Skip to content
  • Research

    Focus Areas

    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career
    • Dual Enrollment
    • Developmental Education
    • Guided Pathways
    • Advising & Student Supports
    • Teaching & Learning
    • Transfer
    • College to Career

    Publications Library

    CCRC’s complete collection of publications

    Presentations

    Webinars and conference presentations with CCRC researchers

    Guided Pathways Workshops

    Materials from our do-it-yourself workshop series

    Policy Resources

    Our collection of federal policy briefs and fact sheets

  • About Us
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
    • About CCRC
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
    • CCRC in the News
    • Opinion
    • Press Releases
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs
  • Overview
  • Important Dates
  • FAQs

Assessing Developmental Assessment in Community Colleges (Assessment of Evidence Series)

By Katherine L. Hughes & Judith Scott-Clayton
For many students entering community colleges, the first stop on campus is at an assessment center. More than half of these students will be placed into developmental education as a result of their scores on reading, writing, and mathematics entry assessments, yet there is little evidence that this improves student outcomes. This paper examines alternative perspectives on the role of assessment and how it is best implemented, reviews the validity of the most common assessments, and discusses emerging directions in assessment policy and practice. It concludes with implications for policy and research. A version of this paper was published as an article in the Community College Review, vol. 39.
  • Assessment of Evidence Series

Download Links

Download CCRC Working Paper No. 19
February 2011
Download CCRC Brief No. 50
February 2011
View article (subscription may be required)
November 2011

Related Publications

May 2013

The Opposing Forces That Shape Developmental Education: Assessment, Placement, and Progression at CUNY Community Colleges

February 2012

Predicting Success in College: The Importance of Placement Tests and High School Transcripts

February 2011

Introduction to the CCRC Assessment of Evidence Series

Additional Resources

For more policy briefs and fact sheets, visit CCRC’s Policy Resources page.

  • Our Research
  • About Us
  • Publications
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery
  • Our Research
  • About Us
  • Publications
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery

Community College Research Center, Teachers College, Columbia University
Box 174 | 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027

  • 212.678.3091
  • ccrc@columbia.edu

© 2025. All rights reserved.

Facebook-f Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram
Join our mailing list
  • Our Research
    • Focus Areas
    • Publications Library
    • Presentations
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
    • Policy Resources
  • About Us
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery
  • Our Research
    • Focus Areas
    • Publications Library
    • Presentations
    • Guided Pathways Workshops
    • Policy Resources
  • About Us
    • CCRC Staff
    • Research Affiliates
    • Advisory Board
    • Biennial Report
    • Employment
    • Contact
  • News
  • Community College FAQs
  • Blog
  • Pandemic Recovery