When students first enroll in college, they are required to demonstrate readiness for college-level work. Course placement depends on standardized assessments, and students who do not attain a satisfactory score are typically assigned to developmental (i.e., remedial) education courses.

However, these courses may not always be effective. For example, college completion rates are particularly low among students who are required to take developmental coursework.

This brief, written by WestEd’s Kim Austin, Daniel Bugler, and Neal Finkelstein, and former WestEd staff member Kathy Reeves Bracco, examines two states’ recent efforts to redesign their developmental education programs to support student success.

Visit the Reforming Developmental Education to Better Support Students’ Postsecondary Success in the Common Core Era resource page to learn more and download your free copy.