Is Early Start a Better Start? Evaluating California State University's Early Start Remediation Policy

Remediation has long been a costly way to address the misalignment between K‐12 and higher education. In 2011, the California State University (CSU), the nation's largest public four‐year university system, enacted Early Start, requiring students needing remediation to enroll in such courses in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of policy analysis and management 2020-03, Vol.39 (2), p.348-375
Main Authors: Kurlaender, Michal, Lusher, Lester, Case, Matthew
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Academic Achievement
College administrators
College Readiness
College students
Colleges & universities
Economists
Higher education
Innovations
Outcomes of Education
Program Effectiveness
Program Evaluation
Remedial Programs
State Universities
Summer
Summer Programs
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Summary:Remediation has long been a costly way to address the misalignment between K‐12 and higher education. In 2011, the California State University (CSU), the nation's largest public four‐year university system, enacted Early Start, requiring students needing remediation to enroll in such courses in the summer before their freshman year. We estimate the impact of Early Start summer remediation relative to both traditional fall remediation and relative to no remediation at all. Our results suggest Early Start summer remediation has not improved student performance or persistence relative to either alternative. As many states move away from remedial courses altogether, there is continued need for both innovation and for evidence in policy and practice to improve college readiness and success.
ISSN:0276-8739
1520-6688
DOI:10.1002/pam.22198