Salem High School
Salem, Missouri
Teacher: John
Hendricks
Youth Apprenticeships
By Sara Jessen
Most
typical youth apprenticeship programs send students to work part of the day, where they
learn the tricks of the trade of a certain job. The A+ Program however, provides the other
type. Instead of the student getting paid for their labors and receiving a check, A+
students tutor and in turn may attend several select colleges for nearly nothing.
The
A+ Schools Program is a school-improvement initiative established by the Outstanding
Schools Act of 1993. The program is raising academic standards, opening new doors to
higher education and introducing students to the teaching profession through tutoring and
mentoring activities. The program is designed to provide incentives for local high school
students to reduce the dropout rate, eliminate the general education track curriculum,
provide better "career pathways" for all students, and work more closely with
business and higher-education leaders. The key goal of the A+ Program is to assure all
students, when they graduate, are well prepared to pursue advanced education, employment
or both.
Missouri’s
A+ Schools Program is a win win situation for schools, students, and communities. The
program encourages students to stay in school, make career plans, tutor younger students
in school, and graduate with the skills and knowledge required for career success or
further education.
A+
designation is awarded to high schools that meet specific goals and certain criteria
established by the state. It involves forming a partnership between the school, the
community, and business to ensure that high standards of education are provided for all
students. The requirements to be eligible for A+ are as follows:
1. You must complete an A+ schools agreement
contract prior to graduation
2. Attend a designated A+ school for three
consecutive years
3. Graduate with a grade point average of 2.5
(equivalent to a C+ on a 4.0 scale)
4. Graduate with a high school attendance record
of 95%
5. Tutor or mentor for 50 hours (unpaid)
6. Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid
the unlawful use of drugs (+ alcohol)
7. Attend on a full time basis, a Missouri public
community college or vocational-technical school, maintaining a 2.5 or higher on a 4.0
scale
8. Attempt to secure all available federal
financial assistance funds that do not require repayment.
By
signing the A+ Participation Agreement, students are simply indicating interest in the A+
program and are not under contract to use their A+ money if they decide to attend another
school. If you do attend any Missouri public community college, vocational, or technical
school, A+ pays for the cost of your tuition, courses required books, and general fees
assessed to all students. The only fee not covered by A+ is the cost of your housing while
at school.
I
just began participating in the A+ Program this year as a senior. It is a great
opportunity to get my further education for free. I didn't take advantage of this program
my first three years of high school, so I am doing all of my tutoring this year. My high
school offers A+ tutoring as a class so I get an hour of tutoring each day. I also think
that tutoring is a wonderful experience. I get to work with kids a few years younger than
me. I have become good friends with several of those students since I have begun tutoring.
I have also come to realize that these younger students really look up to me and my
actions and words do affect them. This has proven to be as rewarding, if not more
rewarding than the two free years of school.
At
the beginning of this school year I had no idea what I wanted to be or what I wanted to do
with my life after graduation, but since I have began tutoring and have seen the rewards
of teaching I am seriously considering becoming a teacher. The A+ program has not only
giving me the opportunity to go to school for free, but has also helped me discover a
lifelong occupation. [Back]