Posts published on April 21, 2009

Cut Scores For College Remediation Are All Over The Map

 A new study of placement test cut scores to determine whether a student needs community college remediation indicates there is no consensus across 14 states. Jobs for the Future-www.jff.org- has published “It’s Not About The Cut Score.” Jff found ranges on Accuplacer  from 81 in Conn. to 68 in math in Mass. for reading comprehension, and 58 in  Conn. elementary algebra to 82 in Mass. These 2 states have statewide cut scores.  Cut score samples of community colleges in states without statewide cut scores for reading were- 85 in Washington to 64.5 in Pa. Why such big differences?  There seems to be no central tendency across states about placement performance standards for remediation.