POST-SECONDARY OPTION
Each year, tens of thousands of Iowa high school students get a jump start on college by earning credit toward a degree. These jointly enrolled students are afforded the opportunity to save money by shortening their time to a postsecondary credential while acclimating to higher education coursework. Through Senior Year Plus (SYP), school districts are provided with a variety of options to enhance students’ high school experience. Enacted by the legislature in 2008, SYP was created to provide increased and more equal access to college credit and advanced placement courses. Courses delivered through SYP provide students the opportunity to take a rigorous college curriculum and receive, in many cases, both high school and college credit concurrently. Iowa high school students enroll in college coursework through a variety of mechanisms including Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSEO), courses delivered through sharing agreements between community colleges and local school districts, and enrollment in college courses independently as a tuition paying student. Additionally, students enroll in high school courses that postsecondary institutions recognize for college credit or advanced standing. College credit opportunities help to bridge the gap between completing high school and starting college. Through joint enrollment, students are provided with the opportunity to supplement their high school curriculum with challenging college courses that would not otherwise be available. By taking these courses, students may be able to expedite their progress toward a degree and graduate from college earlier. Additionally, most college credit opportunities available are offered at little or no cost to students. Research shows joint enrollment opportunities ease the transition of students from secondary to postsecondary education. Students enroll and persist in postsecondary education in greater numbers because they enter college with a realistic understanding of the skills needed for success in higher education. Iowa is one of at least 38 states with state policies supporting the enrollment of high school students in college coursework. The vast majority of college credit opportunities available to high school students are provided through SYP. Senior Year Plus serves as an umbrella for a variety of programs including Postsecondary Enrollment Options(PSEO), concurrent enrollment, Advanced Placement(AP® ), career academies, regional academies, and Project Lead the Way® .
Iowa law requires students, instructors, and institutions to meet certain criteria to be eligible to participate in Senior Year Plus (SYP) programming. The following criteria apply to all Senior Year Plus programs and are supplemented by program specific requirements. Student Eligibility: Students are required to meet all of the following conditions to be eligible to enroll in any course through a SYP program where postsecondary credit is available to the student including PSEO, concurrent enrollment, and certain career academy courses. Requirements Established by Postsecondary Institution (281—IAC 22.2(1)):
The student shall meet the enrollment requirements established by the eligible postsecondary institution. The postsecondary institution may require students enrolling through SYP to meet additional enrollment requirements so long as the enrollment requirements apply to all full-time students and do not conflict with other SYP requirements stipulated by Iowa Code and Administrative Rule.
The student shall meet or exceed minimum performance measures on any academic assessments that may be required by the eligible postsecondary institution.
The student shall have taken appropriate course prerequisites, if any, prior to enrollment in the eligible postsecondary course, as determined by the eligible postsecondary institution delivering the course. Requirements Established by School District (281— 22.2(2)):
The student shall have attained the approval of the school board or its designee and the appropriate postsecondary institution to register for the postsecondary course.
A student who attends an accredited nonpublic school and desires access to SYP programming shall meet the same eligibility criteria as students in the school district in which the accredited nonpublic school is located.
A student under competent private instruction shall meet the same eligibility criteria as students in the school district in which the student is dually enrolled and shall have the approval of the school board in that school district to register for SYP programming.
Full-time Enrollment and Senior Year Plus For purposes of Senior Year Plus (SYP), full-time is defined (281—IAC 22.6) as enrollment in 24 or more postsecondary credit hours in any one postsecondary institution in one academic year (or the equivalent) excluding any summer term. Only courses for postsecondary credit delivered through SYP programs count toward the limit. The following courses do not apply toward the 24 credit hour limit:
Contracted college credit courses for which the district does not receive supplementary weighted funding (e.g., courses used by the district to meet minimum “offer-and-teach” requirements).
College credit courses taken independently by tuition paying students.
Non-concurrent enrollment AP® courses and articulated credit courses. A student who wishes to enroll in 24 or more credit hours in a single academic year may do so by either a) enrolling as an independent, tuition-paying student or b) enrolling in a SYP program through another eligible postsecondary institution. Contracted college credit courses may contain some concurrent enrollment students for which the district receives supplementary weighted funding and some students for which the district does not (e.g., students enrolled as independent, tuition paying students). Courses may not be split with only a portion of the credit hours delivered through SYP. To clarify this policy regarding student enrollment in SYP programs (PSEO, concurrent enrollment, and college-credit career academy courses):
A student may enroll through SYP in up to 23 credit hours in an academic year at any one eligible postsecondary institution.
A student may not enroll through SYP in more than 24 credit hours in an academic year and be billed for the over-the-limit credit hours. This is essentially charging students tuition for a concurrent enrollment course.
A student may not enroll through SYP in more than 24 credit hours in an academic year and be provided the over-the-limit credit hours at no cost. This is in violation of the full-time enrollment prohibition.
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