Modernizing College Course Placement by Using Multiple Measures

ECS has updated its 50-State Comparison on Developmental Education policies to provide a national overview of how states structure, implement and report on developmental education. Drawing from state statutes and higher education system policies across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, it outlines key policy areas, including assessment and placement, instructional methods, corequisite support and reporting requirements. This 50–State Comparison serves as a tool to support state and system leaders in making informed decisions on practices and pathways that enable all college students to succeed in English and mathematics in their first year of college.

Developmental education reforms such as multiple measures for placement, co-requisites, and math pathways are proven strategies to increase student success in postsecondary education. There is still much to be done to codify these efforts in policy. Policy is key for scale-up and sustainability. This framework provides a guide to move in that direction.

By decreasing reliance on standardized assessments, state systems can help institutions to reduce disparities in student outcomes and improve student success. The Center for the Analysis of Postsecondary Readiness studied four states that took system-level actions to do just this.