Published the week of 5/15/05

Over and over, they say "yes." That's how students from all over the state respond, when asked, "if you were to do it over again, would you choose to participate in the Post-Secondary Options program. This spring is the 20th anniversary of that landmark program - one more law that Minnesota adopted first, followed by many other states.

Passed in 1985, Post-Secondary Options allows high school juniors and seniors students to take college courses, full or part time, with tax funds following them, paying their tuition, books and other fees. Despite enormous initial opposition from school boards, superintendents and teachers unions, PSEO has been a huge success.

A statewide survey our Center conducted this year found that 82% of Minnesotans "strongly support (or) support" the law, compared to 11% who "oppose or strongly oppose" it. A statewide poll of more than 1000 PSEO students, carried out several years ago, found more than 80% of PSEO students answered "definitely yes," when asked if they would do it over again.

They speak eloquently about why. One young woman wrote "I was not challenged in my schoolwork at my (suburban) high school, even while taking honors classes and I found the atmosphere too restrictive and controlling. The college experience can be incredibly rewarding." However, this same youngster noted PSEO is only one of several good options: "having choice of programs like Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, College in the Schools and Post-Secondary Enrollment is important because different students have different needs."

Another youngster told legislators that Post Secondary Options "changed and guided my life to a whole new dimension. The University gave me the flexibility to discover who I am."

A parent wrote that the program had been "a wonderful transition to college" for his three children. I could fill 10 columns with stories of youngsters looking for something different - challenge, a different environment, etc, and found it, blossoming via PSEO.

State Department figures show that more than 7100 students participated in PSEO last year - about the same number as have participated in the last 5 years. The number of students at various higher education institutions varies widely around the state: 46 at Hibbing Community College, 130 at Mesabi in Virginia, 40 at Dakota County Technical College, 244 at Hennepin Tech in Brooklyn Park, 530 at North Hennepin in Brooklyn Park, 106 at Winona State, 628 at Normandale, etc.

That's in part because many school districts responded with new, more advanced courses: Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or College in the Schools. Our research showed that only 1970 Minnesota students took Advanced Placement tests in 1986, the first year of Post Secondary Options. By 2001, that number increased to 14,839, a 753% increase.

More than 50% of high school principals surveyed by Minnesota's legislative auditor said that the program actually increased communication between high schools and colleges - a very good sign.

Sometimes good ideas are controversial when proposed. That was certainly true of PSEO. But on a bi-partisan basis, legislators agreed to give it a true. Results have been very encouraging.