Need for remediation classes reaches seven year high

<br>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Nearly half of all adult students returning to state universities enrolled in at least one remedial class, according to a report released by the state regents. <br><br>That's

Monday, February 16th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Nearly half of all adult students returning to state universities enrolled in at least one remedial class, according to a report released by the state regents.

That's the highest percentage in seven years, according to the report.

The report showed 44.4 percent of students 21 and older took a remediation course in 2002-03. That's up 2.5 percent from the previous year.

Overall, the number of Oklahoma college freshmen taking remediation courses is down slightly.

Recent economic downturn may be the main reason for the increase in the number and percentage of older students needing remediation, Higher Education Chancellor Paul Risser said.

Regents spokesman Ben Hardcastle said 7,612 adults were enrolled as first-time freshmen in Oklahoma colleges and universities last year, down six students from the previous year's freshman count.

Remediation courses are noncredit courses required for students who do not meet minimum standards in math, English, reading and science.

Students scoring below a 19 out of a possible 36 points on the ACT test in those subjects either must enroll in a remediation course or take additional tests at their chosen school.

In 2002-03, the report shows 6,334 freshmen took the noncredit courses, down from 6,698 in 2001-02.

A total 41,295 students statewide were enrolled in remediation courses last year.

Risser said although the new figures show public schools made some headway, there's still room for improvement.

``Consistently improving the way we get our students up to levels necessary to succeed in college is vital if our state's economy is to grow and prosper,'' he said.

Regents are working to lower the number of students taking the courses, including increasing high school core curricular requirements for college admission from 11 courses to 15.

According to the regents' Oklahoma High School Indicators Project, also released this month, Latimer County had the largest percentage of high school graduates needing remediation.

Records show 67.4 percent of students from Latimer County require at least one zero-level course.

Kingfisher County ranked lowest for remediation with 19.7 percent of graduates enrolling in a remediation course.

College freshman need math remediation classes the most. Of the 29,977 freshman in fall 2002, almost one-third were enrolled in at least one remediation math course.