Ensure Accurate Credit Recognition for Postsecondary Enrollment Options

 

The purpose of this act is to uphold the intent of Minnesota Statute 124D.09 to promote rigorous academic opportunities

for high school students by ensuring all Minnesota public school districts, charter schools, and Tribal contract schools

equitably recognize and appropriately weight credits earned through Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) programs.

This act prohibits schools from denying or diminishing proper credit or weighted grade recognition for PSEO courses by

falsely claiming that comparable college-level courses are not available.

 

Students often face unnecessary obstacles when credits earned through PSEO are not fully accepted toward graduation or

degree requirements. While local school districts rightfully control their own curricula, the state funds and oversees

PSEO programs, making it reasonable to expect public high schools to honor credits earned through accredited

institutions. Establishing consistent statewide articulation agreements will reduce duplication, support equitable

access to higher education, and protect families from bearing added financial and academic burdens.

This act applies exclusively to public high schools and state colleges and universities that participate in state-funded

dual-credit programs. Private high schools may voluntarily opt in but will not be required to comply as they do not

receive state or federal funding.

 

1. Minnesota Statute 124D.09: The main state law in Minnesota that allows high school students to take college classes.

2. Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO): A state program permitting high school students to take college-level

courses for dual credit.

3. Articulation Agreement: A formal policy ensuring transfer and acceptance of credits between institutions.

4. Dual Credit: The simultaneous awarding of both secondary school (high school) credit and postsecondary (college)

credit for the same course.

5.Public High School: Any Minnesota high school receiving direct state funding.

6.Participating Postsecondary Institution: Any state college or university offering accredited courses eligible under

PSEO.

7.Commissioner: The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education or their designee, responsible for oversight

and enforcement of PSEO policies.

8. Comparable Course: A course offered by a secondary institution that is substantially equivalent in curriculum, rigor,

and credit value to a PSEO course.

 

Funding for this act shall be allocated from existing Minnesota Department of Education and Office of Higher Education

budgets dedicated to college readiness and dual-credit programs. Grants may be provided to districts and colleges that

develop or update articulation agreements consistent with this act’s goals.

 

Subdivision 1. Prohibition. No public school district, charter school, or Tribal contract school shall deny or diminish

appropriate credit or weighted grade recognition for courses satisfactorily completed through Postsecondary Enrollment

Options (PSEO) programs by falsely claiming that comparable college-level courses are unavailable.

Subdivision 2. Penalties. A school that violates subdivision 1 is subject to the following penalties:

(a) A civil fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $10,000 per violation or per student affected, as determined

by the Commissioner of Education;

(b) An order to provide full, retroactive credit and weighted grade recognition to all affected students within a

timeframe specified by the Commissioner;

(c) Reporting of the violation to the Minnesota Department of Education, which may withhold state funding or restrict

eligibility for grants or programs until compliance is achieved;

(d) Public disclosure of the violation on the Minnesota Department of Education’s website;

(e) Provision for affected students to appeal credit denial decisions to the Commissioner of Education, with expedited

review and resolution.

Subdivision 3. Repeated Violations. Schools found to commit repeated violations within a three-year period may face

additional sanctions, including but not limited to increased fines, probationary status, or loss of charter status as

applicable.

Subdivision 4. Enforcement. The Commissioner of Education shall enforce this section and adopt rules as necessary to

implement its provisions.

 

 

This act shall take effect beginning with the 2027–2028 academic year.