PSEO
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows tenth-, eleventh- and twelfth-grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school through enrollment in and successful completion of nonsectarian college courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the postsecondary institution's campus; some are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and twelfth-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; tenth-graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below under PSEO and Graduation). Students must meet the PSEO residency and eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits specified in Minnesota Statutes, Section 124D.09. If a school district determines a pupil is not on track to graduate, they may continue to participate in PSEO on a term-by-term basis.
By March 1 of each year, or three weeks before the date a student registers for courses for the following school year (whichever is earlier), schools must provide PSEO information to all students in grades 8-11 and their families. To assist Kaleidoscope Charter School in planning, a student must inform Kaleidoscope by May 30 of each year of their intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year.
PSEO Funding and Costs
There is no charge to PSEO students for tuition, books, or fees for items that are required to participate in a course; however, students may incur fees for equipment that becomes their property when the course or program is completed, textbooks that are not returned to the postsecondary institution according to their policies, or for tuition costs if they do not notify Kaleidoscope Charter School by May 30. Kaleidoscope does not waive this date requirement.
Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students participating in PSEO courses on college campuses. For more information on these funds, access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions.
PSEO and Kaleidoscope Access
Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by Kaleidoscope Charter School. Kaleidoscope must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers, or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether online or on campus.
PSEO and Graduation
Each year, Kaleidoscope Charter School must publish its grade-weighting policy on its website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades. All courses taken through the PSEO program must meet graduation requirements. Kaleidoscope Charter School must transcript credits earned in PSEO by a ratio prescribed in statute. Kaleidoscope can decide which subject area and standards the PSEO course meets. If there is a dispute between Kaleidoscope Charter School and the student regarding the number of credits granted for a particular course, the student may appeal the board's decision to the commissioner. The commissioner's decision regarding the number of credits will be final.
Postsecondary institutions must allow PSEO students to enroll in online courses consistent with the institution’s policy regarding postsecondary student enrollment in online courses.
Tenth-grade students may initially enroll in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) PSEO course if they receive a reading proficiency score of “Meets” or “Exceeds” on the eighth-grade MCA. If tenth graders taking a CTE PSEO course earn at least a grade of C in that class, they may take additional postsecondary courses. If the student did not take the MCA in eighth grade, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution could be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative option to demonstrate reading proficiency.
Learn More
For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.
If you have further questions regarding PSEO, please contact our Secondary Director, Chris Nordmann.
