CHAPTER 22
POSTSECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
281—22.1(261C) Definitions.
“Act” means the postsecondary enrollment options Act, Iowa Code chapter 261C.
“Part-time enrollment” at an eligible institution shall be defined according to the policies of the eligible institution.
281—22.2(261C) Enrollment procedures. A student who first enrolls under the Act at the beginning of grade 11 may enroll in postsecondary courses for secondary credit for a period of time not to exceed four semesters, or six quarters, or the equivalent of two academic years. A student who first enrolls under the Act at the beginning of grade 12 may enroll in postsecondary courses for secondary credit for a period of time not to exceed two semesters, or three quarters, or the equivalent of one academic year. An eleventh or twelfth grade student enrolling for the first time under this Act in a postsecondary course for secondary credit during the school year shall have participation eligibility reduced proportionally. A ninth or tenth grade student who is identified as a gifted and talented student according to the school district’s criteria and procedures is eligible to enroll under this Act.
Students are eligible for summer enrollment of up to seven earned semester hours of credit if they have completed the eleventh grade but have not yet completed the requirements for graduation, and if the student pays the cost of attendance of those summer credit hours.
281—22.3(261C) Student eligibility. Persons who have graduated from high school are not eligible under Iowa Code chapter 261C.
Eligible students shall be residents of Iowa.
Nonpublic school students meeting all other eligibility requirements may apply to take courses under the Act in the public school district where the nonpublic school student attends, provided that neither the nonpublic school nor the public school district of attendance offers a comparable course.
Postsecondary institutions may require students to meet appropriate standards or requirements for entrance into a course. Such requirements may include prerequisite courses, scores on national academic aptitude and achievement tests, or other evaluation procedures to determine competency. Acceptance of a student into a course by a postsecondary institution is not a guarantee that a student will be enrolled in all requested courses.
Priority may be given to postsecondary students before enrolling eleventh and twelfth grade students in courses. However, once an eleventh or twelfth grade student has enrolled in a postsecondary course, the student cannot be displaced by another student for the duration of the course.
Students shall not “audit” postsecondary courses. The student must take the course for credit and must meet all of the requirements of the course which are required of postsecondary students.
In order to assist students and their parents or guardians to make knowledgeable decisions regarding participation and to assist school districts to plan for the following school year, school districts shall inform their students of the availability of the opportunity provided by the Act.
A student anticipating enrollment under this Act shall inform the school district and the authorities in charge of an accredited nonpublic school of the intent to participate, apply at the postsecondary institution, and sign a statement indicating that the student and parent or guardian have received information about the Act.
The school district or accredited nonpublic school shall certify the eligibility of its students for participation under this Act. A student shall not be eligible for participation until the school district or accredited nonpublic school completes the certification of eligibility.
281—22.4(261C) Eligible postsecondary courses. These rules are intended to implement the policy of the state to promote rigorous academic pursuits. Therefore, postsecondary courses eligible for students to enroll in under Iowa Code chapter 261C shall be limited to:
Nonsectarian courses;
Courses that are not comparable to courses offered by the school district where the student attends which are defined in rules adopted by the board of directors of the public school district;
Credit-bearing courses that lead to an educational degree;
Courses in the discipline areas of mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities, vocational-technical education, and also the courses in career option programs offered by area schools established under the authorization provided in Iowa Code chapter 260C.
A school district or accredited nonpublic school district shall grant academic or vocational-technical credit to an eligible pupil enrolled in an eligible postsecondary course.
281—22.5(261C) Request for payment time frames. By May 1 of each calendar year, postsecondary institutions shall send to local school districts a request for payment for participation in the postsecondary enrollment options Act. The request shall identify the students, courses, credits, and charges.
A pupil attending an accredited nonpublic school shall be counted as a shared-time student in the school district in which the nonpublic school of attendance is located.
281—22.6(261C) Tuition reimbursements and adjustments. The failure of a pupil to complete or otherwise to receive credit for an enrolled course requires the pupil, if 18 years of age or older, to reimburse the school district for the cost of the enrolled course. If the pupil is under 18 years of age, the pupil’s parent, guardian, or custodian shall sign the student registration form indicating that they assume all responsibility for the costs directly related to the incomplete or failed coursework. A waiver verification form shall be available from the area education agency for use by the pupil or pupil’s parent, guardian or legal custodian to cite legitimate reasons for the pupil’s inability to complete or pass the coursework.
An eligible postsecondary institution shall make pro rata adjustments to tuition reimbursement amounts based upon federal guidelines established pursuant to 20 U.S.C. §1091b.
These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code Supplement chapter 261C.
[Filed 10/18/88, Notice 9/7/88—published 11/16/88, effective 12/21/88]
[Filed 10/12/90, Notice 9/5/90—published 10/31/90, effective 12/5/90]
[Filed 11/22/91, Notice 10/2/91—published 12/11/91, effective 1/15/92]
[Filed 12/14/92, Notice 9/16/92—published 1/6/93, effective 2/10/93]
[Filed 1/14/94, Notice 10/27/93—published 2/2/94, effective 3/9/94]