ERIC Number: EJ1216400
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019-Jun
Pages: 36
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-0365
EISSN: N/A
Fractions in College: How Basic Math Remediation Impacts Community College Students
Ngo, Federick
Research in Higher Education, v60 n4 p485-520 Jun 2019
This study investigates the link between basic math skills, remediation, and the educational opportunity and outcomes of community college students. Capitalizing on a unique placement policy in one community college that assigns students to remedial coursework based on multiple math skill cutoffs, I first identify the skills that most commonly inhibit student access to higher-level math courses; these are procedural fluency with fractions and the ability to solve word problems. I then estimate the impact of "just missing" these skill cutoffs using multiple rating-score regression discontinuity design. Missing just one fractions question on the placement diagnostic, and therefore starting college in a lower-level math course, had negative effects on college persistence and attainment. Missing other skill cutoffs did not have the same impacts. The findings suggest the need to reconsider the specific math expectations that regulate access to college math coursework.
Descriptors: Correlation, Remedial Instruction, Mathematics Skills, Community Colleges, Educational Opportunities, Outcomes of Education, Access to Education, Advanced Courses, Two Year College Students, Fractions, Word Problems (Mathematics), Student Placement, Mathematics Tests, Diagnostic Tests, Barriers
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A