Students in grades nine through twelve may receive academic or vocational-technical credits that count toward the graduation requirements set out by the Board for courses successfully completed at post-secondary educational institutions. The student may receive academic and/or vocational-technical credits through an agreement between the District and a post-secondary educational institution or with the Board's approval on a case-by-case basis.
Students in grades nine and ten who the District has identified as talented and gifted students and any students in grades eleven and twelve are eligible to take post-secondary educational courses. Students are eligible to take post-secondary educational courses if they meet all of the requirements outlined in this policy and as required by the post-secondary educational institution, and if the student has obtained the approval of the Superintendent and/or designee. Eligible students wishing to participate in the post-secondary educational courses shall apply to the eligible post-secondary educational institution.
Students may not enroll in a post-secondary education course if the District offers a comparable course through its curricular program. For purposes of this policy, comparable course is determined at the discretion of administration and generally means that the content of a course provided to a high school student for post-secondary credit consists of substantially the same concepts and skills as the content of a course provided by the District.
Students in grades nine and ten who are in the talented and gifted program and all students in grades eleven and twelve who successfully complete courses at post-secondary educational institutions under an agreement between the District and the post-secondary educational institution or with the Board’s approval shall be reimbursed for tuition and other costs directly related to taking any post-secondary education course during the school year up to $250, except as otherwise outlined in this policy. The District may, instead of reimbursing the student, directly pay the post-secondary educational institution.
Should a student fail any PSEO course taken at a 4-year post-secondary educational institution and fail to receive credit for any PSEO course at a post-secondary educational institution, the student, if the student is over the age of eighteen, or the parent of a student under the age of eighteen shall be responsible for the costs of the course. Prior to registering for any PSEO course at a post-secondary educational institution, students under age eighteen shall have a parent sign a form indicating that the parent is responsible for the costs of the PSEO course should the student fail the PSEO course and fail to receive credit for the course. Students who fail a PSEO course and fail to receive credit for a PSEO course for reasons beyond their control, including, but not limited to, the student's incapacity, death in the family or a move to another district, in the Board’s discretion, may not be responsible for the costs of the PSEO course. Students dissatisfied with the Board's decision regarding the re-payment of the costs of the PSEO course may appeal to the area education agency for a waiver of reimbursement.
Students in grades nine and ten who are not in the talented and gifted program and students in grades eleven and twelve who take courses, other than courses taken under an agreement between the District and the post-secondary educational institution and/or approved by the Board, are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from the location where the course is being offered, and other costs directly related to taking any post-secondary education course. The students and/or their parents shall not receive reimbursement for tuition, transportation or other expenses. Students who take courses during the summer months when school is not in session are responsible for tuition, transportation to and from the location where the course is being offered, and other costs directly related to taking any post-secondary education course.
Eligible students may take up to seven (7) semester hours of credit at a post-secondary educational institution during the summer months when school is not in session if the student pays for the courses. Upon successful completion of these summer courses, students may receive academic and/or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the Board.
Successful completion of any course at a postsecondary educational institution is determined by the post-secondary educational institution. The Board shall have complete discretion to determine the amount of academic credit to be awarded to the student for the courses taken during the school year and for the courses taken during the summer.
The following factors are considered in the Board's determination of whether a student will receive academic and/or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the Board for a course at a post-secondary educational institution:
- the course is taken from a public or accredited private post-secondary educational institution;
- a comparable course is not offered in the District;
- the course is in the discipline areas of mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities, vocational-technical education or a course offered in the community college career options program;
- the course is a credit-bearing course that leads to a degree;
- the course is not religious or sectarian; and
- the course meets any other requirements set out by the Board.
All courses approved and paid for by the District, and those courses approved by the District and paid for by the student/family will:
- Be recorded on the official student transcript, including the letter grade granted by the post-secondary educational institution or the pass-fail indication granted by the post-secondary educational institution.
- Be included in figuring class rank, including valedictorian and salutatorian status, and the student’s grade point average.
- Be given graduation credit, as determined by the Board. Typically, a three (3) or four (4) semester hour post-secondary course will be awarded one (1) graduation credit.
The Superintendent is responsible for annually notifying students and parents of the opportunity to take courses at post-secondary educational institutions in accordance with this policy. The Superintendent will also be responsible for developing the appropriate forms and procedures for implementing this policy.
Approved: 05/24/2021
Reviewed: FY 2020-2021, May 24, 2021, June 28, 2021
Revised: 05/27/2021
I, __________________________, am a student at Columbus High School who is participating in the District’s post-secondary enrollment option. I state that I am aware of and have read the District’s policy on post-secondary enrollment instruction. I further state that I meet all of the requirements outlined in the District’s policy on post-secondary enrollment.
