Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Program Designed to Increase Academic Readiness for Postsecondary Education

• In Event: 75.061 - Roundtable Session 34
  In Roundtable Session: 75.061-4 - Evaluating Programs Designed to Enhance College and Career Readiness

Abstract

This evaluation study examined a project devised to plan, design, and manage a large-scale field test of College Readiness Assignments (CRAs) developed to prepare students for college-level coursework. Employing a mixed-method design, researchers examined the effects of the strategies employed to increase students’ readiness for postsecondary education through the implementation of the CRAs in secondary/postsecondary institutions. Survey, interview, and observation data were collected. Findings indicate that overall, participants’ had positive perceptions of their experience, perceiving that the CRAs had value and rigor, were aligned with state standards, and had potential to be effective in preparing students for college-level course work. Teacher workload, curriculum constraints, and teacher resistance were identified as potential barriers to statewide implementation of the CRAs.

Authors

• Jacqueline R. Stillisano, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Kim Boddie Wright, Texas A&M University - College Station

• Danielle Bairrington Brown, Texas A&M University

• Hersh C. Waxman, Texas A&M University