GettingPastGo

"Some of the conclusions from the review include: * Assessments appear to be more successful in placing academically prepared students than in placing academically underprepared students. * Students who narrowly miss an assessment "cutoff" score and who complete remedial courses are no more likely to complete credit coursework than students with similar scores who continue straight to credit coursework without taking remedial classes first. * Multiple measures for placement, such as high school transcripts and written essays in addition to assessments, may improve placement accuracy, as might the use of more diagnostic and affective assessments. "What we found is that assessment does not appear to be an effective means of placement for all students," said Dr. Hughes. "States may want to do more research in this area before relying too much on one measure, an assessment score in this instance, for placing community college students.""

Brief by the Alliance for Excellent Education that improved high school readiness will reduce remediation rates and save states money.

"This article provides a rationale for incorporating the development of critical thinking skills into the online learning environment. The author also presents possibilities for building these cognitive skills into online classes. She maintains that incorporating critical thinking skills is a necessary component of learning; these skills assist learners to evaluate and link the abundance of information and ideas that is available via information communication technologies (ICTs). "

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.

This is the first year report of a three year longitudinal study by the American Council on Education to understand the effects of obtaining the GED on postsecondary enrollment, persistence, and completion. This study supports transitioning adult learners without a high school diploma to the GED credential and into postsecondary with accelerated learning. This first year study used the information gathered at the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC). The NSC holds 93 percent of postsecondary student enrollment. The study focused on adults who acquired the GED credential in 2003. The pilot study founded credential recipients had a significantly higher enrollment rate into postsecondary than non-passers; females enrolled more than males; there is no significant ethnic difference between enrollees and non-enrollees.

Piece on how assessments can be more effectively employed for remedial education

Story on basic skills courses for adults that lead to livable wage employment

Opinion piece by Mike Rose from UCLA on developmental education reform and whether we need to set a floor for who is remediated.

Story in the Achieving the Dream initiative newsletter on the North Carolina math redesign

Paper from Jobs for the Future looking at three models for redesigning developmental math.

Article describes Achieving the Dream's efforts to respond to the project's evaluation by MDRC. Efforts include better faculty engagement and professional development, and sustaining and scaling up reforms. (Inside Higher Ed, 04/06/11)

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)

Provides information on the Accelerated Learning Project at the Community College of Baltimore County: background, results, costs and scaling up and replicating the model. (Fall 2010)

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)

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)

Describes a new effort by UMass - Amherst to recruit community college graduates to the state university's flagship campus. Starting this fall, UMass will offer students who transfer from community colleges with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average priority course registration and housing, scholarships to cover hefty student fees, and special advising services. (Boston Globe, 03/22/11)

Overview of the Statway initiative from the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching

Information shared by Uri Treisman at the Getting Past Go Workshop on Remedial Education in Nashville, TN on October 5-7, 2010

Presentation of the developmental mathematics course redesign project work and results at Jackson State Community College. The project has served as a pilot site for the Tennessee Developmental Studies Redesign initiative. (Betty Frost, Jackson State Community College, October 2010)

Resource shared at the GPG Workshop on Remedial Education in Nashville, TN on October 5-7, 2010

Provides an overview and history of the Tennessee Developmental Studies Redesign initiative. The PowerPoint presentation also addresses questions raised and answered by the initiative, including: why Tennessee needed to rethink developmental studies, how the state positioned itself for change, how Tennessee has changed developmental studies, and what strategies worked for the Tennessee's higher education system. (Dr. Paula Myrick Short and Dr. Treva Berryman, Tennessee Board of Regents, October 2010)

This resources was shared by Uri Treisman at the Workshop on Remedial Education in Nashville, TN on October 5-7