View 5000 Series Policies | View Policy Series
 

Alaska Performance Scholarship Program

AR 5128.00

ALASKA PERFORMANCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM                 

The Alaska Performance Scholarship Program provides scholarships for high school graduates who are Alaska residents to attend a qualified postsecondary institution in the State of Alaska.  The district is required to determine student eligibility for the three levels of scholarships available.  The district must then notify the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development of each qualifying student’s eligibility.

Eligibility Determinations

The principal or designee of each high school shall determine scholarship eligibility for each graduating student by application of the following criteria. 

         A.      Course Work Requirements

Note:  The following curriculum requirements are in place for students graduating from high school in and after 2015.  Qualifying units of credit shall include a student’s completion of a high school level course in an earlier grade if:  1) the course meets content standards for a grade 9-12 course; 2) is within a qualifying curriculum (math, science, language arts, etc.); and 3) appears on the student’s high school transcript.  A course does not satisfy the requirements of this section, regardless of the course name unless it is: 1) a college or industry preparatory course; and 2) meets or exceeds the standards and grade level expectations in Alaska Standards: Content and Performance Standards for Alaska Students.  An advanced placement and international baccalaureate course meets curriculum requirements and is considered an approved course as fully stated in 4 AAC 43.030. 

The Alaska Performance Scholarship may be awarded based on a student’s completion of either a math and science curriculum track, or a social studies and language curriculum track. 

2015 and after Curriculum Requirements

Students graduating in and after 2015 must meet the following curriculum requirements to qualify for all scholarship levels (Achievement, Performance, and Honors):

Math and Science Curriculum:

  1.  Math – 4 units of credit, consisting of either four units selected from the following courses or a combination of three units selected from the following courses and an additional course approved by the department:

    1. algebra I;
    2. algebra II; 
    3. geometry;
    4. trigonometry;
    5. pre-calculus;
    6. calculus;
    7. calculus II;
    8. statistics;


  2. Science – 4 units of credit, consisting of either four units selected from the following courses or a combination of two units selected from the following courses and two additional courses approved by the department:

    1. physical science; 
    2. earth science; 
    3. biology;
    4. chemistry;
    5. physics;
    6. marine biology;
    7. anatomy and physiology;

  3. Language arts – 4 units of credit, consisting of either four units selected from the following courses or a combination of three units selected from the following courses and an additional course approved by the department:

    1. composition;
    2. American literature;
    3. world literature;
    4. speech and debate;
    5. advanced composition; 
    6. creative writing;
    7. british literature;


  4. Social studies – 4 units of credit, one unit of credit in a foreign or Alaska Native language, fine arts, or cultural heritage may substitute for one of the four units of credit of social studies; at least two units of credit must be from the following courses, with any remaining credits from courses approved by the department:

    1. world history;
    2. American history; 
    3. geography; 
    4. American government / civics; 
    5. economics;
    6. Alaska histroy; 
    7. western or eastern civilization;
    8. psychology;
    9. sociology

                                                         

Social Studies and Language Curriculum:

  1. Math - 3 units of credit, consisting of either three units selected from the following courses or a combination of two units selected from the following courses and an additional course approved by the department:
    1. algerbra I; 
    2. algebra II;
    3. geometry;
    4. trigonometry;
    5. pre-calculus;
    6. calculus;
    7. calculus II;
    8. statistics;


  2. Science – 3 units of credit consisting of either three units selected from the following courses or a combination of two units selected from the following courses and an additional course approved by the department:

    1. physical science;
    2. earth science; 
    3. biology; 
    4. chemistry;
    5. physics;
    6. marine biology;
    7. anatomy and physiology;

  3. Language arts – 4 units of credit consisting of either four units selected from the following courses or a combination of three units selected from the following courses and an additional course approved by the department:

    1. composition; 
    2. American literature;
    3. world literature; 
    4. speech and debate;
    5. advanced composition; 
    6. creative writing; 
    7. British literature;


  4. Social studies – 4 units of credit, consisting of either four units selected from the following courses or a combination of three units selected from the following courses and an additional course approved by the department:

    1. world histroy; 
    2. American history; 
    3. geography;
    4. American government / civics;
    5. economics;
    6. Alaska history; 
    7. western or eastern civilization; 
    8. psychology; 
    9. sociology;

  5. Foreign, Alaska Native or American sign language – 2 units of credit in the same language.

Note:  A district that offers courses meeting the requirements for APS but that do not clearly fall within the course names found above may seek approval from the Department to have those courses approved for APS purposes.  4 AAC 43.030(j).
 

         B.      Grade Point Average and Standardized Examination Scores

 

In addition to the curriculum requirements above, students must meet certain GPA and standardized examination score requirements.  It is the student’s responsibility to provide proof of results achieved on one of the standardized examinations required for scholarship eligibility.  GPA and test scores determine a student’s level of eligibility for each of the three scholarships set forth below:

1. Alaska Performance Honors Scholarship

                            Grade Point Average:  3.5 or higher

                           Test Scores: ACT composite score of 25 or higher; or
                                              SAT combined score of 1680 or higher; or
                                             A combined WorkKeys score of 13 or higher, with no single score lower than 4, in each of the following:
                                             1.      applied mathematics
                                             2.      reading for information
                                             3.      locating information

 Note:  The Alaska Performance Honors Scholarship has an award level of $4,755.
 

