This brief draws on the experience of four states in Jobs for the Future’s Postsecondary State Policy Network—Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia—that are among a very small number of states engaged in statewide developmental education reform. Developmental education is increasingly a target of reform for state policymakers. Rigorous research has exposed developmental education as a significant obstacle for students, particularly low-income young people and workers, as they pursue the postsecondary credentials they need to compete in today’s economy.
These states’ experiences highlight what all states can consider to ensure that changes are well designed and effectively implemented and squarely aimed at helping students earn credentials with value in the labor market. What these states did well and what they might have done differently can both provide insight to states now considering or embarking on statewide developmental education reform.
Source Organization: Jobs for the Future