Skip to Main Content 

Senior Year Plus

Senior Year Plus serves as an umbrella for a variety of programs designed to provide high school students access to courses that have the potential to generate college credit. The following documents provide an overview of requirements:

icon Senior Year Plus Guide for Educators and Administrators
icon Year Plus Guide for Educators and Educational Administrators (printer friendly version)
icon Senior Year Plus Administrative Rules (Chapter 22)
icon Senior Year Plus Legislative Briefing (2009)
icon Senior Year Plus Initial Guidance on House File 2679 (2008)

 

Senior Year Plus Programs

Advanced Placement (AP®)
Advanced Placement (AP®) courses are college-level courses offered by high schools. The courses, curriculum requirements, and optional tests are provided by The College Board. Based on the examination score and the postsecondary institution's policies, students may be eligible for college credit or advanced standing at the college or university they later matriculate.

Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)
The Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act was enacted in 1987 to promote rigorous academic pursuits by providing high school students access to enroll part-time in nonsectarian courses in eligible postsecondary institutions. Now offered through Senior Year Plus, the program is available to eligible juniors and seniors as well as freshmen and sophomores who are identified as gifted and talented according to the school district’s criteria and procedures.

Concurrent Enrollment
The concurrent enrollment program, also known as district-to-community college sharing, promotes rigorous academic or career and technical pursuits by providing opportunities for high school students to enroll part-time in eligible nonsectarian courses at or through community colleges. Per Senior Year Plus, concurrent enrollment courses are offered through contractual agreements between community colleges and school districts within their service area.

Career Academies
Career academies are programs of study offered to high school students through an agreement or contract between their high school and a community college. They bridge high school and community college CTE programs.

Iowa defines career academies differently than national models which often involve small learning communities. In Iowa, career academies are programs of study that combine a minimum of two years of secondary education with an associate degree in a career preparatory program. The career academy is a program of study that is non-duplicative, sequential, and ensures that the course 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 with parent involvement, and prepares an individual for entry and advancement in a high-skill and rewarding career field.