PSEO & Fast Track

WHAT ARE PSEO AND FAST TRACK PROGRAMS?

FORMS
PSEO Procedures	Statewide Agreement
APS Promissory Note	Post-Secondary Reimbursement

PSEO/FAST Track information Sheet

Just what are the PSEO and Fast Track Programs?

The PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Option) and Fast Track programs are opportunities for Colorado high school juniors and seniors to take classes at any Colorado public college and have the tuition paid for by taxpayer dollars. Most school districts do not advertise this option and, when asked about it, may add extra “hoops” for homeschoolers to jump through in order to participate. However, Aurora Public Schools has an office set up just for homeschooled students who want to participate in such options. The APS Options folks are very helpful and easy to work with! Here are some basic facts about the programs:

Post Secondary Enrollment Option

Available to high school juniors or seniors (must be 16 years of age or older and have at least 11 high school credits)
District will pay for 2 classes per semester - only one can be an on-line or hybrid course
Parents pay tuition, then will be reimbursed by APS if student gets a grade of “C” or better
Travel expense, books and fees will not be reimbursed
Student must register for the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF)
Must take a designated standardized test (ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer Test)
Must be enrolled in an Options location for one semester prior to participating in the PSEO, or have an interview with Dr. Tom Synnott, the APS Options principal. A student may not start the PSEO in the second semester unless he/she has been an Options student in the Fall semester.
Must submit 3 forms plus test scores – the Statewide Agreement, the Promissory Note, and the PSEO/Fast Track Reimbursement form
If you are not already an Options student, you will need to get a registration form for the APS Options School and complete that also – call Jan at the Options office (# below)
Paper work is due to APS Options by May 5 for Fall semester, and November 10 for Spring semester (must register each semester)

Fast Track Program

Available to high school seniors only (must be 16 years of age or older)
Must have completed all high school graduation requirements (as set by the parent) by the end of the junior year
District will pay for a full course load per semester – only one can be an on-line or hybrid course
APS pays tuition up front, but parents must reimburse the district if the student does not get a “C” or better
Travel expense, books and fees will not be reimbursed
Student must register for the Colorado Opportunity Fund (COF)
Must take a designated standardized test (ACT, SAT, or Accuplacer Test) if not taken previously
Parent and student must meet with Dr. Synnott before the deadline - bring him copies of transcripts, high school graduation requirements, and the forms listed below
Must submit 3 forms– the Statewide Agreement, the Promissory Note, and the PSEO/Fast Track Reimbursement form
If you are not already an Options student, you will need to get a registration form for the APS Options School and complete that also – call Jan at the Options office (# below)
Paper work is due to APS Options by May 5 for Fall semester, and November 10 for Spring semester (must register each semester)

So, how do we get started?

Read the “PSEO Procedures” sheet carefully. You can call the Options office (303.340.0666) if you have questions.
Get onto the college of your choice’s website and download their catalog, or purchase one at the school. This will give you important information about policies, classes, degree requirements, etc.
Complete the paperwork listed above, including choosing classes (this is very flexible – just pick ones that the parent and student agree would be beneficial – if you need to change your mind later, the parent has the final say in class choice). Must be core academic courses – no PE classes or Private Music Lessons.
Register at the college of your choice (you are just registering into the college’s system…you are not registering for classes at this time) and apply for the COF credit.
Call the college (ACC – 303.797.5993) for testing center hours and take your Accuplacer Test (unless you already have ACT or SAT scores). The test costs $10 and takes about 2 hours. You take it on the computer and get your results immediately. (You can take the test before you register, but the testing center ladies might give you a hard time about it.)
Call Jan Price at the APS Options office (303.340.0666) in March or early April and make an appointment to meet with Dr. Synnott (also ask for a registration form, if you are not already enrolled with APS Options).
Make sure to bring all required materials (see chart above) to your meeting.
After you get your signed paperwork back from APS Options, meet with the high school relations person at the college you have chosen and have them sign your statewide agreement.
Register for classes (call the high school relations person and they will do it for you), then send the original signed agreement back to APS Options with a copy of your tuition bill and schedule from the college. Please do this as soon as possible so Options can pay your bill by the college’s deadline (some of the schools are really picky about this).
If you have a PSEO student, then pay your entire bill from the college. If you have a Fast Track student, then pay only the non-tuition portion (fees) of the bill.
Take your college student shopping for school supplies and books!
If your student is enrolled in the fall semester, he/she will have to get attendance forms completed by their professors. The Options office will send them to you (but you will have to hustle to get them sent back by the deadline after getting them completed).
You will also need to have an official transcript sent to the Options office at the end of each semester.
Remember the deadlines – do not wait until the last minute. Excuses will not be heard!