2. Alaska Performance Achievement Scholarship

                           Grade Point Average:  3.0 or higher

                            Test Scores: ACT composite score of 23 or higher; or
                                              SAT combined score of 1560 or higher; or
                                              A combined WorkKeys score of 13 or higher, with no single score lower than 4, in each of the following:
                                             1.      applied mathematics
                                             2.      reading for information
                                             3.      locating information

Note:  The Alaska Performance Achievement Scholarship has an award level of $3,566.
 

3. Alaska Performance Opportunity Scholarship

                            Grade Point Average:  2.5 or higher

                            Test Scores: ACT composite score of 21 or higher; or
                                              SAT combined score of 1450 or higher; or
                                              A combined WorkKeys score of 13 or higher, with no single score lower than 4, in each of the following:
                                             1.      applied mathematics
                                             2.      reading for information
                                             3.      locating information

Note:  The Alaska Performance Opportunity Scholarship has an award level of $2,378.

Note:  A student who qualifies for one of the above scholarships using the WorkKeys examination must use the scholarship award in a career and technical program that results in the award of a certificate.  4 AAC 43.020.

Notice to Parents/Guardians of Eligibility Determination 

Option 1:

The principal or designee shall provide written notice to all parents/guardians, or to students if 18 or older, of the eligibility determination.  The notice should also explain how a parent/guardian or eligible student may challenge this determination. 

 

Option 2:

The principal or designee shall provide written notice to all parents/guardians, or to students if 18 or older, of how they may learn the eligibility determination.  The notice should also explain how a parent/guardian or eligible student may challenge this determination. 

Permanent Record

Once eligibility levels are determined, the district will record the level of eligibility on each qualifying student’s permanent record.  No notation should be made for those students who are not eligible for a scholarship award. 

Annual Transmittal of Records

No later than July 15 of each year, the district will transmit an electronic version of each graduating student’s permanent record that describes the student’s eligibility for the Alaska Performance Scholarship Program.  This is a mandatory reporting obligation and parents/students may not opt out of this disclosure.

Appeal Procedures

The district provides the following appeal process for students who believe an error has been made regarding a student’s eligibility for an Alaska Performance Scholarship.  A student can request that the district review the determination of whether or not he or she is eligible or, if eligible, the level of scholarship available.

A.            Appeal Form

To request an appeal, a student must complete the Alaska Performance Scholarship Appeal Form for Public School Students.  [E 5128] The form requires: 

1.             Name, mailing address, and contact information;
2.             Eligibility information in the form of official examination scores and an official transcript indicating courses taken and GPA;
3.             A statement explaining why the student believes the eligibility determination is in error; and
4.             All documents, papers, or other materials that support a reversal or modification of the eligibility determination. 

Students who have questions about the form or require assistance should contact a counselor or principal at the student’s high school. 

Students must complete the Appeal Form and provide supporting documents as soon as possible after receiving notice of his or her eligibility determination.  No appeals will be considered unless submitted within thirty (30) days of receiving the district’s eligibility determination, absent unusual circumstances that prevented a timely appeal. 

 

B.      Appeal Process

  1.  Student submits the completed Appeal Form and supporting documentation to ____________ [identify appropriate school official to process appeals].

  2. The district will designate a reviewer to review and decide the appeal.

  3. The reviewer will consider all information submitted and issue a determination of whether or not the student meets scholarship eligibility, and if eligible, the student’s level of eligibility.

  4. The reviewer’s determination is the final decision of the district.

  5. Notice of the district’s decision will be sent to the student no later than thirty (30) days after the student submits a timely appeal.

  6. If the reviewer determines that scholarship eligibility was incorrect, the district will notify the Alaska Performance Scholarship Program of the correct eligibility determination and revise the student’s transcript to correctly identify APS eligibility.

Note:  Effective June 6, 2015 the regulation providing for a grace period and waiver of curriculum requirements was repealed and a new section added to provide for students to request a scholarship eligibility extension.  4 AAC 43.035 (repealed); 4 AAC 43.045 (extensions of eligibility period).  An extension of scholarship eligibility does not permit a student to receive a scholarship for more semester hours than is permitted under AS 14.43.825. 
 

Extension of Scholarship Eligibility

The district should notify appropriate students about the availability of a scholarship eligibility extension that may be granted by the Alaska Commissioner of Education.  Upon request, the Commissioner may grant a student who has previously been determined eligible for a scholarship under APS, a scholarship eligibility extension.  Such an extension allows a student to remain eligible for a scholarship for longer than six years after the date of the student’s graduation from high school. 

 

To qualify for an extension of scholarship eligibility, a student must:

  1. Submit a written request to the Commissioner no later than 30 days before the student’s period of scholarship eligibility under 14.43.825(b) is set to expire; and

  2. Submit with the request a signed statement from the institution of higher learning in which the student is admitted or enrolled attesting that the student has experienced or is experiencing an enrollment delay due to the availability of coursework required by the degree program the student is pursuing, and that the enrollment delay is beyond the student’s control.

 

 

KETCHIKAN GATEWAY BOROUGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
Adoption Date:  9/14/11
Revision Date: 09/14/16

Attachments