High school students in school districts bordering Michigan’s state borders are one step closer to more post-secondary and dual enrollment options after the House approved legislation last week by state Rep. Aaron Miller, of Sturgis.

The legislation amends the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act with the specific stipulation that the out-of-state educational facility must be within 20 miles of the shared border for students enrolled in a public, charter or private school district.

“We’ve got to give all of our state’s students the best opportunity for their education, even if that is not within Michigan’s borders,” Miller said. “There are portions of our state where the nearest Michigan-based dual enrollment programs are quite a distance away, so we have to look at what’s reasonable for a student: drive 50 minutes away or 10?”

Two Michigan educators agreed with Miller as Brent Holcomb, superintendent of the Lewis Cass Intermediate School District in Cass County, and Stephen McNew, superintendent of the Monroe County Intermediate School District, joined Miller before the House Education reform Committee on Sept. 14.

“We have found that several school districts in neighboring states send their students into Michigan for post-secondary education programs, which just reinforces this is good policy,” Miller said. “This was always about our commitment to education going beyond our physical borders for the good of the state’s future.”

HB 4735 advances to the Senate for its consideration.