604.06 Instruction At A Post-Secondary Enrollment Educational Institution
In accordance with this policy, students in grades nine through twelve may receive academic or career and technical education credits that count toward the District’s graduation requirements for in-person and/or online courses successfully completed in post-secondary educational institutions. Students and parents/guardians shall be made aware of the post-secondary instructional opportunities via the student handbook and as part of the development of each student’s individual career and academic plan as required by law.
The Superintendent/designee shall develop the appropriate forms and procedures for implementing this policy and the following post-secondary educational opportunities:
The District will not establish a minimum or maximum number of credits an eligible student may earn annually and/or cumulatively via concurrent enrollment and/or the Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEO), however, to the extent permitted by law, the District may limit the institutions at and/or circumstances under which such enrollment is available.
Concurrent Enrollment
The District may, in its discretion, enter into a contractual agreement with a community college to provide courses for eligible students in grades nine through twelve when comparable courses are not offered by the school district. The Board shall annually designate the courses available for concurrent enrollment.
Notice of the availability of the concurrent enrollment program shall be included in the school district’s handbook, and the handbook shall identify which courses, if successfully completed, generate post-secondary credit. Student eligibility to enroll for concurrent enrollment as defined in this policy shall align to Iowa law and shall be elucidated in the handbook. A student who completed district requirements to earn a high school diploma and whose class has graduated is not eligible to continue enrollment in the District for the purpose of continuing enrollment in concurrent enrollment courses
The District shall provide written notice to any and all students and their parents/guardians of the concurrent enrollment courses in which the student has enrolled, the clock hours the student will be attending the course(s), and the number of hours of college credit the student will receive from the community college upon successful completion of the course(s).
Students shall not be charged tuition for concurrent enrollment courses and shall not be required to reimburse the school district for tuition if they do not successfully complete a course. To the extent permitted by law, students or their parents/guardians may be required to pay a fee for concurrent enrollment course materials consistent with the school district’s established policy for textbooks and other instructional materials, including relevant payment waivers.
Students or their parents or guardians may also be required to provide their own transportation to and from concurrent enrollment courses to the extent permitted by law. However, the District shall provide for any contracted course used to meet District accreditation requirements and/or jointly administered by the District and the post-secondary institution.
Students who successfully complete a concurrent enrollment course, as determined by the postsecondary institution, shall receive postsecondary credit in accordance with the institution’s policies and high school credit that will be reflected on their high school transcript. The Superintendent/designee shall grant to a student who successfully completes a concurrent enrollment course a unit of high school graduation credit for every unit of high school level instruction successfully completed.
Students from accredited nonpublic schools located in the District’s jurisdiction and students receiving competent private instruction or independent private instruction under chapter 299A within the District’s jurisdiction may access concurrent enrollment through the District.
Post-Secondary Enrollment Option
Ninth and tenth grade students who have been identified by the school district as gifted and talented, and eligible eleventh and twelfth grade students, may utilize the “PSEO” program. The Superintendent/ designee shall develop a process by which students may indicate interest in and apply for enrollment in the program.
To qualify for PSEO enrollment, a course must be a nonsectarian, credit-bearing course that leads to a degree, and in the areas of: mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities, career and technical education. A course is not eligible for PSEO if a comparable course is offered by the school district. In addition, courses at a community college with which the district has a concurrent enrollment agreement are not eligible for PSEO. Students shall not be charged for tuition, textbooks, materials, or fees related to a PSEO course with the exception of equipment that becomes the property of the student.
The school district shall reimburse the post-secondary institution for tuition and other expenses for each PSEO course up to $250. Parents/guardians are responsible for furnishing transportation, as necessary, to and from the postsecondary institution for student’s enrolled in PSEO coursework.
Students who successfully complete a PSEO course, as determined by the postsecondary institution, shall receive postsecondary credit and high school credit. The Superintendent/designee shall grant to a student who successfully completes a PSEO course a unit of high school graduation credit for every unit of high school level instruction successfully completed. Evidence of successful completion of each course and high school credits and college credits received shall be included in the student’s high school transcript.
Students who fail a PSEO course and fail to receive credit are required to reimburse the school district for all costs directly related to the course up to the $250.00 reimbursement maximum. Prior to registering, students under the age of eighteen are required to have a parent or guardian sign a form indicating that the parent is responsible for the costs of the course should the student fail the course and fail to receive credit. Reimbursement waivers may be granted by the board if sufficient verification is provided to show that the student was unable to complete the course for reasons outside the student’s control, including but not limited to physical incapacity, a death in the student’s immediate family, or a move out of the school district.
If a student is unable to demonstrate proficiency or the school district or accredited nonpublic school determines that the course unit completed by the student does not meet the school district’s standards, the superintendent shall provide in writing to the student’s parent or guardian the reason for the denial of credit.
Eligible students may take up to seven hours of post-secondary credit during the summer months and receive high school credit upon successful completion of a post-secondary course. However, the student or student’s parent or legal guardian are responsible for all costs associated with courses taken during the summer. These courses may not supplant the offerings of the District. Upon successful completion of these summer courses, the students will receive academic or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the Board. Successful completion of the course is determined by the post-secondary educational institution. The Board will have complete discretion to determine the academic credit to be awarded to the student for the summer courses.
Legal References:
Iowa Code §§ 256.7, 11; 258; 261E; 279.61, 280.3, 280.14
281 I.A.C. 12 and 22
Senior Year Plus Legislation
Iowa Department of Education Guidance 2020
Cross References:
505.02 Student Retention and Promotion
600.00 Statement of Guiding Principles
604.03 Talented and Gifted Program
604.13 Virtual/Online Courses
Approved:
August 3, 2009
Reviewed:
March 11, 2009
November 17, 2014
September 18, 2017
February 15, 2021
Revised:
November 17, 2014
September 18, 2017
February 15, 2021