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Crosscurrents

Cal State drops freshman placement tests and remedial classes in hopes of boosting grad rate

"Commencement 2014" by CC Flickr user CSU Monterey Bay, resized and recropped
Students celebrate their graduation from Cal State Monterey Bay, one of the Cal State University system’s campuses. A executive order from the CSU chancellor will eliminate placement tests and remedial math and English classes for incoming freshman";

 

Earlier this month, the Cal State University Chancellor announced something huge.  He issued anexecutive order that will radically change what’s known as “remedial” education.

Right now nearly 40 percent of incoming Cal State students bomb out on placement tests that are supposed to measure their written communication and math skills.  So instead of starting out in English and Math classes that count towards graduation, they’re steered into remedial non-credit courses. But those are backfiring for plenty of students. They get stuck there. They get discouraged. They drop out. Chancellor Timothy White’s order tells the 23 Cal State campuses to get rid of those placement tests and change up the coursework so students can start earning credits right away. KALW's Education Lee Romney is here to explain.

 

Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

 

The California legislature is currently considering a bill that would enact a similar policy for the state's community college system. Read about that here.

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Crosscurrents Education