PSEO Information Gap Report 2026: Most Mn Public Schools Break Important State Law, Robbing Students & Families of Vital PSEO Information

A new report to be released at a state capitol press conference, 10 AM on Friday, May 8, shows 68% of 386 Minnesota are breaking an important state law, withholding information on the Post Secondary Enrollment Options program (PSEO) from families and students that can save them millions of dollars and is required by state law. The conference will take place in the Capitol, room B 971.

The report measures PSEO information on all 386 school district and charter school websites across Minnesota and finds widespread non-compliance with state law requiring schools to share up-to-date PSEO information with students and families. ALL district and charter public schools should fully follow the state law. Research by People for PSEO and Catalyst for Systems Change on all 386 of the state's public school websites found that 51% of charters (33 of 65) and 28% (90 of 321) of traditional districts fully comply with the state law, 124D.09 subdivision 7. 

For example, many websites don't tell students that transportation funds are available for students from low income families, that they can use school computers to take on-line courses, that 10th graders can take both applied career/technical and academic PSEO courses if first earn a "C" in a career technical course, or that they can continue to participate in extracurricular activities while taking PSEO courses. These and other facts are required by the state law. People for PSEO and Catalyst for Systems Change have repeatedly informed MDE about this noncompliance over the last 9 years. Withholding information required by state law deprives students and their families of essential information needed to make informed decisions about PSEO participation. PPSEO and CSC will offer several recommendations for next steps at the press conference. This includes a study of PSEO by the highly respected Office of Legislative Auditor.

PSEO allows eligible 10th-12th grade Minnesota high school students to take free college courses, earning both high school and college credits at the same time. Established in 1985, PSEO has since provided tens of thousands of students with a head start on their education and career paths while saving millions of dollars in college tuition costs.

Regular reminders from the Minnesota Department of Education to school district leaders since 2015 are not working. This information is found in the full report that will be released by People for PSEO and Catalyst for Systems Change, 2026 PSEO Information Gap Report. Earlier research demonstrates that PSEO saves Minnesota families almost $60 million per year, and MN taxpayers about $15 million a year. Withholding the required information robs Minnesota families of hugely valuable opportunities. Data from the MN Department of Education (MDE), cited in the study, shows PSEO is a very valuable tool for closing high school graduation gaps.

“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.” said Khalique Rogers, Executive Director, Catalyst for Systems Change

Beatrice Handlin, Board President, People for PSEO "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 majorly 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 in many ways, and I believe every student in Minnesota should be informed enough to make the choice that is right for them when it comes to dual enrollment." 

PSEO Page Status	2022	2023	2024	2026
PSEO Page is up to date	153	163	163	123
PSEO Page is up to date and has inaccurate information	4	6	22	34
PSEO Page has missing information	175	139	122	123
PSEO Page has missing and inaccurate information	31	36	54	43
PSEO Page cannot be found	25	36	29	42
PSEO Page link is broken	2	10	1	21
Total	390	390	391	386

Read the full report on the People for PSEO website.

About People for PSEO

People for PSEO is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting access to Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) programs for Minnesota high school students. 

Catalyst for Systems Change is a Minnesota based nonprofit organization focused on breaking down barriers across education, workforce, housing, and civic engagement through experiential learning, youth leadership, and community driven systems change strategies.