Lowest Level Reading
Placement Policy
2016 February
Team Members
• Vikki Cooper
• Sophia Ward Brewer
• Jan Chapman
• Shanna Goff
• Andrea Hayes
• Domingo Hernandez-Gomez
• Sandra Lancaster
• Tari Mattox
• Christina McElwee
• Sheryl York
Issue
• There continues to be a downward trend
in success rates for our lowest level
developmental students.
• Students who take the Accuplacer
Reading Assessment and score below our
lowest level developmental courses are
enrolling in courses and are not prepared
to succeed.
Explanation of Fall Data
Fall 2015
• Sixty-seven prospective students applied to GRCC
and scored at or below 32 on the Accuplacer
Reading Assessment
• Forty-three (64%) of these students did not enroll
• 70% of these students are students of color
Issues for AGC to Consider:
• We would like to seek an academic policy that will
support our lower level readers.
• Consider this policy:
• Students reading at the 7th grade level or below will be
required to undergo remediation at GRCC prior to enrolling in
credit classes. Applicants with documented reading
disabilities are encouraged to request testing
accommodations to ensure accurate placement.
Possible Solutions
• Create an Indicator for Secondary Assessment for this group
of students. A reading level below 7th grade equivalency
triggers multiple measures.
• Students will be referred to the College Success Center where
the secondary assessment will be administered in order to
confirm reading level.
• Success Coaches may present additional options such as
potential job training programs and community resources
• After a period of remediation students may re-take the
placement test and possibly place into developmental
courses.
• Pending approval of the policy, the implementation team will
consider these and other possible solutions to ensure our
students are prepared to learn.
Table Discussion
Please discuss the following Questions:
• How can we be equitable and inclusive in implementing this
type of policy?
• What are possible barriers that may occur with the
implementation of this policy?
• What concerns do you have?
Next Steps:
• Present this information to your department.
• Contact Vikki Cooper with clarifications, concerns or questions.