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Better results for kids and families through research-informed policy

Strategies: What Works to Accomplish the Results You Want?

The path to a quality degree or certificate starts well before college. Far too many American students are not completing high school and those who do are not well prepared. [1] With a 61% remediation rate in the nation’s community colleges, it is clear that students are not getting the preparation they need to be successful in college-level coursework . [2] The challenges are not over once the students are enrolled in college. With a six-year completion rate of 57.5% for four-year institutions and only 27.8% completing a certificate or associate degree within 150 percent of normal time at a two-year institution, it is imperative that states focus on effective policies to increase college completion.[3] Policymakers can focus on improvements in readiness, access, persistence, and completion.

What Can Policymakers Do?

  • Increase College Readiness. Policymakers could work with K-12, higher education and other critical stakeholders to: improve alignment between high school and college, increase rigor of the high school curriculum, align assessments, increase dual enrollment opportunities, and include college readiness in high school accountability. [4]
  • Expand Access. Access to a college education has long been at the top of the higher education policy agenda. Now, more than ever, there is a need to focus attention to those students less likely to have the academic and financial resources to consider college as an option. Assistance with completing financial aid applications, enhancing need-based financial aid programs [5] and redesigning developmental education instruction [6] are strategies for increasing access.
  • Improve Persistence Rates. Individualized academic tracking and accelerated degree opportunities are strategies that promote student success by focusing attention on progress towards degree. [7]
  • Increase Completion. Readiness, access and persistence related policies indirectly influence completion, however, dedicated resources must also be directed to strategies specific to degree completion. [8]

[1] http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2010/06/10/34swanson.h29.html
[2] Bailey, T, Cho, S. Developmental Education in Community Colleges .
[3] Snyder, T.D., and Dillow, S.A. (2010). Digest of Education Statistics 2009
[4] Achieve, 2011. Closing the Achievement Gap .
[6] Bailey, T, Cho, S. Developmental Education in Community Colleges .
[7] Tinto, Vincent. Colleges as Communities: Taking Research on Student Persistence Seriously, The Review of Higher Education - Volume 21, Number 2, Winter 1998, pp. 167-177.

Watch This! State higher education leaders and a legislator offer their perspectives on a basic definition of productivity in higher education.

Landmark Legislation. Tennessee's Complete College Act to improve student performance and graduation rates at both the high school and college levels.
Resource for Governors. The U.S. Department of Education has released "The College Completion Tool Kit" with strategies and examples designed to guide Governors in their efforts to boost college completion rates in their states.
Keeping Students on Track: A Texas law requires public university students to develop a graduation plan.