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Are kids really ready for college before they are old enough to drive to prom? The trend in most states across America says yes to this question. At increasing rates young students are earning dual credits for both their last two years of high school and their first two years of postsecondary education. Dual enrollment, or post-secondary enrollment options (PSEO), are changing the face of academics and curricula for teenagers. The benefits and costs for our children are not always clear, but it is clear that the continuum education model appears here to stay.

How does PSEO or dual enrollment work?

Each state is different in the parameters set for students. Minnesota was the first state to adopt this curriculum shift in 1985 as an attempt to address the needs of students who were not challenged in traditional classroom settings and to keep students on the path of continued education.

For most states and students, the school district works with local colleges, technical colleges, universities, and institutions that offer online courses beyond high school to provide classroom space (even virtually) for high school students in their junior or senior years. These students are required to be in the upper percentages of their classes, attain high exam scores, or meet a combination of standards. Some high schools have their own teachers certify their syllabi with universities and offer college level courses within the walls of the high school.

There are various levels of involvement in which students can participate in PSEO. Because they still need to earn credits in order to actually graduate from high school, they are often bound by certain guidelines for which subjects can be studied, what is considered a passing grade, and how many credits can be earned each year through dual enrollment.

Way back near the time of dinosaurs I was involved in a pilot program for PSEO at my high school. I was able to take almost all of my needed classes at the local university, but took the good old standard Home Economics course at my high school. I actually would have been required to take multiple college courses in order to assemble the subjects they deemed a part of the curriculum: economics, nutrition, and a child development or interior design course would have all been necessary. Yes – I went the much easier, less time consuming route and drove to high school for one 53 minute class where I made eggs and sewed a Bigfoot pillow.

What are the benefits?

Financial savings. In most states, there is full financial coverage by the state for the college courses taken through PSEO, including books. In essence, a child could graduate high school and enter her junior year of college debt free.

Academic challenges. Students who are academically ready find that college level courses fit their needs better than typical high school classes. They are able to move at their own pace and further their academic careers.

Social and cultural experiences. Kids often report that they chose PSEO in part because the environment of high school was not in their own best interests and they were ready to meet new people and have broader experiences. They wanted more than to be surrounded by a single group of people from similar backgrounds, and were ready to move away from the typically more immature setting.

What are the drawbacks?

Future plans. Not all children will or should move on to college after high school graduation. If college is not the likely route for your child, the PSEO road might not serve their goals. Perhaps you have a child with an entrepreneurial spirit – their high school years might be better spent expending extra efforts building their business plans and working as an apprentice than putting forth the efforts required for a college course. A college degree is no longer a guarantee for an amazing job or adequate salary, so our children need to take close examinations of what their future plans really are.

Academic challenges. College level courses, whether taken through high school teachers or on a university campus, will most likely require more study time and be more challenging. Not all students are ready for the rigors of dual enrollment independent study, often competing against people much older for grades on a curve.

Social and cultural experiences. A college campus will undoubtedly offer different experiences to a 16 year-old than a high school will. Sometimes university courses will be filled with non-traditional college students (older, of various social and cultural backgrounds, etc.). That can be a stark contrast for kids who have been shuffled along with same-aged peers of similar socioeconomic backgrounds for 10 years. There will also be a certain amount of sacrifice for a child who is at a college campus all day instead of roaming the halls with friends. Pep fests, notes in the lockers, and lunch room chatter will be traded for campus coffee shops where a student might sit alone and study for the next exam.

Making the decision

In just a few weeks my 15 year old daughter will be attending a private college campus 5 days a week as a full-time freshman as she simultaneously earns credits toward her junior year of high school. Yikes! Actually, when the benefits and drawbacks are examined, this is the perfect choice for her. She has been home schooled all of her life and is ready for a new environment, is academically very capable and ready for new challenges, and has a long-term goal that requires a college education (veterinary medicine).

Yes – it is ironic that she is attending college but I have to drop her off each morning because she is too young to get her driver’s license. However, the smaller setting of the private college reassures me that she will be in a safe environment, receiving a thorough education, as she pursues her dreams (without draining my bank account!). This year as I purchase school supplies for the kids it will be bittersweet – one journey ending with my oldest child and another opportunity beginning.