College Degree - The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Truth About Developmental Education Classes

's colleges and universities are changing with the times.significant developmental education programs out of
Programs change as do the ways that students arenecessity. Many students do not take one single
taught. However there is one growing program ondevelopmental class. They often end up taking classes
almost every public college campus that administratorsin all three developmental areas -- reading, writing and
are not proud to point out to distinguished visitors --math. In addition, some of these students end up taking
developmental education. This article will address themore than one semester worth of developmental
good, the bad, and the ugly truth about developmentalwork in these areas. Sometimes because their need
education classes.for remediation requires a multi-course sequence, but
There are many ways that developmental educationalso because they do not pass the remedial courses
classes are good for both students and the institutionsthe first time they attempt them. This places a
they serve. Developmental education classes helpsignificant financial burden on many students and their
students who are not prepared for college-level workfamilies as these courses lengthen the time required to
in reading, writing and math develop the necessaryearn a degree -- often adding at least a year onto the
skills to succeed in college. Some of these studentstime necessary to earn a four-year degree. Most
are nontraditional students returning to school after adevelopmental education classes do not offer credit
long lapse and need help brushing up on skills. Othertoward graduation and students cannot begin taking
students are traditional students who did not acquirethe credit-bearing course in that area until successfully
the necessary skills before graduating from highcompleting the developmental class.
school. Developmental education classes serve anBelieve it or not, there is an even uglier side to
important function in that they help bridge the gap fordevelopmental education to the add to the burden of
those who want to attend college and do not have thetime and money. It can also be stressful on the student
necessary skills. Some institutions practice anwho may feel discouraged and unfairly labeled. Plus,
open-door policy and provide developmental educationwhile developmental course work can be a great help
classes to bring their student body up to standard.to many first year students, research has shown that
Other institutions provide a conditional admittance forthe number of developmental courses and the kinds of
students dependent on their attending and passingdevelopmental courses that students take makes a
developmental classes.difference in their future success. The success of
However, there is also a bad side to developmentalunderprepared readers in college is directly and
education classes. Each year, the number of studentssignificantly related to taking and passing a reading
enrolling in developmental level courses inskills course and deficiencies in reading skills are
postsecondary education increases. In fact, almost 42indicators of comprehensive literacy problems and
percent of all freshmen enrolled in public 2-yearthey significantly lower the odds of a student's
colleges were enrolled in at least one developmentalcompleting any degree.
course, according to National Center for EducationIf you or someone you care about is headed for
Statistics. The percentage drops if you factor incollege you need to learn more about the good, the
four-year programs but not as much as you wouldbad, and the ugly truth about developmental education
think as many public four-year programs also haveclasses.