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MPS and most Minnesota public schools districts break state’s PSEO law, denying students vital information

Henry Brick (student at Jordan High School), Ella Palm (student at Orono High School) and Samia Mohamud (high school student in Bloomington), part of the Changemakers Program run by Catalyst for Systems Change, pose with People for PSEO Board President Beatrice Handlin and Catalyst for Systems Change Executive Director Khalique Rogers. The Changemakers Program brings high school students from all over Minnesota - urban, rural and suburban - to the Minnesota House of Representatives in the fall for a day. Young people identify several priority issues. CSC then helps them turn those ideas first into issue papers, and then bills, and then works with the high school students to help those bills become laws. Over the last several years, there have been a number of student ideas that have become laws. Each student is paid $50 for the day. (Photo submitted)

MPS and most Minnesota public schools districts break state’s PSEO law, denying students vital information_Beatrice Handlin, Khalique Rogers, and Joe Nathan.mp3

Posted Thursday, May 14, 2026 9:48 pm

by Beatrice Handlin, Khalique Rogers, and Joe Nathan

A stunning new report has good and bad news for Minnesota ninth to 11th grade students who want to challenge themselves and potentially save thousands of dollars in college/university costs. The good news is that students have until May 30 to apply for free college career/technical and/or academic courses via Minnesota’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) law and notify their high school. The bad news is that more than two-thirds of the state’s public school districts – including Minneapolis Public Schools, don’t provide information about the program on their web sites that the PSEO law and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) say must be posted on their website. There’s a way, in less than three minutes, that you can help.

The MPS district website omits the fact that students can apply both in the spring (notifying the high school by May 30) and in the fall (notifying the high school by Oct. 30). Students should know that they have two opportunities to register throughout the year.

One of us (People for PSEO Board President Beatrice Handlin), hopes that this report starts conversations and changes across the state. All students should have up-to-date and accurate information so they can make informed decisions that can influence their future plans, achievements, and finances. PSEO was an amazing opportunity for me as a high school student – it changed my life for the better. Every Minnesota student should be informed enough to make the choice that is right for them when it comes to dual enrollment.

For 40 years, PSEO has offered opportunities for Minnesota high school students to earn free college credits on a college campus. 11th and 12th graders who meet higher ed admissions standards can do this part or full time. Tenth graders meeting standards can take one career technical/vocational course. If they earn a C in that course, they can enroll part or full-time. Students also can take online courses.

MDE is clear about what the law requires, providing sample language for websites. Then it explains: “Please consider the following language as the minimum to support this statute requirement.” This information is here: https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/ccs/pseo/023615

Our new study, 2026 PSEO Information Gap Report shows that more than two-third (68 percent) of Minnesota’s 386 public school district websites are not doing what the law and MDE say are required. Each of these websites is rated in the report. Readers can see how their own and other districts are doing.

The report documents serious omissions, including websites that don’t tell students:

They may use school computers and internet to take online PSEO courses
Funds are available to help students from low-income families with transportation costs
Students may participate in high school extracurricular activities as they take PSEO courses
10th graders can take one career/technical course. If they earn at least a C, they can take additional career technical and/or academic courses
To help schools plan, students must notify schools by May 30 for first semester, or Oct. 30 for second semester.

Some educators don’t like PSEO provisions that involve dollars following students from districts to colleges/universities, paying tuition, book and lab fees. We understand those concerns. Among other things, the report urges that the non-partisan Office of Legislative Auditor study PSEO, identify strengths and possible improvements.

On May 8, the Legislative Audit Commission voted to submit PSEO to all state legislators as one of several possible studies. Many Republicans and DFL’ers have made this recommendation. This is one of a number of studies that the Legislature and OLA currently are considering. You can help by sending a brief note to your state senator and state representative encouraging them to vote for this study.

While all Minnesota public schools must post this material, the report found significant differences between Minnesota traditional district and charter public schools. Fifty-one percent of the charters post all the required information, compared to 28 percent of traditional districts. The full report is here: https://www.peopleforpseo.org/research and here https://www.catalystforsystemschange.org/.

The report is co-authored by People for PSEO, a youth-led group of current and former PSEO students and their allies, and Catalyst for Systems Change, a statewide group “focused on breaking down barriers across education, workforce, housing, and civic engagement."

Former PSEO student Khalique Rogers, executive director of Catalyst for Systems Change, and a Minneapolis resident, noted that when he originally thought about taking PSEO courses, his (St Paul district) high school discouraged him, thinking it might be too hard. However, Rogers did take PSEO and did well. Rogers believes: "This is about opportunity, transparency, and ensuring students can fully access a program that has changed countless lives across Minnesota. A student’s future should never depend on whether their school decided to fully inform them about their opportunities.”

Beatrice Handlin is a former PSEO student and president of People for PSEO. Khalique Rogers is a former PSEO student and executive director, of Catalyst for Systems Change. Joe Nathan helped write the PSEO law and has helped research, refine and advocate for the law since 1985.