national conference on acceleration - postsecondary research

National Conference on National Conference on Acceleration Acceleration

Presentation by Presentation by

Thomas Bailey, The Community College Research CenterThomas Bailey, The Community College Research Center

Donna McKusick, The Community College of Baltimore Donna McKusick, The Community College of Baltimore CountyCounty

June 24th, 2010 Tremont Hotel, Baltimore

WelcomeWelcomeParticipants in the Discussion

College FacultyCollege Administrators Research Organizations

Advocacy GroupsPublic Policy Organizations

A Framework: A Framework: Increasing college completionIncreasing college completion

◦ AACC/League: 50% more by 2020

◦ Gates: Double the percentage of students who earn a postsecondary degree by age 26

◦ MHEC: Increase by 20% the number of certificates and degrees by 2012

Why is this so important? Why is this so important?

Annual Earnings

No high school diploma - $18, 734High school diploma - $27,915Associates degree- $38,200Bachelors degrees - $51,206Advanced degree -$74,602

Source: 2004 Census

Another angle on Economic EquityAnother angle on Economic Equity

The Developmental Education The Developmental Education ConnectionConnection

Nearly 60% of all community college students place in developmental education

And how do they do?

A National Focus on A National Focus on Developmental Education Developmental Education

Began with AtD

Has resulted in increased research on outcomes

Cost of developmental education

Is developmental education broken?

Referrals to Levels of Dev. Ed.

Math - Full Sample

3 levels below19%

2 levels below16%

1 level below24%

Not referred

41%

Reading - Full Sample3 levels below

3%2 levels below

7%

1 level below23%

Not referred

67%

0.2

.4.6

.81

‐50 ‐25 0 25 50CPT Score Relative to Math Cutoff

OutcomeE[Y|Z=z]

Outcomes for remedial students

Outcomes for non -remedial students

Local treatment effect

00.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

‐50 ‐25 0 25 50Assessment Score Relative to Cutoff

StudentOutcome Outcomes for

college ready students

Local treatment effect

Outcomes for remedial students

Completion of First College‐Level Course and Retention by CPT Score and Subject

0.2

.4.6

.81

‐50 ‐40 ‐30 ‐20 ‐10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Math Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Math ITT Table 4) = ‐0.061(0.013)Outcome: Completion of First College‐Level Course

0.2

.4.6

.81

‐50 ‐40 ‐30 ‐20 ‐10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Math Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Math ITT Table 4) = ‐0.021(0.011)Outcome: Fall‐to‐Fall Retention

0.2

.4.6

.81

‐50 ‐40 ‐30 ‐20 ‐10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Reading Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Reading ITT Table 4) = ‐0.068(0.008)

0.2

.4.6

.81

‐50 ‐40 ‐30 ‐20 ‐10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Reading Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Reading ITT Table 4) = ‐0.009(0.008)

0.2

.4.6

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Math Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Math ITT Table 5) = -0.019(0.008)Outcome: Transfer to SUS

0.2

.4.6

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Math Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Math ITT Table 5) = -0.030(0.008)Outcome: Degree Completion

0.2

.4.6

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Reading Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Reading ITT Table 5) = -0.019(0.004)

0.2

.4.6

-50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30CPT Score Relative to Reading Cutoff

Estimated Discontinuity (Reading ITT Table 5) = -0.029(0.004)

Transfer to State University System and Degree Completion by CPTScore and Subject

Performance in First College‐level CourseOnce enrolled in gatekeeper, students who had skipped developmental

education did about as well as those who took dev ed.

See Table 13. Excludes those with missing recommendations.

What Does This Say About What Does This Say About Assessment?Assessment?

No obvious cutoff pointConfusion about what it means to be “college ready”Assessments are not good predictors of future success in collegeDo not provide enough diagnostic information?

Implications for EffectivenessImplications for EffectivenessDev ed does not improve outcomes for students who score just below the cutoffSome students who skip dev ed do as well in college courses as those who don’t skipWe know little about the effectiveness of services for students far from the cutoff scores, but few complete the sequenceCurrent system neglects the academic needs of weaker “college level” students

Achieving the Dream DatabaseAchieving the Dream Database

250,000 studentsAll first time (in the college) degree seeking students (full or part time)57 colleges in CT, FL, NC, NM, OH, PA, TX, VA, WANot representative of all CCs—similar to large, urban institutions with lower funding per student

