The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to describe the impact the SLS courses had on the retention and success rates of students who were taking developmental English courses at FSCJ-Kent Campus, (b) to explain how students taking developmental English felt the SLS courses impacted them, and (c) to find out what elements of the SLS program…

The expectations of first-year students are becoming more widely researched and understood. How to realign perceptions and prepare students for the transition from secondary school to tertiary education is less well considered. This paper presents an account of a pre-university preparation programme embedded in the senior years of secondary…

This article describes Oakwood City School District's College Connection Study, which is now in its eighth year. The purpose of the study is to help the educators in the district learn how to effectively prepare students for success in the colleges of their choice. Teachers, administrators, and other staff members travel to colleges to conduct…

This study uses a mixed methods approach to examine a new type of curriculum configuration that supports students' transitions to college: career technical programs of study (POS). Interview and survey data were collected from a college and its feeder high schools in each of three well-established ("mature") sites in geographically…

Colleges and universities across the United States are struggling with student retention and attrition (Derby & Smith, 2004; Jacobs & Archie, 2008; Tinto, 1993). As a result, theoretically supported interventions designed to encourage retention and persistence are needed. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to intentionally create…

Describes a videotaped presentation designed to improve students' attitudes toward library use. Program concentrates on the student as the center of the learning process; emphasizes a nonthreatening atmosphere, demonstrates practical application of resources, and shows students successfully using library resources to solve problems. (DR)

The second year of the city-wide K-12 Bristol (Connecticut) Career Education Project is evaluated in the final report. The third party evaluator utilized an evaluation strategy identified as Information Based Evaluation (IBE). Rather than focusing on program objectives as the sole criteria for evaluation, the design also uses a series of research…

This was a mixed methods study that examined the developmental education program at an urban public Maryland community college. The data were collected from interviews with a former English Chair, a former Math Chair, and the Director of Institutional Research. Each was selected because of his and her expertise. Data were also collected from one…

During the 2009-10 academic year, 1,444 8th grade students in the Canton City, Plain and Marlington Local School Districts (hereafter called Stark students) took the EXPLORE Test as part of a pilot project, "Ready to Go: Increasing Eighth Grade Readiness," sponsored by the Stark Education Partnership with funding from the Ohio College…

This article, the second in a three-part series, outlines the qualitative research design and findings. The qualitative study was conducted three to five years after students completed their developmental mathematics course work at a large Midwest public university. The purpose was to collect students' points of view regarding what, if any,…

To establish a remedial and developmental program for seventh and eighth graders with indications of learning disabilities, groups of children, 1-year or more below grade level in reading and arithmetic skills and recommended by teachers, were enrolled in a special pilot program. Within the 6-hour day were physical education, music, art,…

A preparatory business program was developed to allow educationally disadvantaged business students enrolled in developmental studies (remedial reading, English, and math courses) to obtain a full course load of twelve or more hours without having to enroll in regular business courses. To develop a model business preparatory program for adaptation…

Describes the rationale for and outcomes of La Guardia Community College's Critical Thinking Program. Considers the relationship of critical thinking to writing and reading. Evaluates the program's impact on students' reading, writing, and speaking skills; higher-order reasoning/problem-solving abilities; and critical attitudes toward their lives…

Reviews the literature related to student attrition and retention. Discusses findings from a survey of community college students who withdrew from developmental courses, to determine their reasons for leaving. Describes intervention programs that were subsequently developed, including telephone intervention, mentoring, and skills enhancement…

Higher Horizons 100 (HH 100) is a compensatory program in the Hartford, Connecticut public schools designed to provide underachieving and undermotivated secondary school students with an integrated program of academic, cultural, and counseling services. HH 100 services were designed to develop and improve the basic skills of language and…