Raising The Grade: Remediation

The Oklahoma Board of Regents reports nearly 40% of first-time college freshman aren't ready for college-level work. <br/><br/>News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says in this 'Raising the Grade'

Wednesday, May 12th 2004, 10:29 am

By: News On 6

The Oklahoma Board of Regents reports nearly 40% of first-time college freshman aren't ready for college-level work.

News on 6 anchor Scott Thompson says in this 'Raising the Grade' report, walking across the stage at graduation doesn't mean high school seniors can take the next step in education.

Some college-bound seniors admit they're not ready for college-level work. TCC developmental student Craig Watson: "I took the ACT and I didnâ€™t do real good on it and they had a lot of developmental classes here that would help me improve and stuff and I figured it would help my situation better and get me up to date and I wouldn't be behind."

Another TCC developmental student Melinda Hooks-Wiafe: "I was glad to have the in-between step and in fact a lot of my friends that went off to college said they had a lot of trouble trying to catch up with some of the college courses.â€

The Oklahoma Board of Regents says 38% of first-time college freshman are enrolled in remedial courses. Students coming directly from high school fair a little better. But it's clear; many students are leaving Oklahoma high schools un-prepared for higher learning.

TCC Developmental Studies assistant professor Sarah Stecher: "If a student begins in a class in which a student is under prepared the rate of failure is so high in those students because the class is beginning in a place where they havenâ€™t achieved yet.â€

Educators and lawmakers agree we need to raise achievement in Oklahoma schools. But they disagree on how to do it. Several lawmakers would like to require students to pass a test to graduate from high school. State representative Leonard Sullivan: "If the superintendent the schools and the teachers as a whole knew they would be held accountable for this. They would raise the bar and they would meet the standard if they had some standards to meet. I am confident they would meet it."

But that doesn't mean students who pass a test to graduate are ready for college. Alabama, Nevada, Texas and Florida all require exit exams. But remedial rates in those states are about the same or worse than Oklahoma.

Sarah Stecher says testing is only part of the solution to getting kids ready for college. "I think its valuable but I'm hesitant to place too much emphasis on final assessment as I said if the student has a bad day then they're marked with that for life I just don't think that's fair." Especially, for students who struggle with testing.

TCC developmental student Miisha Kennedy: â€œthey try to base everything on tests but some people are anxiety testers or just forget everything when they get in front of a test." So more testing could discourage the very students we're trying to reach.