Cutting Back on Catching Up: Reducing the Need for Remediation in Colorado Higher Education

IP-11-2003 (December 2003)
Author: Marya DeGrow

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Executive Summary

A recent study by the Colorado Commission on Higher Education reveals that 26.6% of Colorado public high school graduates entering Colorado public higher education in 2002-2003 were assigned to remediation, and of those:

  • 45.1% were assigned to remediation in reading
  • 44.1% were assigned to remediation in writing
  • 85.3% were assigned to remediation in math
  • 25% were assigned to remediation in all three subjects1

Remediation in college for high school graduates cost the state an estimated $18.9 million, at least, in the 2002-2003 school year. This was roughly 55.1% of the total cost of educating remedial students. The other 44.9% ($15.4 million) was expected to come from student tuition. However, because some student tuition was generated by state grants and scholarships, the state also absorbed some of the $15.4 million tuition bill. The state and students combined paid an estimated $34.3 million for remedial education in 2002-2003.

The Colorado Commission on Higher Education has approved a policy that requires most high school students graduating in the spring of 2008 to complete a core curriculum consisting of English, math, social science, natural science, and academic electives before entering Colorado public four-year colleges. Additional requirements will apply to 2010 high school graduates.

The new standards are important for all students who desire to attend college because a challenging high school core curriculum has been shown to be “the single most significant factor in determining a student’s success in college,” even overcoming racial gaps and socio-economic circumstances. A strong core curriculum can reduce remedial rates in higher education and prepare students for success after high school.

In addition to seeing that students receive a solid foundation in the basics starting in kindergarten, the following changes must occur in order to reduce the need for remedial classes among Colorado’s recent public high school graduates:

  • The Colorado legislature must pass legislation that requires school districts to notify parents of the college admissions standards before students register for 9th grade
  • Middle and high school counselors and teachers must encourage potentially college-bound students to take the classes that will prepare them for college- level work
  • Schools must ensure that students have access to core curriculum classes
  • Students must rise to the challenge of more rigorous high school classes
Posted by admin on Dec 17th, 2003 and filed under Issue Papers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response by filling following comment form or trackback to this entry from your site

1 Response for “Cutting Back on Catching Up: Reducing the Need for Remediation in Colorado Higher Education”

  1. Ed is Watching » Bad News in Colorado Remediation Rates Renews Call for Transformation says:
    February 9, 2012 at 8:46 pm

    [...] eight years ago (2002-03) in my Education Policy Center friend Marya DeGrow’s issue paper Cutting Back on Catching Up. The CCHE report then revealed that 26.6 percent of public high school graduates needed some kind [...]

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