Academics

OVERVIEW 

Each year, tens of thousands of Iowa high school students earn college credit during high school to get a jump start on college. These jointly enrolled students are afforded the opportunity to save money, supplement their high school curriculum with rigorous college courses that would not otherwise be available, and expedite their progress toward a college degree. The Senior Year Plus legislation provides students with both high school and college credit, in most cases.  

Senior Year Plus serves as an umbrella for a variety of programs including postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO), Advanced Placement (AP®), concurrent enrollment, and career academies. 

The instructors may be a college/university professor or high school instructor serving as a community college adjunct faculty member. The courses may be taken on a college campus, at a high school, or through distance education. Even though there is a variation in the mechanisms available, Senior Year Plus provides consistency in expectations for students, instructors, parents, and school districts, and postsecondary institutions. Students must be adequately prepared for higher education, instructors must be qualified, and institutions must meet standards. 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY 

Students are required to meet all of the following conditions to be eligible to enroll in any course through a Senior Year Plus program where postsecondary credit is available to the student. The student shall have demonstrated proficiency in all of the content areas of reading, mathematics, and science as evidenced by achievement scores on the most recent administration of the Iowa Assessments for which scores are available for the student. The student shall meet the enrollment requirements established by the eligible postsecondary institution. The student shall meet or exceed minimum performance measures on any academic assessments that may be required by the eligible postsecondary institution. The student shall have taken appropriate course prerequisites, if any, prior to enrollment in the eligible postsecondary course, as determined by the eligible postsecondary institution delivering the course. 

For the AP and PSEO Programs and Concurrent Enrollment Programs: Students in 11th and 12th grades are eligible to participate, as well as 9th and 10th graders who meet the criteria. 

For Career Academies: Geared towards 11th and 12th graders, students in 9th and 10th grade may also be eligible to participate. Rising seniors receive priority. 

POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS (PSEO) 

Students may enroll in a college or university course if the course is not offered at the high school. Completion of the course generates high school and college credit. If the student fails to complete or receive credit for the course, the student may be charged a fee. Students enroll in PSEO courses by filling out a PSEO application form in the counselor’s office by the posted deadline for each semester's enrollment period. 

Find PSEO information in the course description guide linked at the top of this page. 

CAREER ACADEMIES PROGRAM 

Career academies, taught by Kirkwood Community College instructors, are career preparatory programs. The program of study is skill standards-based, integrates academic and technical instruction, utilizes work based and work site learning where appropriate and available, utilizes an individual career planning process, and helps students with a "try it before you buy it" approach where they experience classes within their career interest. Completion of the course generates high school and college credit. Students enroll in career academy courses during spring registration. 

Find Career Academy information in the course description guide linked at the top of this page. 

ALTERNATIVE CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT PROGRAM 

The Alternative Concurrent Enrollment program promotes rigorous academic or career and technical pursuits by providing opportunities for students to enroll in community college courses taught by high school or community college instructors at the high school, online or at a Kirkwood Community College site. Eligible students can enroll in concurrent enrollment courses during spring registration prior to the enrollment year. 

Find Alternative Concurrent Enrollment information in the course description guide linked at the top of this page.