Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Weighted Gpa Policy Pseo topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board discusses new state requirement on weighting PSEO, concurrent and AP credits; seeks more input from principals
Summary
Trustees discussed Policy 620 (learning‑credit weighting) after a state law required boards to adopt a weighted‑GPA policy that treats PSEO and concurrent enrollment consistently; trustees asked principals and content experts for more analysis before a first reading.
The ISD 194 board discussed Policy 620 (learning‑credit weighting) at its July 22 meeting after staff flagged a recent state statute requiring boards to adopt a policy on weighted grade‑point averages that treats credits earned through PSEO (Postsecondary Enrollment Options) and concurrent enrollment consistently.
Board members and staff described the current local practice: AP classes at Lakeville receive a weight (a 1.2 multiplier is applied to an A, making a 4.0 an effective 5.0 in calculations), while some postsecondary credit earned through PSEO or concurrent enrollment has not been weighted in the same way. An assistant‑level staff presenter explained the statute’s direction: whatever the district does for concurrent enrollment must be applied to postsecondary (PSEO) coursework as well.
Directors raised several questions: whether colleges strip weights when assessing applicants (staff said they had reached out to the top 10 colleges and that several reported they unweight GPAs and use consistent 4.0‑scale comparisons), what the implications are for scholarship calculations and student risk taking, and whether weighting changes would lead to increases in PSEO enrollment and district costs. Director Amber Cameron urged bringing in principals and secondary content experts before a formal first reading; Director Carly Anderson and others expressed concern that making PSEO more attractive via weighting could increase district costs and risks if students fail outside college settings.
Board members asked administration to solicit additional input from principals and neighboring districts, to compile data on PSEO and concurrent outcomes (pass/fail rates, AP exam results) and to provide a district recommendation on how to align the policy with the new statute. Trustees did not vote on the policy; the board asked staff to return with more detailed analysis and, at a minimum, to include principals and curricular experts in future presentations.
