
Student Signature
____________________________
Date
_____________________________________________________________
Parent Signature
___________________________
Date
Revised DHS A+ Schools Program
2011-2012