ERIC Number: ED501553
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Apr
Pages: 46
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Impact of Postsecondary Remediation Using a Regression Discontinuity Approach: Addressing Endogenous Sorting and Noncompliance. An NCPR Working Paper
Juan Carlos Calcagno; Bridget Terry Long
National Center for Postsecondary Research
Remedial or developmental courses are the most common policy instruments used to assist underprepared postsecondary students who are not ready for college-level coursework. However, despite its important role in higher education and its substantial costs, there is little rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of college remediation on the outcomes of students. This study uses a detailed dataset to identify the causal effect of remediation on the educational outcomes of nearly 100,000 college students in Florida, an important state that reflects broader national trends in remediation policy and student diversity. Moreover, using a Regression Discontinuity design, we discuss concerns about endogenous sorting around the policy cutoff, which poses a threat to the assumptions of the model in multiple research contexts. To address this concern, we implement methods proposed by McCrary (2008) and discuss the strengths of this approach. The results suggest math and reading remedial courses have mixed benefits. Being assigned to remediation appears to increase persistence to the second year and the total number of credits completed for students on the margin of passing out of the requirement, but it does not increase the completion of college-level credits or eventual degree completion. Taken together, the results suggest that remediation might promote early persistence in college, but it does not necessarily help students on the margin of passing the placement cutoff make long-term progress toward earning a degree. (Contains 5 tables and 4 figures.) [This publication was produced by the National Center for Postsecondary Research.]
Descriptors: Educational Objectives, Academic Persistence, Outcomes of Education, Academic Achievement, Developmental Studies Programs, College Credits, Student Diversity, Remedial Programs, Remedial Mathematics, Remedial Reading, Educational Policy, Policy Analysis, Program Effectiveness, Program Evaluation, College Students, College Instruction, Low Achievement, Educational Attainment, Graduation, Regression (Statistics), Research Design, Research Problems, Educational Indicators, Evaluation Problems, Research Methodology, Educational Testing, Cutting Scores, Longitudinal Studies, Causal Models
National Center for Postsecondary Research. Teachers College, Columbia University, Box 174, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3091; Fax: 212-678-3699; e-mail: ncpr@columbia.edu; Web site: http://www.tc.columbia.edu/centers/ncpr/
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R305A060010
What Works Clearinghouse Reviewed: Does Not Meet Evidence Standards
WWC Study Page: http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/study/81657
IES Cited: ED556127