Another bill recently enacted in Arkansas, H.B. 1617 (a.k.a. Act 879) seeks to create a college remediation program that starts earlier than most, and seems to be more well-designed and data-driven than most.
The legislation calls for the creation of "postsecondary preparatory" programs, to be approved by the department of education. Programs are intended to help students identified as not college-ready (or on a trajectory not to be college ready, based on the statewide EXPLORE in grade 8 and the PLAN or PSAT in grade 10), to receive "intensive remedial instruction" in English, reading or math. Instructors must have undergone specialized training, and use innovative instructional strategies designed to be effective with program participants. The department may give priority to a program operated by partnership between a district and an institution of higher education. Interestingly, districts may use national school lunch categorical funding to operate and support a postsecondary preparatory program.
Each program must document evidence of its performance and the success of its participants, and the department of education must collect numerous data on programs and their outcomes. Data must be included in the annual school performance reports and in an annual report to the legislature.
Why wait until grades 11 or 12 (or later?) to provide college remediation? Get 'em while they're young! Arkansas' legislation provides a model for other states to consider.
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