Transcript PSEO - BlueSky School

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
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WHAT IS PSEO?
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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
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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…
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Full-time PSEO status is 12-18 credits
 Part-time would be 11 credits and under
– P-T you would enroll in courses at Blue Sky and
college
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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
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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
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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
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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 50th %
– Juniors need minimum GPA of 3.0 or be in 66th %
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.
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CONS of PSEO
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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 continued…
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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
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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
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Take as many required high school
classes as possible.
– Those not completed in high school need to
be substituted at the post secondary
institution.
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Complete application to post secondary
institution.
– For participating institutions go to website:
• http://education.state.mn.us
• 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…
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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…
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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
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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.
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More Questions
Contact your Guidance Counselor at Blue
Sky!
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Catherine Parker
Amy Anderson
Melanie Fountaine (on leave)
Suzanne Finbraaten
Carla Anderson Diekmann
John Mizeur
Phaedra Poppen
Paul Moore
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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 55118
Or Fax it to this number: 651-642-0435
651-642-0435
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:
http://www.mnscu.edu/students/specialprograms/pseo/pseo_contacts.html