Two Non-Public Schools Receive A+ Designation in ECC Service Area

The Missouri State Board of Education has moved forward with designating 57 non-public high schools A+ Schools this week, including Crosspoint Christian School and St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in East Central College’s service area.

The A+ Scholarship Program provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend a participating public community college, including ECC.

Learn more about the A+ Scholarship Program at East Central College!

“This is very good news for students and their families,”  said Dr. Jon Bauer, president of East Central College.  “We welcome them into this highly successful program. Nearly 500 students utilize A+ funding to cover their tuition and general fees each year at ECC, and we are happy to add even more.”

In August 2016, Senate Bill 638 was signed into law. The  legislation allowed any nonpublic Missouri high school to apply to the State Board of Education to be certified as an A+ School, if that school met the same requirements that apply to public high schools. A+ does not cover any additional costs associated with classes, such as lab fees and books.

To be eligible for A+ assistance high school students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents; enter into a written agreement with their high school prior to graduation; attend a designated A+ high school for three consecutive years immediately prior to graduation; and graduate with an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.  They must also have at least a 95 percent attendance record overall for grades 9-12; 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.   Students must also achieve a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam, or a higher level end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.