In 2000, The National Study of Community College Remedial Education and the American Association of Community Colleges jointly conducted a national study of remedial education at twenty-five community colleges that varied by region and type of institution (rural, urban, and other).  The study used a random process to generate a sample of 1,520 students who began remedial education in 1990; 592 completed their program successfully.  Over 71% of the successful students were contacted, and data was collected from student records and via interviews with students.  Highlighted here are key findings and ensuing recommendations for public decision-makers and community college leaders.

Findings:

• Nearly half of community college remedial education students successfully complete their programs.
• Successfully remediated students perform well in standard college work.
• Most successful remedial education students gravitate to occupational programs leading to direct employment.
• Students who are successfully remediated become productively employed.
• Although cost effective, community college remedial programs are not funded at a level necessary to educate all students in need of these services.
• Minority students, overrepresented in remedial programs, have made progress in educational achievement but are far from achieving educational parity.

Recommendations:

• Community colleges and legislatures must give remedial education higher priority and greater support.
• Because of its exceptional cost/benefits ratio, community college remedial education should have a primary role in state and college education plans.
• The continued and substantial lag in educational progress for minorities demands continued attention.

This information was reported in ED448813, "No One to Waste: A Report to Public Decision-Makers and Community College Leaders" by Robert H. McCabe.A full-text copy of this document may be obtained by contacting ERIC Document Reproduction Services (EDRS), 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153-2852; or by calling (800) 443-ERIC.This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-99-CO-0010. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. GovernmentERIC EdInfos are in the public domain and may be freely reproduced.

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