FAFSA Parent Information: Steps to Complete the Application

Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important step in securing financial aid for college. Here’s how parents can help:

Create an FSA ID: Both the student and one parent need to create a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID at studentaid.gov.
Gather Documents: Collect Social Security numbers, federal tax returns for the 2024 year, W-2s, bank statements, and records of investments.
Start the FAFSA: Go to studentaid.gov and select “Start Here” to begin the application. The student will sign in as it is their FAFSA.
Enter Student and Parent Information: Fill in personal and financial details as prompted. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if available to import tax information.
List Schools: Add the colleges your student is interested in attending so they receive your FAFSA information.
Sign and Submit: Both the student and parent must sign the FAFSA electronically using their FSA IDs, then submit the application.
Review Confirmation: After submission, you’ll receive a confirmation page. Watch for follow-up emails about your student’s financial aid eligibility.

A+ Program Eligibility

To be eligible for assistance you must meet the following requirements:

High School Students

Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Enter into a written agreement with your high school prior to graduation.
Attend a designated A+ high school for 2 years prior to graduation.
- In addition, regardless of graduation year, if one of the parents is a member of the military on active duty or has retired from the military and relocated to Missouri within one year of their retirement, the student is exempt from this requirement. However, they must attend an A+ designated high school in the school year immediately preceding graduation and meet all of the other high school eligibility requirements.
Graduate from an A+ designated high school with an overall unweighted grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
Have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9-12.
Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25% may include job shadowing prior to graduation.
Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol while in grades 9-12.
Have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam or a higher level DESE approved end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics.

2018 High School Seniors and Forward - If a student meets all of the eligibility requirements for their high school graduating class except the end of course exam requirement, they may establish eligibility by achieving an ACT math subscore and high school GPA in accordance with the following scale.
Pre-ACT or ACT Math ScoreAndHigh School GPA
17 or greaterAnd2.5 or greater
16And2.8 or greater
15And3.0 or greater

It's never been easier to get a student started in School-Based Therapy! Our school district has contracted with Country Crossroads Counseling to offer counseling services in our school, during school hours. Go to www.countrycrossroadscounseling.com and click on the School-Based Therapy Intake Form on the home page of the website. Enter the student's basic information, school information, and an intake coordinator will reach out to you within 48 business hours by email. For more information call 816-343-4940.