Unlocking the Gate

No End Goal in Sight

Of the roughly 60% community college students who begin their college careers on the developmental education track, more than half fail to complete these courses and up to 70% never earn a postsecondary degree or credential.

A Spotlight on Current Strategies

Colleges have sought to improve developmental education via four general strategies: avoidance, acceleration, contextualized learning and student supports. Avoidance models seek to divert students from developmental education by bolstering their skills pre-college. Acceleration models support a condensed developmental education experience. Contextualized learning models pair basic skills with occupational or college-content coursework. The final strategy — student support programs — offers extra help to students in the form of advising or tutoring.

Favoring a Big Shakeup Over Small Steps

According to researchers, minor modifications will not lead to dramatic improvements in developmental education programs. Given that fewer than 50% of these students move into college-level courses, the issue is ripe for an overhaul that is both sweeping and substantial.

Keeping College in Focus

Of the four basic approaches embraced by colleges, two strategies — acceleration and contextualized learning — hold the most promise in helping developmental education students succeed. Both options help students skip the risk of becoming mired in multiple semesters of remedial work and set them on a path that connects directly to their college goals.

Reform Options to Put to the Test

This report identifies three untested innovations in developmental education practice that are worthy of a closer look. These are: 1) technology-aided approaches such as online tutorials; 2) improved alignment between secondary and post-secondary education; and 3) a curricular redesign that focuses on honing key career skills.

Considering the College Entrance Exam

Any far-reaching reform effort in developmental education must tackle the issue of placement assessments, which play a vital role in starting — and shaping — the modern student’s college career. Experts urge researchers and policy makers to look beyond standard entrance exams, develop more nuanced placement methods and then track the impact of these tools on a student’s trek through college.