High School Expanded Options Program

The Expanded Options Program (EOP) was created by Oregon legislators in 2005 to promote opportunities for high school students to continue their education, earn college credit, and gain early entry into post-secondary education.

The Independent Study Program at Portland State University offers college courses to advanced junior- and senior-level high school students regardless of whether they qualify for the Expanded Options Program. If you qualify for the EOP, your high school pays for tuition, fees, and course materials. If you do not, talk with your high school counselor to find out if your high schools will pay for fees and tuition or if your parents must pay for everything.

EOP Process:

1. The student applies for the Expanded Options Program at their high school.
2. If the student is accepted into the program, the student's high school EOP advisor will determine, along with the student and their parents, a course of college study, and identify an appropriate post-secondary instituion from which the student can take approved courses.
3. If the Independent Study Program is selected, the counselor would contract the Independent Study Program to find out if the school district has a current written EOP agreement with the Independent Study Program at PSU.
4. Once the written agreement is in place, the student and their high school EOP advisor would complete and submit the following to the Independent Study Program:
   1. College registration form
   2. EOP Student Waiver form
   3. School District Billing Agreement form
   4. School District purchase order in the amount of tuition and fees

5. The high school EOP advisor would assist the student in purchasing any required textbooks and/or course materials, such as calculators, and/or making sure that students have the needed technology resources available to them, such as computers, high speed Internet connection, computer printer, etc.
6. Once the forms and payment are received and processed, the PSU Independent Study Program will provide the student with the course content and the school district with notification of the student's enrollment.
7. The student will then begin their course of study, communicating directly with their PSU course instructor and following the directions provided in their course content materials.
8. The PSU Independent Study Program will periodically report school district EOP enrollment totals to the Oregon Department of Education as required by law.
   

• NOTE TO PARENTS OF MINOR CHILDREN: Minor students who take college-level courses are no longer treated as minors according to the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Therefore, parents no longer have the right to access the academic records of their child.

• Free up your school schedule: Have more time for in-school electives if you take state requirements from Independent Study.

• Advance your studies: Take college-level courses and earn both high school and college credit at the same time.

• Make use of summer: Complete a four week course and still have time off before school starts again in the fall.

• Be in charge of deadlines: You decide when to turn in coursework and take exams within the maximum 18 month time frame.

• Take it with you: Study wherever you are: at school, at home, on vacation. Courses available online or in print.

• Talk with your instructor: Your Oregon certified instructor is available when you decide you need guidance.

• Start anytime: You can register and start today.