Researchers from CCRC and MDRC, who co-lead the Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness, are currently investigating the effects of alternative assessment and placement strategies on students’ academic performance, persistence, and progress toward college degrees using randomized control studies.

In this session, the presenters first explained why there is a need to change assessment and placement practices and shared information on approaches to developing and testing alternative strategies based on data analytics. Next, the presenters asked participants to engage in and discuss a short self-assessment of the conditions at their college that would support or hinder the implementation of an alternative assessment and placement system. Finally, representatives of two colleges discussed the way their institutions arrived at a decision to participate in these projects as well as their initial impressions of how the new assessment and placement systems have been experienced by college personnel and students.