Whites, Privileged Students Primary Beneficiaries Of Ohio Early College Program, Study Finds
A study of Ohio’s Post Secondary Enrollment Options program finds that nine of 10 of its participants are White, and most enrollees come from suburban rather than urban or rural high school districts. The study by the KnowledgeWorks Foundation, Ohio’s largest education philanthropy, also takes PSEO to task for lacking any data showing PSEO’s positive impact on college outcomes. The study comes as the Ohio General Assembly prepares to expand the program at the behest of Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_8880.shtml
July 27th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
I am disappointed with the tone of this article and have some general questions that perhaps the author or other readers may be able to answer to clarify the overall message of the article.
First, is having a participation rate for a voluntary program that is 90% caucasian a bad thing?
Second, if the answer to the first question is “Yes” then please explain how increasing the quality of high school education of any American, regardless of color, negatively impacts society even if its effects on college outcomes is unclear.
Finally, (answers with conjecture are welcome here) why aren’t minority students taking advantage of the program when it appears to be tailored for them?
July 27th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
The program must be made available to everyone or it is unfair. However, many cultures in our nation (regardless of skin color) don’t put a priority on a college education. That is the reason for a lack of diversity on college campuses, not money. The change must happen in the cultures of under represented populations.
September 20th, 2007 at 2:59 am
I, too, am disappointed with the tone of this article. PSEO is available to all students regardless of race. Maybe it is the individual school districts who are not encouraging their students to take advantage of this program. My daughter is a PSEO student who was critized in her H.S. chemistry class and told she was costing the district money by participating in this program. She will have btw. 30-33 credits hours under her belt by the end of this school year and this will decrease her college debt considerably. Ohio public universities titution is as much as other states’ private universities–THIS IS WHY WE ARE LOSING COLLEGE STUDENTS TO OTHER STATES. It will continue to happen until costs are brought under control. Ohio has placed a cap on titution, but since that was put into place the universities have increased room and board -Ohio State just did—people will continue to leave this state for their education, its just too expensive here.