After being assessed, many students entering community colleges are referred to one or more levels of developmental education. While the need to assist students with weak academic skills is well known, little research has examined student progression through multiple levels of developmental education and into entry-level college courses. Research described in the CCRC report, “Referral, Enrollment, and Completion in Developmental Education Sequences in Community Colleges” (Bailey, T., Jeong, D.W., & Cho, S., 2008) addresses this concern. Relying primarily on a micro-level longitudinal dataset that includes detailed information about student progression through developmental education, CCRC analyzed patterns and determinants of student progression through sequences of developmental education starting from initial referral.

The Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and several blogs highlight these findings.

--Link to The Chronicle of Higher Education article, “Many Students Don't Even Attempt Remedial Courses, Study Finds” (January 19, 2009) by Elyse Ashburn at: http://chronicle.com/news/article/5823/many-students-dont-even-attempt-remedial-courses-study-finds

--Link to the Inside Higher Ed article, “Lost Before They Start” (January 19, 2009) by Scott Jaschik at: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/19/remedial

--Link to the Suite101.com article, “Senior Year in High School Revisited” (January 19, 2009)

by Michael Streich at: http://college-preparation.suite101.com/article.cfm/senior_year_in_high_school_revisited

--Link to The Official Thinkwell Blog entry, “21st Century Learning”  (February 12, 2009) by Carl at: http://blog.thinkwell.com/2009/02/21st-century-learning.html

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