I, __________________________, am the parent/guardian of _____________________, a student at Columbus High School who is participating in the District’s post-secondary enrollment option. I state that I am aware of and have read the District’s policy on post-secondary enrollment instruction. I further state that I meet all of the requirements outlined in the District’s policy on post-secondary enrollment.
By signing below, you state that you are aware of and in agreement with the Board’s policy that, if you fail a course taken through concurrent enrollment (at the high school), at any institution with which the Columbus Community School District has entered into an agreement and/or for which prior approval has been granted by the District, that prior to graduation you and/or your family will be responsible for repayment to the District for the cost of that course according to the bill from the post-secondary institution.
For _____________ school year, I am agreeing to participate in the following post-secondary educational courses:
Course___________________________________
Course___________________________________
Course___________________________________
_____________________________ ____________________________
Student Signature & Date Parent Signature & Date
Please return this to guidance counselor as soon as possible.
Approved: 10/16/14
Reviewed: FY 2016-2017, August 15, 2016, June 28, 2021
Revised: 02/24/17
General Information
Students in grades nine and ten who the District has identified as talented and gifted students and any students in grades eleven and twelve are eligible to take post-secondary educational courses. Students are eligible to take post-secondary educational courses if they meet all of the requirements outlined in the Board’s policy on instruction at post-secondary educational institutions and as required by the post-secondary educational institution, and if the student has obtained the approval of the Superintendent.
The District has available a packet of materials concerning a student’s enrollment in post-secondary educational courses. The packet can be picked up from either the High School Principal or the Guidance Counselor. The following information is included in the packet:
1. A copy of the relevant Iowa law concerning enrollment in post-secondary educational courses.
2. A copy of the Columbus Community School District Board Policy concerning enrollment in post-secondary educational courses.
3. Information concerning the post-secondary educational institutions with which the district currently has a post-secondary enrollment agreement.
4. Application Form.
5. Notice of Student Registration Form. and
6. Parent/Student Postsecondary Enrollment Agreement Form.
Guidelines
The following is a simplified guideline to assist parents and students in utilizing the postsecondary enrollment option. The entirety of the Iowa law regarding the postsecondary enrollment option and the Board’s policy regarding the postsecondary enrollment option still controls all situations involving postsecondary enrollment option.
1. You must notify the District of your intent to enroll in a postsecondary enrollment course at registration time. You may do this by indicating your intent to enroll in these courses on the registration forms distributed in February each year.
2. You must first complete the District’s Application Form, including obtaining the required signatures, and return it to the guidance office.
3. All requests for post-secondary enrollment must be approved by the Superintendent and/or building principal PRIOR to enrollment.
4. Upon receiving approval on the District’s Application Form, you should fill out the Notice of Student Registration Form.
5. To be eligible for post-secondary enrollment, a course must;
a. Be non-sectarian;
b. Not be comparable to courses offered at the District (comparable courses are is determined at the discretion of administration and generally means that the content of a course provided to a high school student for post-secondary credit consists of substantially the same concepts and skills as the content of a course provided by the District);
c. Be credit-bearing course that leads to an educational degree;
d. Be in the disciplines of mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities and vocational-technical education; and
e. Not disrupt the normal student schedule at the high school, which shall mean not missing all or part of a scheduled class, including physical education or causing the need for an independent study course or any other special arrangements, etc.
6. If a course is approved, the District will pay a maximum of $250 per course and you will not pay for tuition unless you fail to successfully complete the course, as outlined in Board policy. If a course is not approved, it may be possible for you to take the course at your own expense. These situations will be handled on a case by case basis.
7. If a student fails any course at a post-secondary educational institution and fails to receive credit for any course at a post-secondary educational institution, the District is not required to pay for and/or reimburse the student/family for any costs associated with the post-secondary educational course, except as outlined in the District’s policy regarding the post-secondary enrollment option. If the student fails any course at a post-secondary educational institution and fails to receive credit for any course at a post-secondary educational institution, the student/family may be required to reimburse the District for any costs associated with the post-secondary educational course.
8. A student may take a course in the summer, but the District is not required to pay for and/or reimburse the student/family for any costs associated with the post-secondary educational course.
9. Transportation costs for attending a post-secondary educational course are the sole responsibility of the student/family.
10. All courses approved and paid for by the District, and those courses approved by the District and paid for by the student/family will:
a. Be recorded on the official student transcript, including the letter grade granted by the post-secondary educational institution or the pass-fail indication granted by the post-secondary educational institution.
b. Be included in figuring class rank, including valedictorian and salutatorian status, and grade point average.
c. Be given graduation credit, as determined by the Board. Typically, a three (3) or four (4) semester hour postsecondary course will be awarded one (1) graduation credit.
If you have any questions, contact the guidance or principal’s office.
Approved: 10/16/14
Reviewed: FY 2016-2017, August 15, 2016, June 28, 2021
Revised: 02/24/17