Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) is a program that allows 10th-, 11th- and 12th-grade students to earn college credit while still in high school, through enrollment in and successful completion of college courses. With traditional PSEO, these courses are generally offered on the campus of the postsecondary institution; some courses are offered online. Postsecondary institutions are not allowed to charge PSEO students for tuition, textbooks or support services. Students may be charged 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. Most PSEO courses are only open to high school students during their 11th- and 12th-grade year, with each participating college and university setting their own requirements for enrollment into the PSEO courses and programs. Students may take PSEO courses on a full- or part-time basis. Students must meet the PSEO eligibility requirements and abide by participation limits outlined in the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act.

Transportation Reimbursement Available for Qualified Students

Funds are available to help pay transportation expenses for PSEO students whose families are at or below the poverty level, as determined by the federal government, to participate in PSEO courses on college campuses. Access the PSEO Mileage Reimbursement Program Instructions. If you have any questions regarding the mileage reimbursement for low-income students' participation in the PSEO program, contact Kelly Garvey at 651-582-8524.
 
 
  • Rigorous Course Taking: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, Concurrent Enrollment and Postsecondary Enrollment Options Programs - 2/2/24
    This report includes student participation data and fiscal expenditures for all rigorous course taking programs for school year 2021-2022. Exam performance for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Programs are also included.
  • Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Reference Guide - 11/19/21
    A reference guide to assist students and parents, high school educators and Minnesota Colleges and Universities.
  •  - 2/11/21

Recent Legislative Updates

Effective 2023-24 School Year: 

  • The postsecondary institution must determine a practicable policy for communicating with a secondary school if a student withdraws or stops attending in compliance with applicable laws relating to privacy and confidentiality (subdivision 5).

  • Students enrolled in PSEO courses are responsible for providing their high school with a copy of their grades in PSEO courses—this may include mid-term or nonfinal grades earned during the academic term (subdivision 12).

  • MDE will not make payment to a postsecondary institution for a PSEO course if a student officially withdraws during the first 10 business days, or has been absent for the first 10 business days (and not receiving instruction at the home or hospital), of the postsecondary institution’s academic term (subdivision 13).   

  • - 10/5/23
  • - 10/5/23
  • - 10/5/23

District and Charter School Requirements

The Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act outlines several district and charter school requirements:
 
Required Information on District Websites and Materials
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), a district must provide up-to-date information on the district's website, and in materials that are distributed to parents and students, about the program—including information about enrollment requirements and the ability to earn postsecondary credit—to all pupils in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11.
 
 
Student Notification of Intent to Enroll by May 30
Public school students are required to inform their district/charter school by May 30 of their intent to enroll in PSEO courses during the following school year. Districts/charter schools have the authority to waive this deadline. If a public school student does not notify the enrolling district by May 30, and the enrolling district does not waive the deadline, the family may be responsible for the postsecondary tuition expense.
 
Required Grade Weighting Policy
A school board must adopt a policy stating whether or not the district offers weighted grades for any course and annually publish a list of those courses for which a student may earn a weighted grade on the district’s website.
 
Reasonable Access to School Building and Technology for PSEO students 
A school district must allow a student enrolled in a PSEO course to remain at the school site during regular school hours. This applies to part-time and full-time PSEO students. A school district must adopt a policy that provides PSEO students reasonable access during regular school hours to a computer and other technology resources that the student needs to complete coursework for a PSEO course.
 
Participation Limit Extended for Public School Students Not on Track to Graduate
If a school district determines a student is not on track to graduate, the student may still continue to participate in PSEO by enrolling in courses to meet outstanding graduation requirements. The Verification of Extended Eligibility form (below) is signed by the enrolling public school district or charter school and required for each semester of extended PSEO enrollment. The Verification of Extended PSEO Eligibility is documentation of a (public) school district’s determination a pupil is not on track to graduate for purposes of limitations on PSEO eligibility. 
 

Student Notification and Registration

Student Notification of Intent to Enroll by May 30
Public school students are required to inform their district/charter school by May 30 of their intent to enroll in PSEO courses during the following school year. Districts/charter schools have the authority to waive this deadline. If a public school student does not notify the enrolling district by May 30, and the enrolling district does not waive the deadline, the family may be responsible for the postsecondary tuition expense.
 
PSEO Notice of Student Registration (NOSR) Forms
The PSEO Notice of Student Registration must be completed for each semester by an eligible student and signed by the student’s parent or guardian (if the student is under the age of 18) in section one. The district/charter school or nonpublic/home school completes and signs section two. Students then forward the form for the appropriate academic year to the postsecondary institution they plan to attend; the postsecondary institution completes section three and submits a copy to the Minnesota Department of Education.
 
If public school students do not notify the enrolling district of their intent to enroll in PSEO by May 30, and the enrolling district does not waive the deadline in section two of the form, the family may be responsible for the postsecondary tuition expense.