Guidance

Course Offerings at Sentral Are Endless

updated September 2006

January 06, 2007

Along with the regular Sentral course offerings we at Sentral are pleased to support an endless number of courses options. We access these courses from many different options.

Iowa AP (Advanced Placement) Academy - Students can take a variety of courses from the Iowa AP Academy for no cost to the district and no cost to the student. To view a list of these courses access the following site: www.iowaapacademy.org or www.apexlearning.com

Iowa Learning Online - Iowa Learning Online is designed to help local Iowa school districts expand learning opportunities for their high school students through courses delivered "at a distance" using technologies such as the Internet and interactive video classrooms connected to the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). Students enroll in Iowa Learning Online courses through their local school district. To view a list of these courses access the following site: www.iowalearningonline.org

Post-secondary Enrollment Option Act - The Post-secondary Enrollment Options Act (Chapter 261C, Iowa Code) was enacted in 1987 to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high school students by enabling eleventh and twelfth grade students to enroll part-time in nonsectarian courses in eligible post-secondary institutions of higher learning in Iowa. A ninth or tenth grade student who is identified as a gifted and talented student according to the school district�s criteria and procedures may now participate under this Act. The specific purposes of this Act are to: promote rigorous academic pursuits; and provide a wider variety of options for students.

These courses can be taken from any Iowa eligible post-secondary institution of higher learning. This includes virtually all Iowa post-secondary institutions. The institution can only bill the school $250 for a course. Any additional costs are dropped by the institution. If a student fails the course they must reimburse the school the $250 tuition cost. Some of these courses are weighted and the district is reimbursed for a portion of the tuition. At Sentral most of our students take PSEO courses through one of the following:

Iowa Lakes Community College, Iowa Community College Online Consortium, Project BIO through Iowa State University.

Iowa ICN Consortium - The ICN Consortium is made up of approximately 20 schools, most of which are located in west central Iowa. ICN courses are shared among the districts. The cost to the school is the cost of ICN time.

The Sentral TAG program used these extended course offerings as the basis of the TAG program to promote rigorous academic pursuits; and provide a wider variety of options for students.

Students are informed each year during registration about all the different avenues for course offerings. Approximately 57% of the students at Sentral take advantage of these extended classes.