At Kasson-Mantorville High School, I truly believe one of the best opportunities for students to earn college credit is right here in our own classrooms. Through Advanced Placement (AP) and concurrent enrollment courses, students get a rigorous, college-level experience while still having the structure, support, and relationships that are so important during the high school years.
There are some real advantages to keeping that experience in-house. Our teachers know their students, they can keep a close eye on progress, communicate regularly with families, and step in early if a student starts to struggle. These courses are built to match college expectations, but in a way that makes sense for high school students. Along the way, students build strong study habits, time management skills, and accountability, all while staying connected to their school, activities, and peers.
From a financial standpoint, it’s also fair to ask a simple question: if taxpayers are already funding a student’s PK-12 education, why are we paying again for students to take similar courses somewhere else? In many cases, those same college-level opportunities are already available right here in our high school.
Across the state, Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) continues to be a popular pathway for students looking to get a jump start on college. Since its start in 1985, the program has allowed students to take college courses at no cost to families, with credits counting toward both high school graduation and future college degrees. However, it’s important to remember that those costs don’t disappear, your tax dollars are simply redirected to the college or university instead of staying in the local school.
Like most things in education, there are positives to PSEO, but it has also changed quite a bit over time. What was originally intended to give students a true college campus experience has, in many cases, shifted to online courses completed remotely (most of the time from a high school study hall). That shift has led many of us to take a closer look at how the program is working today.
Here at Kasson-Mantorville, we’ve also seen some changes in why students choose PSEO. Some of our local data suggests that students are sometimes drawn to the program because they believe certain courses may be easier than what we offer in-house. That raises some important questions about rigor and making sure students are choosing the path that truly prepares them for what comes next.
There are also some real challenges around communication. Because PSEO students are technically college students, their progress isn’t always shared with the high school or families during the semester. That can lead to situations where we don’t find out a student is struggling until final grades are posted. In some cases, that has created last-minute concerns about graduation requirements.
While those situations aren’t happening to every student, they do happen often enough that we need to pay attention and make sure we’re supporting students the right way.
There are also financial impacts to consider. As more students participate in PSEO, funding follows them to the college, which means fewer resources stay in our local schools to support programming for all students.
At the end of the day, PSEO is still a good option for some students, especially those who are ready for the independence and responsibility that comes with college coursework. But it’s not the only option, and it’s not always the best fit.
At Kasson-Mantorville, we encourage families to take a close look at all available pathways. For many students, AP and concurrent enrollment offer the best balance and all in a setting designed specifically for high school success.
As education continues to evolve, it’s important that we keep the focus where it belongs: doing what’s best for students while also being good stewards of the resources our communities entrust to us. For some students, that path may lead to the military; for others, it may be an apprenticeship or directly into the workforce, while many will choose to continue their education in college. Our role is to help each student find that path and provide the right opportunities and support to help them succeed.
