Senior Year Plus Program

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.

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, and 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.

More information about Kirkwood Regional Center Career Academies Options

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 in eligible courses at partnering community colleges. Per Senior Year Plus, concurrent enrollment courses are offered through contractual agreements between community colleges and school districts within their service area.

More information about concurrent enrollment at Kirkwood

The Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act was enacted in 1987 to promote rigorous academic pursuits by providing high school students access to enroll in courses at 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 (ELP) according to the school district’s criteria and procedures.

More about PSEO options at the University of Iowa

The summer college credit program was enacted as part of the Future Ready Iowa Act (House File 2458) and is designed to increase participation in career and technical education programs aligned to in-demand occupations. The Future Ready Iowa initiative calls for 70 percent of Iowans to have education or training beyond high school by 2025 to ensure Iowa's workforce is equipped with the skills and education employers need.

2024 Summer Concurrent Enrollment offerings:

• PSY-111 Intro to Psychology (two online sections)
• SPC-101 Fundamentals of Oral Communication (three online sections) 
• WBL-200 Practicum/Field Experience: CTE through Workplace Learning Connection