Question

How can developmental education programs be reformed to be more successful?

Why are we asking?
More than half of incoming students at community colleges arrive academically underprepared for college-level work and get placed into developmental, or remedial, classes. Few of these students end up completing their required sequence of developmental coursework needed to enroll in college-level courses, let alone graduating from college with a diploma or certificate. Reforming developmental education is a central challenge facing higher education today.

Working Toward a Solution

Report

Doubling Graduation Rates

The City University of New York’s comprehensive ASAP program nearly doubles the three-year graduation rate for developmental education students in community college – at a lower cost per degree than regular services. ASAP also increases rates of transfer to four-year colleges.

Overview »
Full
Project

The Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness (CAPR)

The Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness (CAPR) conducts research to document current practices in developmental English and math education across the United States and to rigorously evaluate innovative assessment and instructional practices. CAPR, led by MDRC and the Community College Research Center, is funded by the federal Institute of Education Sciences.

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Background Resources