Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
2024-2025
INFORMATION
What is PSEO?
Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college-level courses at a college/university. These credits can be used to meet high school graduation requirements and college requirements. The purpose of this program is to provide rigorous academic challenges and a wider variety of options for qualified students.
Please see Ms.Tia PSEO Coordinator, if you are thinking about enrolling in the PSEO program.
The Deadline to turn in required forms to participate in the program is May 30, 2024. However, many colleges/universities have their own admission deadlines so make sure to reach out to schools you are considering for their deadlines and qualifications.
Students can access the form by clicking on the form to the right or by contacting Ms. Tia for a paper copy.
Can I take PSEO?
Here are some general criteria, each college/university will have its own requirements.
Sophomores - 1 Career/Technical Class
Juniors - Top 1/3rd (33%) of your class or higher &/or 3.0 GPA
Seniors - Top 1/2 (50%) of your class or higher &/or 3.0 GPA
Ask one of the counselors or secretaries if you are unsure of your class rank.
Benefits of PSEO
Provides the opportunity for classes not offered at the high school
Provides the opportunity to explore areas of special interest
May decrease time spent in college
Provides financial benefits (tuition and books are paid for by the high school)
May have a more flexible schedule
Able to participate in sports/activities at RVHS and activities at college.
Possible Downfalls of PSEO
Miss out on high school experiences
Full-time PSEO students will not receive a Chromebook from RVHS
Transportation costs to/from the college
Less support from individual teachers
Grades are a permanent part of your college record and part of your college GPA.
If you do not pass enough of your classes, it will affect your financial aid eligibility.
If You Decide PSEO is For You, Next Steps to Enroll:
Talk to your parents/guardians about PSEO.
Meet with Ms. Tia to get appropriate forms & paperwork.
Complete RVHS PSEO Enrollment Agreement & MDE NOSR Form. Return to Ms. Tia.
Schedule a college visit at the campus you are considering. **Be aware of registration deadlines at the college of your choice; often strict deadlines.
Fill out PSEO Application for the college of your choice.
Meet with Ms. Tia to review graduation requirements, and verify necessary required courses to be completed in PSEO in order to graduate from RVHS on time.
Once accepted to college, schedule a meeting with your PSEO Advisor at the college to register for classes
EMAIL OR BRING A COPY OF YOUR COLLEGE SCHEDULE TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Pick up any necessary books & materials at the college bookstore
**During registration, select classes for a full 8.0 credits. After we receive your college schedule a counselor will reach out to adjust your high school schedule. Your high school classes will not be dropped without a copy of your college schedule in your file and therefore you will be expected to attend courses at RVHS.
Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn both high school and college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college nonsectarian courses at eligible participating postsecondary institutions. Most PSEO courses are offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Each participating college or university sets its own admissions requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses. Eleventh and 12th-grade students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis; 10th graders are eligible to enroll in PSEO on a more limited basis (see note below). 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, she/he may continue to participate in PSEO on a term-by-term basis.
By March 1 of each year, or three weeks prior to 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 the district in planning, a student must inform the district by May 30 of each year of their intent to enroll in postsecondary courses during the following school year.
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 the district by May 30 and the district does not waive this date requirement.
Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for qualifying students to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. For more information on these funds, access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions.
Enrolling in a PSEO course does not prohibit a student from participating in activities sponsored by the high school.
School districts must allow a PSEO student reasonable access to the high school building, computers and/or other technology resources during regular school hours to participate in PSEO courses, whether on-line or on campus.
Each year, districts must publish their grade-weighting policy on their website, including a list of courses for which students can earn weighted grades. RVHS does not weight any classes.
All courses taken through the PSEO program must meet graduation requirements. Districts must transcript credits earned in PSEO by a ratio prescribed in statute. Districts have the authority to decide which subject area and standards the PSEO course meets. If there is a dispute between the district 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 are required to 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 8th grade MCA. If 10th graders taking a CTE PSEO course earn at least a grade C in that class, they may take additional postsecondary courses. If the student did not take the MCA in 8th-grade, another reading assessment accepted by the enrolling postsecondary institution can be substituted. For students with disabilities, there is an alternative option to demonstrate reading proficiency.
For current information about the PSEO program, visit the Minnesota Department of Education’s Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) webpage.