1. College at Spectrum High [CaSH]
Informational Meeting for Students and Parents

3. Course Level Comparison
Honors
Weighted GPA
Standard-level content
Higher rigor levels
No college credit
Prerequisite - SHS application process
Advanced Placement (AP)
Weighted GPA
College-level rigor over full school year
College credit if qualifying score is achieved on AP exam
Prerequisite - SHS application process
CaSH
Weighted GPA
College-level rigor, semester-long
College credit for successful course completion (passing grade)
Prerequisite - State and partner college qualifications

4. CaSH Eligibility and Qualifications…
Guideline Requirements
Sophomores who are in the top 10% of their class or standardized test score above the 90%ile, or a 3.8 GPA or higher for PTCC
Juniors who are in the top 1/3 of their class, 3.0 GPA for PTCC or 3.5 GPA for ARCC or higher, or standardized test score above the 70%ile
Seniors who are in the top 1/2 of their class, 3.0 GPA or higher, or standardized test score above the 50%ile
Some partner colleges allow petitions
Depends on partner college
Standardized tests like PSAT, ACT
Petition - SHS rubric used to determine students to petition

5. Benefits of CaSH Overview
Earn dual enrollment credit
Smaller class sizes
Remain engaged in SHS events and activities
Save on tuition, books and transportation costs
Receive support of SHS teachers and staff
Dual enrollment- high school and college, concurrently enrolled in high school and college
Smaller class- Intro to Psychology at college is per class. Most general ed classes are going to be bigger at college because all students have to take them.
Teachers/staff- only office hours or communication at college. SHS teachers more easily reached. CaSH Days- time available within school day to receive additional help
Engaged in events- hard to schedule classes to be done by practice times and after school events
4 colleges we partner with (refer to logos) always expanding on partners

6. Earn Dual Enrollment Credits
Credits reflected on both Spectrum’s and partner college’s trancript
4:1 ratio of college credit to Spectrum credit
4 credit college class=1 Spectrum
Although a 3 credit class will appear as .75 credit on the high school transcript, it is adequate to meet a one-year SHS graduate requirements in most classes

7. Smaller Class Sizes Low Student-to-Teacher Ratio Personal experience
Familiar teaching staff

8. SHS Events and Activities
When participating in at Spectrum High School, students are still on the same schedule as the rest of the school, allowing for an easy navigation of school sponsored sports, activities, and events

9. Save on Tuition, Books & Transportation Costs
Cost per credit:
Anoka-Ramsey Community College $166.06
St. Cloud State University $263.67
University of Minnesota- Twin Cities $482.54
University of St. Thomas $1,210.00
Potential Total Savings (3-72 credits):
=$ $11,956.32
=$ $18,984.24
=$1,448 - $34,743
=$3, $87,120.00

10. Receive Support of SHS Teachers and Staff

11. Receive Support of SHS Teachers and Staff

12. Considerations Overall workload and life balance Motivation
Pace of coursework
Credit and workload: every credit of college coursework is equal to 2 hours of outside work per week
Motivation
Level of maturity required
Impact to transcript
Grades
Schedules
Balance- Rigor- Year long HS course is now 1 semester= covering material at a faster pace. If considering taking multiple CaSH classes, consider a balance and the amount of work required for each class.
Motivation- reason for taking CaSH class- interest in course, complete AA or MNTC, being provided with a challenging course. Need to have motivation to do well in course and complete the course.
Maturity- being able to act like a college student example meeting the required deadlines in a timely manner, participating in class discussions and assignments at a college student level. Time management skills and independence with coursework, paperwork, problem solving. You will be a college student and be expected to perform at a college student level such as remembering your Star ID and password, complete applications, paperwork, registration, maintaining a college records folder, dropping classes.
Transcript- Grades- if get a D in a class required for major, may need to retake class. Grade earned will be on both HS and college transcript
Schedule-impact of coursework beyond high school. Provides student with more options to explore potential majors by taking a variety of courses or have a shortened college experience if take CaSH courses

13. Accuplacer Testing
Students enrolling in CaSH courses will need to meet the minimum score required by the postsecondary institution on the reading Accuplacer, and math Accuplacer if applicable.
Test proctored on SHS campus (tentative 4/22 and 5/6)
Preparation
Resources
Steps prior to taking the Accuplacer are required. Students will need to complete the application to the partner college. More information will be sent out via in the following weeks.

14. Minnesota Transfer Curriculum
General education curriculum in ten goal areas totalling 40 college credits
Ensures students receive transfer credits for all courses in the package when transferring to Minnesota State schools, the University of Minnesota, and some private colleges
*See handout
SHS selects all courses based on the MNTC to ensure best transferability for both CaSH and AP courses. If you have received a passing score on an AP test, contact the Guidance Office to see how the class will fit into the MNTC. Our selection of classes is always expanding to better fit the needs of students and to broaded the number of goal areas met.
Entire package must be completed to ensure credits will transfer to U of M or private colleges. All MNSCU colleges have the same 10 goal areas.
Specific majors may not require the full MNTC such as engineering, education, science fields (chemistry, biology) or math
Contact guidance office if interested in completing this. It is important to plan out courses to ensure meeting all 10 goal areas.
There will be additional steps if planning on completing this.

15. Associate of Arts Degree
Intended to be equivalent to the first two years of a four year baccalaureate program
MN Transfer Curriculum (40 credits), plus Wellness requirement included in the 20 credits of additional requirements for a total 60 credits
*See handout
Contact guidance office if interested in completing this. It is important to plan out courses to ensure meeting all 10 goal areas and the additional courses required.
Specific majors may not require the full MNTC such as engineering, education, science fields (chemistry, biology) or math
Students will earn their AA through ARCC
There will be additional steps if planning on completing this.

16. Transferring Credits Explore college credit transfer options
Credit from CaSH course(s) may transfer to college of choice
Transcript(s) from the partner postsecondary institution(s) required
*See purple handout
It is important to meet with colleges interested in attending to discuss how credits will transfer as not all colleges accept credits the same.
Transferology is a great place to start, but not all colleges and courses are listed on the website. The college is the best place to get the final answer of how credits will transfer. As soon as you have colleges in mind contact the admissions office to discuss how your CaSH credits will transfer.
Each student will need to request a transcript from each partner institution to have credits transfer to college attending. This is best to be completed during senior year. These transcripts will cost money to send so you only want to send them once.
Ensure you are requesting your AP score as well to send to colleges.

17. Participation in CaSH Steps Attend CaSH Informational Meeting
Return signed Student and Parent Participation and Acknowledgement Form by March 23
Register for including CaSH class choices by March 15
Apply to partner college the week of March 18th
Take Accuplacer (if not already taken and received passing score) April 22 or May 6
Must complete all of these steps BY THE DEADLINES in order to participate in CaSH for the school year.
Students who need to complete college applications will be invited to do this during Homework Help on March 8.
Additional information will be provided about the Accuplacer via . Make sure you are checking your on a daily basis (this includes SPAM) to be watchful of deadlines that are approaching.
Registration- March 6-17
Acknowledgment Form- March 17
Accuplacer- March 8-22

18. Questions?