ERIC Number: EJ1042032
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Sep
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-3737
EISSN: N/A
Improving the Targeting of Treatment: Evidence from College Remediation
Scott-Clayton, Judith; Crosta, Peter M.; Belfield, Clive R.
Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, v36 n3 p371-393 Sep 2014
Remediation is one of the largest single interventions intended to improve outcomes for underprepared college students, yet little is known about the remedial screening process. Using administrative data and a rich predictive model, we find that severe mis-assignments are common using current test-score-cutoff-based policies, with "underplacement" in remediation much more common than "overplacement" college courses. Incorporating high school transcripts into the process could significantly reduce placement errors, but adding test scores to already available high school data often provides little marginal benefit. Moreover, the choice of screening policy has significant implications for the racial and gender composition of college-level courses. Finally, the use of more accurate screening tools would enable institutions to remediate substantially fewer students without compromising college success.
Descriptors: Remedial Instruction, Remedial Programs, College Students, Screening Tests, Student Placement, Standardized Tests, Scores, Educational Policy, Race, Sex, Test Validity, Alternative Assessment, Error of Measurement, Predictive Validity, Academic Records
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
IES Cited: ED565798