Not enrolled18%

3 levels below

Not Completed25%

Not enrolled16%

2 levels below

Not completed12%

Completed16%

Enroll

Pass

Referred to Lev. 3 46824

Not enrolled7%

1 level below

Enroll

PassNot completed

6%

Enroll

In‐Order Course Completion and Enrollment for Math Remediation

82%

57%

41%

29%

22%

Not enrolled31%

3 levels below

Not completed13%

Not enrolled17%

2 levels below

Not completed4%

Completed22%

Enroll

Pass

Referred to Lev. 3

7987

Not enrolled10%

1 level below

Enroll

PassNot completed

4%

Enroll

In‐Order Course Completion and Enrollment for Reading Remediation

39%

56%

69%

35%

25%

E3, no C3,exit

R=3

3

2

1

GK

Exit withoutever enrolling

C3, exit

C3, E2, no C2, exit

C3, C2,exit

C3, C2, E1,no C1, exit

C3, C2, C1, exit

C3, C2, C1E GK, exit

No E3, skip to 2

No E3, skip to 1

No E3, skip to GK

E2, no C2,skip to 1

E1, no C1,skip to GK

C2, skip to GK

E2, no C2, skip to GK

E3, no C3, E2

E3, no C3, E GK

E3, no C3, E1C3, skip to 1

C3, skip to GK

C GKNot enroll, skip

Enroll, then skip

Complete, then skip

Enrollment and Progression Patterns Among Achieving the Dream Students

Math

42%

40%

38%

40%

42%

31%

18%

29%

16%

29%

44%

33%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

3 levels below

2 levels below

1 level below

Total

Ref

erre

d to

Not Enrolled Not Passed Completed

Enrollment and Progression Patterns Among Achieving the Dream Students

Reading

57%

42%

38%

41%

21%

21%

13%

16%

22%

36%

48%

44%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

3 levels below

2 levels below

1 level below

Total

Ref

erre

d to

Not Enrolled Not Passed Completed

Student Progression by Enrollment and Gatekeeper in Math

Math - Full Sample

18%

26%

38%

28%

24%

13%

11%

42%

32%

18%

31%

5%

10%

17%

11%

2%

4%

6%

4%

8%

15%

21%

16%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

3 levels below

2 levels below

1 level below

Total

Ref

erre

d to

Never enrolled Not re-enrolled Not completed dev GK Not enrolled GK Not passed GK Passed

Student Progression by Enrollment and Gatekeeper in Reading

Reading - Full Sample

31%

28%

37%

35%

26%

15%

6%

21%

21%

13%

16%

7%

11%

13%

12%

3%

6%

9%

8%

12%

18%

28%

24%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

3 levels below

2 levels below

1 level below

Total

Ref

erre

d to

Never enrolled Not re-enrolled Not completed GK Not enrolled GK Not passed GK Passed

Conclusions about SequencesConclusions about Sequences

Fewer than 50% complete their referred sequences in 3 yearsMany leave without failing coursesMany sequence completers do not enroll in gatekeeper coursesSuccess rates in college level courses of dev ed completers is misleadingly positive

Accelerate RemediationAccelerate Remediation• Too many opportunities to leave• Improved diagnostic power of assessments will

allow more efficient interventions• Distinction between developmental and “college

ready” students is arbitrary and based on a dubious system of assessment and placement

• Combine college level and developmental instruction (help “college ready” students as well)—ALP

• Compressed schedules—CCD• Summer bridge programs—Texas and CUNY

National Initiatives: National Initiatives: Developmental Education Initiative Developmental Education Initiative

◦ Funded by Gates and Lumina◦ 15 community colleges, all from Achieving the

Dream◦ http://www.deionline.org/about/

The aim of this project is to determine the mix of policy and practices—and the level of resources required—to generate large improvements in outcomes in a significant portion of the student body.

http://www.deionline.org/about/

National Initiatives: National Initiatives: Developmental Education Initiative Developmental Education Initiative

◦ Strategies

National Initiatives: National Initiatives: Complete College America Complete College America ◦ http://www.completecollege.org/

◦ founded to focus solely on dramatically increasing the nation’s college completion rate through state policy change, and to build consensus for change among state leaders, higher education, and the national education policy community.

◦ “Targeting, Tailoring, Time.”

http://www.completecollege.org/

National Initiatives: National Initiatives: Getting Past GoGetting Past Go

Part of The Education Commission of the States

http://www.ecs.org/html/docs/GettingPastGosummary.pdf

seeks to leverage developmental education at postsecondary institutions as a critical component of state efforts to increase college attainment rates



Other PlayersOther PlayersCommunity College Research Center -Transforming Community Colleges to Accelerate Success for Low-Income Young Adults- Gates fundedMDRC– Learning Communities Demonstration ProjectNational Center for Post-Secondary Research – assessment and college readinessMDC- Achieving the DreamJobs for the Future- working with the Developmental Education Initiative

Acceleration Acceleration ◦ A more direct, efficient, and effective

pathways to the credit course experience◦ Does not necessarily mean less instruction or

less time◦ A more intense experience◦ Focus on priorities◦ A more flexible approach for students who

are borderline developmental

Contextualization Contextualization ◦ Content more directly related to the college

or training experience◦ An approach that encourages transfer◦ An approach that is meaningful and that

motivates the learner

Personal Personal SupportSupport◦ Addresses the whole learner◦ Recognizes that the non-cognitive, affective

domain is critical for effective developmental education: motivation, executive functioning, self-efficacy◦ Recognizes the social dimension of learning◦ Is intrusive

ModelsModels

Blended levelsSeven plus seven- sequential compressedMainstreamingLearning communitiesRestructured coursesAdjunct coursesCritical thinking courses

What We All Need to UnderstandWhat We All Need to Understand

Nothing happens without correct placement

◦ Definition of college readiness◦ Multiple measures◦ Content validity and connection to

instruction◦ Predictive validity◦ Reliability


We must be careful with our placement policies

◦ Understand both the positive effects◦ Balance with the negative effects


The curriculum must be useful and meaningful

◦ We can’t afford to teach skills and strategies in isolation◦ The world knowledge deficit◦ A topsy-turvy curriculum?


Boutique models will not change the face of developmental education

◦ Simplicity◦ Scalability◦ Best options for the greatest number of

students


Pedagogy counts

◦ The most perfect model taught by the unskilled teacher will not work◦ Chickering’s seven principles◦ Global Skills for College Completion


Skills are only half of the game

◦ The roles of motivation, executive functioning, and self-efficacy are critical to success◦ Brain research


Passing developmental courses is not enough

◦ Students must pass sequences◦ Students must gateway courses◦ The role of retention

There is no silver bullet for the There is no silver bullet for the majority of developmental studentsmajority of developmental students

Complexity of situationDifferentiated instruction


It is rocket science!

◦ Diverse studentsDemographics, skills, backgrounds

◦ Faculty have challengesTime and money to researchAdjunct faculty Respect


◦ All students begin hoping to finish

◦ Many students begin with a belief that something is wrong with themselves or wrong with the system


Institutions must work together to form solutions

If we don’t, others will find solutions for us

national conference on acceleration - postsecondary research

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