When Developmental Education Is Optional: Understanding Course Enrollment and Completion Following Florida's Developmental Education Reform

• In Event: Access, Choice, Enrollment, and College Completion Patterns: Pathways of Underserved Students

Abstract

This study examines student enrollment patterns in developmental education courses, course completion rates, as well as the student factors associated with these patterns in the Florida College System before and after sweeping legislation that drastically altered how developmental education is offered and for whom it is required. Now that it is optional for many students, fewer students enrolled in developmental education, and math in particular, compared to previous years; however, completion rates for developmental education courses remained relatively stable over time. Gateway course enrollment soared following the reform in gateway and pass rates declined. In terms of total numbers, however, more students took and passed gateway courses following the reform than before. Implications and directions for future research are offered.

Authors

• Toby Park, Florida State University

• Chenoa S. Woods, Florida State University

• David Allen Tandberg, Florida State University

• Shouping Hu, Florida State University

• Tamara Bertrand Jones, Florida State University