PSEO Post Secondary Enrollment Option

Welcome What is PSEO? Points of Interest Student Eligibility PROS and CONS of PSEO Other Factors Steps to PSEO Final Thoughts Counselors

WHAT IS PSEO? PSEO stands for Post Secondary Enrollment Option. Program created by State Dept. in 1980’s. For students who may need more challenges than what the high school offers, or interested vocational type courses that are not available at high schools Students take classes at a participating post secondary institution in State of Minnesota. Students get credit at both college and high school.

Points of Interest Students must complete required high school classes to receive diploma –Can take required courses at college level with prior approval from Blue Sky PSEO students can participate in graduation ceremonies at Blue Sky Tuition and books are paid for by Blue Sky –Students return books to the college at the end of the semester

Points of Interest Continued… Full-time PSEO status is credits Part-time would be 11 credits and under –P-T you would enroll in courses at Blue Sky and college College classes on semester schedule –Credits transfer 4 to 1 –Due to semester (college) vs. quarter schedules (Blue Sky), students enrolling in PSEO who face this conflict need to work closely with their counselor and college professors to cover any overlapping periods

Student Eligibility Need to be at least a junior Need to “give-up” classes at the high school –Pay out of pocket if you keep full-time status at the high school Eligibility to continue PSEO if a student’s grades fall below a certain level at the college is determined by the higher institution/college

Student Eligibility Higher institution determines admission standards to participate in the PSEO program –Many Colleges Require: Accuplacer Test (taken online by contacting the college of your choice – they will give you your username and password) Attend a mandatory Orientation/Registration Session –Will be notified of date and time by college usually in an acceptance letter Associate of Applied Science Degree, Diploma or Certificate at a Vocational or 2-year College –No minimum GPA required –NOT eligible for programs requiring high school diploma or GED as a pre-requisite Associate of Arts or Science Degree –Seniors need minimum GPA of 2.5 or be in 50 th % –Juniors need minimum GPA of 3.0 or be in 66 th %

PROS of PSEO Flexible schedules (no more 8-3:00 similar to Blue Sky). Exposure to classes not offered through high school. Jump start on college classes. State/School pays tuition and books. Meet new people. In general, PSEO students do well or better than college freshman.

Transportation: Responsible for getting to and from campus –Costs $$$ (Car maintenance and gas) Harder classes in general - could affect GPA & class rank, and competing with those who have already graduated from high school. Difficulty being included in honor roll as college and school calendars don’t match up to allow the processing of this. Difficult to maintain social activities – don’t fit in with the college students and you may feel you don’t fit in with your peers. May not get classes you want (last to register) CONS of PSEO

Cons continued… Increase amount of study time If classes are not kept up, students could lose credit and affect high school graduation. No monitoring of student’s attendance Students check in with high school 1-2 times per quarter on “volunteer” basis. Colleges will not send Parents grade or attendance reports (students considered adults).

Other Factors PSEO students are not identified to the college staff as such Being successful in college will require maturity, self-discipline, good study skills, and time management skills Controversial and adult subjects may be discussed in many courses and your participation is expected Need good self-advocacy skills –If you have questions regarding any of your courses you must direct them to the individual instructor

Steps to Being PSEO Student Take as many required high school classes as possible. –Those not completed in high school need to be substituted at the post secondary institution. Complete application to post secondary institution. –For participating institutions go to website: Click on “Post Secondary College Prep” located on the right hand side under Academic Excellence Click on the left hand side under “Related Links” PSEO – TONS of info provided including the application

Steps continued… Application form then needs to be completed by the student, signed off by the parent, and sent to your counselor (via fax, scanned document/attachment) Form will then be completed by counselor and returned to the student Students take the form to the postsecondary college they are interested in for completion and meets with the PSEO coordinator/counselor at the college to begin the process on their end

Steps continued… Initiate and make phone appointment with Blue Sky counselor to give us an update on your progress/acceptance and to double check you have the correct credits needed for high school graduation. Helpful to forward to your Blue Sky counselor the contact person at the college you are attending so we may follow-up with them too Once accepted at the college, you will most likely get a letter from them detailing the next steps to begin classes at the college

Final Steps… Parents & students should visit the post secondary institution – take tour Upon acceptance into PSEO program, be sure to work with the college to register for and take the Accuplacer Test. (Placement test for English, math, and reading) –Need to do this as you “CANNOT” take remedial courses in English or math at the college Blue Sky/State does not pay for these courses

Final Thoughts  Do you have transportation?  Once you are accepted in the program, it becomes your responsibility to keep in contact with Blue Sky and college to assure that you are receiving all the information from your high school and that your high school is receiving all proper records. Students are expected to notify high school counselor immediately if they fail or withdraw from a class Not all colleges may accept ALL transfer credits when you are done with high school

Deadlines Preferred Deadline for PSEO Application – March 1 (Spring before you want to do it) Secondary Deadline for PSEO Participation – March 30 (Spring before you want to do it) Deadlines are set by higher institute— check with them to see if you are still eligible.

More Questions Contact your Guidance Counselor at Blue Sky! Catherine Catherine Amy Amy Melanie Fountaine (on Melanie Fountaine (on Suzanne Suzanne Carla Anderson Carla Anderson John Mizeur John Mizeur Phaedra Phaedra Paul Paul

If you decide to try to do PSEO, here are the basic steps: 1. Set up an appointment with your counselor to talk about PSEO 2. Choose a college and follow their enrollment/admissions procedures. 3. Fill out the Notice of Student Registration form: Notice of Student Registration. 4. Mail the completed form to the following address: Dennis Perry BlueSky Online Charter School 322 Wentworth Ave. E. Suite 300 West St. Paul, MN Or Fax it to this number: Notice of Student Registration 5.. Dennis will fill out section 2, attach an official transcript, and mail it to the college for you. 6.. Wait for notice of acceptance from the college, and then follow their procedure for getting enrolled in classes. 7. It is important that you communicate with your counselor at BlueSky so that you take classes at the college that will also count for the high school credits you still need. This information is in Eclassroom under Online Career Center(left hand tab PSEO) For participating colleges: