2. A+ Update Counselors’ Financial Aid Workshop Ozark Technical Community College December 5, 2014

3. Agenda Budget Outlook A+ Awards A+ and DACA Algebra I EOC Update Communications Questions

4. Budget Outlook FY 2014 – Paid 12,853 students, $32.1M FY 2015 – Projecting 14,000 students – $34.4M available to spend – $35.1M projected expenditures FY 2016 budget formation in early stages – Projecting 15,000 students – $33.1M core request – Additional request not approved

5. Standard A+ Scholarship Award The amount of tuition and general fees remaining after any federal non-loan sources of funding have been applied – Pell must always be applied to tuition and fees before it can be applied to any other component of the cost of attendance. A+ will not pay for repeated, withdrawn or dropped courses

6. 2014-2015 Award Amounts Spring 2015 Award Reduction – No reduction for summer or fall 2014 terms – $2M spending restriction released – Projecting less than original 4 credit hrs./150 clock hrs. Reduction dependent on: – Actual summer and fall 2014 expenditures – Spring 2015 enrollment projections – Supplemental appropriation

7. 2014-2015 Award Amounts Affects – College students enrolled for the spring 2015 term – Mid-year high school graduates enrolling in the spring 2015 term Information sent 8/29/14 to: – Community College Presidents – A+ e-distribution list Students to be notified through schools – Letter to students included in 8/29/14 messages

8. 2014-2015 Award Amounts Situation Monitored – October 2014 Evaluation Summer 2014 actual payments Fall 2014 estimates received from community colleges/vocational-technical schools Available funds – December 2014 Evaluate fall 2014 actual payments to date Notify students/schools of the actual reduction

9. A+ and DACA DACA students are: – Lawfully present under Section 173.1110.1.2, RSMo – Currently ineligible for A+ because they cannot file a complete FAFSA Proposed change to definition of “Good-faith Effort” (Administrative Rule 6 CSR 10-2.190) – Applies to students that meet statutory requirements but are ineligible for federal aid – Exception is completion of FAFSA4caster – Public comment period 10/15/2014 - 11/14/2014

10. Algebra I EOC Update Not applicable to December 2014 graduates Eligible by graduation – no issues – Stamped transcript Eligible after graduation – Process for documenting eligibility in progress – Information gathering Small group of high school counselors DESE staff E-distribution request for comment – Guidance by early January

11. Algebra I EOC Update Potential Issue with COMPASS Algebra Score – In review Any score changes announced by middle of affected students’ junior year – Comment period – CBHE approval – E-distribution notice

12. Communications … DESE listserv has been discontinued MDHE e-distribution list to be only means of receiving A+ information – E-Subscribe to MDHE Electronic Communications page on MDHE website: http://www.dhe.mo.gov/mdhedigest/signup.php

13. Communications

14. Questions State Aid Questions Connie Bestgen Program Specialist (800) 473-6757, option 4 (573) 751-1772 connie.bestgen@dhe.mo.gov Amy Haller Program Specialist (573) 526-7958 amy.haller@dhe.mo.gov Kelli Reed Student Assistance Associate (573) 751-2444 kelli.reed@dhe.mo.gov General Questions P.O. Box 1469 Jefferson City 65102-1469 Phone 573-751-2361 Fax: (573) 751-6635 Info. Center: (800) 473-6757 info@dhe.mo.gov www.dhe.mo.gov