How Do Students Respond to Early Signals of College Readiness? Evidence From California

• In Event: Moscone Center West Roundtable Session 1
  In Roundtable Session: Division L Section 8 Roundtable

Abstract

Programs in many states in the U.S. have allowed students to take college placement exams while in high school to give students an indication of their college readiness. This paper causally estimates the effect of receiving a signal that one is college ready on course taking behavior, academic performance, and college application and enrollment behavior among 12th graders in California. Using multiple data sources and a quasi-experimental identification strategy, we find that students use information from these tests to take advanced courses during senior year and take remediation early on during college, but the information does not impact enrollment decisions to California Community Colleges or California State University systems.

Authors

• Minahil Asim, University of California - Davis

• Briana Ballis, University of California - Davis

• Scott Carrell, University of California - Davis

• Michal Kurlaender, University of California - Davis

• Paco Martorell, University of California - Davis