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Under the I-BEST model, basic skills instructors and college-level career-technical faculty jointly design and teach college-level occupational courses for adult basic skills students in both these areas. This paper presents findings from a study on the o

Wonderful research on the success of the I-BEST model. I-BEST is maybe the best example on how to effectively use data to assess the need for reform and the impact of the reform. It is a model that other states should consider strongly.

Assesses the impact on enrollment pathways and academic milestones on student success, as part of a larger study. The report finds that enrollment pathways are an effective strategy for adult students and academic milestones are more effective for younger students. The researchers used data from students at Florida community colleges. (Juan Calcagno, Peter Crosta, Davis Jenkins and Thomas Bailey; Community College Research Center, 2006)

This piece is great for outlining the basis of the recent movement toward "momentum" points in postsecondary education.

From ACT, the PLAN program helps 10th graders build a foundation for future academic and career success.

Story in Dallas News on the high percentage of Texas high school students who enter college underprepared. Outlines some of the strategies that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is supporting to improve student success.

Proceedings of the Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium's Developmental Education Initiative

SREB report articulating strategies for how states can significantly increase college graduation rates. Features the Cal State Long Beach strategy for serving students with developmental education needs

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) established a new systemwide initiative to redesign its developmental math and English curriculum using technology-supported active-learning strategies. The goal was to achieve improvements in learning outcomes as well as reductions in instructional costs. This effort was undertaken in collaboration with the National Center for Academic Transformation (NCAT), building on the successful models and lessons learned from NCAT's Program in Course Redesign and Roadmap to Redesign.

Report from JFF on Virginia's state strategy to improve community colleges through Achieving The Dream.

Story on the new innovations in college readiness. Includes overview of early assessment programs and the potential impact of the Common Core.

Details the work of the Voluntary Framework of Accountability, which has rolled out its Stage One pilot measures for college readiness and workforce, economic and community development measures.

CCRC designed a study to address the following question: What student characteristics, course-taking patterns, and other factors are associated with higher probabilities that students who require remediation will take and pass college-level math and English?

Discusses concerns over college remediation rates and disconnect between high school completion and college readiness. Describes the California Early Assessment Program, as well as the problem with a lack of data about its impact. (Education Week, premium article access compliments of edweek.org, 01/20/11)

Discusses core principles and promising practices for engaging faculty in changing community colleges and closing student achievement gaps. (Public Agenda and Achieving the Dream, March 2011)

Partnering with six community colleges, MDRC developed and evaluated four distinct programs based on the following approaches: financial incentives, reforms in instructional practices, and enhancements in student services. (MDRC, March 2011)

This brief addresses the current and projected need for skilled workers and the skills immigrants will need to be able to take these positions. These skills are based in academic and higher level thinking skills. The authors provide the rationale and research underlying the need to incorporate these skills into ESL classes, regardless of the level or purpose of the courses (e.g., beginning, life skills). These skills will assist them in transitioning to postsecondary work training, academic settings, or navigating life in general. They address the following skills as being essential to incorporate into the classroom: reading and listening, note taking and organizing information, and critical thinking.

Large research studies inside and outside California have established that the more levels of developmental courses a student must take, the less likely the student is to ever complete college courses in English and Math. The California Acceleration Project stresses that we can't keep attributing this problem to students' low skills or low motivation.

Presentation from Katie Hern and Myra Schnell to the California Community Colleges Support Network on the success of accelerated models in reading, writing and math. Presents different acceleration models, data on impact, process for developing an accelerated program.

Taskforce focused on developing policy and practice around remedial education.

Summarizes findings from VCCS' effort to improve the rates at which students complete developmental coursework and advance to take and pass college courses, particularly the initial college-level, or "gatekeeper," math and English offerings. (Community College Research Center, November 2009)

Describes Virginia's process of redesigning developmental education across the state's 23 community colleges and 40 campuses. By 2013, developmental math will be taught as a series of nine one-credit modules. Developmental English will be taught as a tiered subject, integrating academic reading and writing. (Jobs for the Future, October 2011)