PACT Charter School

Original Creation Date: June 16, 2015
Last Approved By: PACT Charter School Board of Directors
Last Approved Date: September 9, 2021
Year Reviewed: 2021-2022

PURPOSE

To define available college credit options for PACT secondary students in grades 9-12 who qualify for Post-Secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO), College in the Schools (CIS), and/or Advanced Placement (AP).

POLICY STATEMENT

PACT Charter School encourages students to take advantage of receiving college credit through the multiple avenues available.

PROGRAMS

PSEO, CIS, and AP courses promote rigorous educational pursuits and provide expanded course options. PACT students can receive both high school and college credit for these courses.

To ensure that a student has the best opportunity for success, plans must be coordinated with the School Counselor.

1. Advanced Placement (AP): AP courses are offered through the College Board at the PACT Charter School campus and taught by qualified PACT teachers. Students must meet a final exam score to receive college credit. Each college or university decides what AP credit(s) to accept.
2. College in the Schools (CIS): CIS courses are offered at the PACT Charter School campus and taught by qualified PACT teachers through a Minnesota accredited college or university.
3. Postsecondary Enrollment Option (PSEO): The PSEO program is offered through participating Minnesota postsecondary institutions, either on-campus or online, per MN Statute 124D.09. Some course restrictions may apply. Refer to the postsecondary institutions’ PSEO policy. Qualifying students may attend either full-time or part-time with tuition, fees, and textbooks paid for by the State of Minnesota or PACT (PACT may have an agreement with local institutions). A complete list of participating institutions is available from the School Counselor.

TRANSPORTATION

PACT is not obligated to provide transportation for PSEO students between the high school and the post-secondary institution.

PACT will reimburse low-income families for certain transportation costs incurred traveling to and from courses held on college campuses if requested by the parents or guardians. Certain mileage limits apply. Qualifying students (as determined by income levels set by the federal government) will be reimbursed at .15 cents per mile for travel from their homes to the post-secondary institution or from PACT to the post-secondary institution, whichever is less. PACT applies for mileage reimbursement through the state on behalf of eligible public school students. For more information, view the Mileage Reimbursement Program.

AP and CIS CURRICULUM

The Secondary Programming and Curriculum Committee will discuss and approve all AP and CIS curriculum when available or when changes are made. If the committee disapproves of the curriculum, the PACT School Board will determine whether to continue running the course.

ELIGIBILITY

Any PACT student in grades 9-12 meeting qualifying criteria according to grade level may apply. Other prerequisites may be required for specific courses.

1. Qualifying criteria for 12th graders in CIS and AP programs (students must meet one of the areas listed below):

• Student rank: Top 1/2 of class. The most current ranking (after the first semester for the next fall; at the end of the school year for students starting the spring semester and/or new students) will be used to determine eligibility.
• GPA: Cumulative high school GPA of 3.0. 
• Standardized assessment: Scoring in the 70th percentile as an 11th grader or the 50th percentile as a 12th grader on a nationally standardized, norm-referenced test. 
• Completion of Spanish II: Students may be eligible for a Spanish CIS course after successfully completing Spanish II and a Spanish teacher’s recommendation.

     2.  Qualifying criteria for 11th graders in CIS and AP programs (students must meet one of the areas listed below):

• Student rank: Top 1/3 of class. The most current ranking (after the first semester for the next fall; at the end of the school year for students starting the spring semester and/or new students) will be used to determine eligibility.
• GPA: Cumulative high school GPA of 3.5.
• Standardized assessment: Scoring in the 80th percentile as a 10th grader or 70th percentile as an 11th grader on a nationally standardized, norm-referenced test.
• Completion of Spanish II: Students may be eligible for a Spanish CIS course after successfully completing Spanish II and a Spanish teacher’s recommendation.

3. Qualifying criteria for 10th graders in CIS:

• Student rank: Top 1/10 of the class.
• Standardized assessment: Scoring in the top 10th percentile on a nationally standardized, norm-referenced test.
• Completion of Spanish II: Students may be eligible for a Spanish CIS course after successfully completing Spanish II and a Spanish teacher’s recommendation.
• Completion of Algebra II: Students may be eligible for a math CIS course if they have successfully completed Algebra II and have a recommendation from a math teacher.

4. Qualifying criteria for 11th and 12th graders in PSEO 

• Post-secondary institutions set their own criteria for admission into PSEO. Many institutions accept students based on the criteria listed below. Check with the post-secondary institution for their specific requirements.

5. Qualifying criteria for 10th graders in PSEO: 

• Eligible students may enroll initially in one Career and Technical Education (CTE) course through PSEO. If students earn a “C” or higher grade in this first course, they are eligible to take additional CTE courses while in 10th grade.
• To be eligible, the student must have taken the 8th-grade MCA reading test in the 8th-grade and have met the composite proficiency level of “meets or exceeds.”

6. Institutions may have additional or different eligibility requirements.

• PSEO students are responsible for inquiring at the institution they would like to attend for their eligibility requirements. Institutions that partner with PACT for CIS may have additional or different eligibility requirements communicated through PACT’s course registration materials.

7. PACT will inform all high school students (according to the MN statute 124D.09) of the PSEO program by March 1st.

All students interested in PSEO must turn in their intent form to the School Counselor by May 30. PACT will inform students of any consequences due to participation in the PSEO program, but the student, not PACT, is responsible for those consequences (including ineligibility for graduation). 

All eligible students interested in CIS or AP courses should indicate their interest in these courses during course registration.

MEETING PACT’s GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students may take a combination of high school, PSEO, CIS, and AP courses to meet the graduation requirements. Students are responsible for making sure they are familiar with and understand PACT’s graduation requirements and register for courses that will satisfy the required courses. PSEO students should refer to the PACT PSEO Transfer Credit Guide and register for courses to fulfill the required PACT courses. PSEO students should also schedule a time to meet with the School Counselor to determine if their courses will meet graduation requirements. Students are required to take the equivalent of one English and one Social Studies course per year, in addition to other requirements. See Policy 604 - Graduation Requirements.

CREDITS

Students receive both high school and postsecondary credit. Semester credit conversion:

Credit earned through a PSEO, CIS, or AP course (3 credits or more) will satisfactorily meet a full-year credit at PACT (i.e., a 3-credit English course would meet the 1-year required credit). A 3-credit course, while meeting the requirements of a full-year class in a subject at PACT, will only transfer as 0.75 credits. It is expected that additional electives will be taken to meet PACT’s graduation credit requirements.

GRADES FOR COLLEGE COURSES

Students will be graded on an A-F grading scale based on the grades they receive from the institution. If the institution awards a W, it will be recorded on the PACT transcript as a W.Students receiving an “I” (or incomplete) for a class will have one week from the end of PACT’s semester or their institution’s semester (whichever comes last) to complete the class and turn in a grade. If a grade is not given in that set time, a student will receive an F for that class. The School Counselor will receive final grades from the institutions. 

Due to most college classes, full-time PSEO, CIS, and AP students are urged to take no more than 3-4 college classes or 12 credits per semester. Weighted credit will be awarded on the following scale: