Rigorous research on developmental education reform, including multiple measures assessment, math pathways, and corequisite remediation, has shown positive impacts for all groups, creating a “rising tide lifts all boats” effect. But disparities in commonly measured academic outcomes of developmental education reforms persist across student characteristics. The field lacks information on the causes of these disparities and of the interventions that can be implemented to address them.
This project is beginning to address this knowledge gap with the goal of continuing to improve outcomes for students enrolling in reformed developmental education courses through sustained innovation. First, researchers are conducting a literature review and practice scan to identify the most promising approaches to improving outcomes. Then researchers and the Gates Foundation will work with selected community colleges in a one-year community of practice to develop or refine interventions aligned with these approaches that can be integrated into proven developmental education reforms. Finally, researchers will evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the developmental education reform innovation at one institution. Findings from this project will help institutions and the field develop and enact more intentional policies, practices, and programs that address existing disparities within developmental education reform, as well as broader institutional transformation efforts.
This project is funded by the Gates Foundation.