Congratulations to Betsy Picciano, Andrea Rusk, Paul Weinzierl, and John Schultz. They're examples of leaders who have used Minnesota's pioneering laws to help thousands of Minnesota high school students earn free college credit, up to and including a two-year Associate Arts (AA) degree. As Congress and Minnesota legislators debate proposals about paying for two free years of community college, these educators have developed model programs.
This year is the 30th birthday of Minnesota's Post Secondary Enrollment Options. The law allows 10th-12th graders to earn free college credit on a college campus, or via Internet courses.
More than 150,000 students have used PSEO to become better prepared for some form of higher education, explore their interests and save themselves and their families thousands of dollars.
People cited above are the most creative, constructive responders to PSEO. For example:
Picciano is the "point person" at Central Lakes College in Brainerd for dual credit programs. She's helped 18 Minnesota districts create programs in which high school students can earn up to an AA degree. She reported that 285 high school students have earned this degree since 2007-2008. Most courses are taken on the high school's campus.
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Andrea Rusk, Brainerd High School Principal, and her colleagues have developed a partnership with Central Lakes College that enabled 96 Brainerd students to earn an AA degree as they graduated from high school. Rusk estimates that 35 percent of the high school's juniors and 40 percent of the seniors have earned college credit before graduating via Advanced Placement, collaboration with Central Lakes and Post Secondary Enrollment Options.
Given the increasing value of a one, two or four year degree college degree and steadily rising college costs, virtually all students should consider taking at least one such course before graduating. They can do this in a career/tech or academic field, or some of both.
John Schultz, Hopkins superintendent, and his colleagues have developed a unique collaboration with North Hennepin Community College. Every Hopkins high school student earns three college credits when they successfully complete a "concurrent enrollment" course on financial literacy, a great subject for students to study. The only exception are students whose individual education plan, approved by parents, exempt them from this class. Hundreds of Hopkins students take other dual credit courses.
Another great example is at Higher Ground Academy, a St. Paul charter founded by Bill Wilson, former Minnesota Commissioner of Human Rights. Last year 87 percent of juniors and seniors earned college credit. More than 90 percent of Higher Ground's students are from low-income families, and all represent "communities of color." HGA promotes both PSEO and Advanced Placement courses.
State and national policy-makers should learn from and build on Minnesota's 30-year experience with dual credit. Extensive research shows the value of dual credit for students from all income levels and family backgrounds.
Taking such courses can transform how students feel about themselves. As one St. Paul student told me, when his teacher encouraged him to take a dual credit course, and he did well in it, "the fire within me was re-ignited."
JOE NATHAN, formerly a Minnesota public school teacher, administrator and PTA president, directs the Center for School Change.
