More students ready for college
By Katie Pecci
The Collegian
California 11th-graders are
showing increased readiness for college-level English and mathematics
based on the California State University’s Early Assessment Program,
which could mean fewer first-time freshmen would need remedial courses.
In early 2005, 46 percent of 11th-graders volunteered to take the English
EAP and 69 percent took the mathematics part to test whether or not they
were prepared to go straight to a California State University after graduating
from high school.
This is a 21 percent increase for the English portion and a three percent
increase for math, the California State University’s Office of the
Chancellor said last Tuesday.
“We are really happy that there are more students who are interested
in taking the test and finding out if they are ready for college,”
said Colleen Bentley-Adler, CSU director of public affairs.
The increase in high school students taking the test indicates a higher
interest in attending college and helps the students decide if they can
go straight to a CSU or should try community college first, Bentley-Adler
said.
The EAP is a larger version of the California Standards Test (CST) and
was created by the CSU system in partnership with the State Board of Education
and the state’s public school system. The test includes more math
and English questions than the CST and also includes a written essay.
Students are required to pass the CST before graduating from high school,
the chancellor’s office said.
“The strength of this program lies in providing those students who
want to enter the California State University as first-time freshmen with
an early signal as to their readiness to succeed in regular general education
classes,” said CSU Chancellor Charles Reed.
“If they show proficiency early via the EAP assessment, at the close
of 11th-grade, they will be granted an exemption from the CSU English
and mathematics placement tests. If they are not yet ready for college-level
work, students will be encouraged to take classes during the 12th grade
to improve and strengthen their skills.”
Thirty-four percent of incoming freshmen needed to take remedial courses
in math and 47 percent needed to take remedial English in 2004. The CSU’s
standards for math are higher than other public universities in the United
States and the standards for English are very similar, the chancellor’s
office said.
“Since our standards are higher here at the CSU, if students are
proficient with the EAP then they know they will be more than qualified
for any other university they choose in America,” Bentley-Adler
said.
If students take the EAP in 11th grade, the results will help students
and teachers make the choices for 12th grade courses that can further
their preparation for college-level math and English.
The EAP is also helping high school teachers tailor their courses to comply
with the CSU’s expectations for first-time freshmen, the chancellor’s
office said.
“We want to make sure that students are getting the right instruction
now, before they go to college, so when they get here they can go right
into regular courses without having the remedial courses weigh them down,”
Bentley-Adler said.
Chancellor Reed said he is hoping the 2005 test scores are a sign of increased
enrollment and the production of better-prepared students for the CSU.
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