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Is Early Start a Better Start? Evaluating California State University's Early Start Remediation Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Kurlaender, Michal

    (University of California, Davis)

  • Lusher, Lester

    (University of Pittsburgh)

  • Case, Matthew

    (California State University)

Abstract

Remediation has long been a costly way to address the misalignment between K-12 and higher education. In 2011, the California State University (CSU), the nation's largest public four-year university system, enacted Early Start, requiring students needing remediation to enroll in such courses in the summer before their freshmen year. We estimate the impact of Early Start summer remediation relative to both traditional fall remediation and relative to no remediation at all. Our results suggest Early Start summer remediation has not improved student performance or persistence relative to either alternative. As many states move away from remedial courses altogether, there is continued need for both innovation and for evidence in policy and practice to improve college readiness and success.

Suggested Citation

  • Kurlaender, Michal & Lusher, Lester & Case, Matthew, 2019. "Is Early Start a Better Start? Evaluating California State University's Early Start Remediation Policy," IZA Discussion Papers 12548, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp12548
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eric P. Bettinger & Bridget Terry Long, 2009. "Addressing the Needs of Underprepared Students in Higher Education: Does College Remediation Work?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 44(3).
    2. Jessica S. Howell & Michal Kurlaender & Eric Grodsky, 2010. "Postsecondary preparation and remediation: Examining the effect of the early assessment program at California State University," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(4), pages 726-748.
    3. Paul Attewell & David Lavin & Thurston Domina & Tania Levey, 2006. "New Evidence on College Remediation," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 77(5), pages 886-924, September.
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    5. Juan Carlos Calcagno & Bridget Terry Long, 2008. "The Impact of Postsecondary Remediation Using a Regression Discontinuity Approach: Addressing Endogenous Sorting and Noncompliance," NBER Working Papers 14194, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
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    7. Paco Martorell & Isaac McFarlin, 2011. "Help or Hindrance? The Effects of College Remediation on Academic and Labor Market Outcomes," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 93(2), pages 436-454, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas J. Kane & Angela Boatman & Whitney Kozakowski & Christopher Bennett & Rachel Hitch & Dana Weisenfeld, 2021. "Is College Remediation a Barrier or a Boost? Evidence from the Tennessee SAILS Program," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(3), pages 883-913, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    remediation; higher education; state policy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I20 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - General
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy

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