I would like our discussion to also address low reading and writing ability.
We tend as a nation and as educators to focus so highly on weak math scores,
but the truth is that when adult learners have serious reading deficiencies,
they are in far worse danger of dropping out of college because most courses
are reading-based. Just think about how overwhelming an intro biology
textbook is for poor readers.  What do your problems do to help in this
arena? I know that many schools used a computer-based program-I used one
myself when I taught dev. Reading several years back-but I found it pretty
worthless and switched my approach to the nuts and bolts of reading
comprehension, fix-up strategies, and using real-world newspaper and
magazine articles to reinforce these skills.

 

From: assessment-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:assessment-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Jessie Stadd
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2009 5:14 PM
To: Assessment at nifl.gov
Subject: [Assessment 1677] Adult Ed Math & Accuplacer, cont.

 

Hi All,

I am the Program Coordinator for Academy of Hope and Beyond Talent's
Pathways College Preparation Program, currently Washington D.C.'s only
college prep program for adult learners.  Unlike states where adult ed
programs are housed in community colleges or public schools, the district
relies on community-based non-profit organizations such as ours. In addition
to Pathways, Academy of Hope offers ABE/GED classes and Beyond Talent offers
peer-mentoring to non-traditional graduates.

 

Pathways follows the College Prep model and is comprised of three month-long
modules: writing, math, and college prep & career development (applications,
financial aid documents, etc.).  Our Pathways students are primarily GED or
EDP graduates, although we have had several high school graduates in the
program. All enter the program with generally weak math skills. Most will
attend our local university, UDC, or neighboring community colleges in
Virginia or Maryland, all of which use the Accuplacer. Prior to starting,
most of our GED and EDP graduates placed into remedial math classes. 

 

To address your point, Donna, while all of our students need extra work in
math, we have found that GED graduates generally have higher math skills
than our EDP graduates. Our GED graduates have some understanding of algebra
(at least of its existence!) but that is not the case for the EDP grads. EDP
learners entering the program scored in the 210s and 220s on the B level
math CASAS. As a GED instructor, I had always felt that the less rigorous
math requirements of EDP were a benefit and allowed students to earn a
credential who otherwise might not. However, as a college prep program
coordinator, EDP is doing a disservice to its students who believe that
since they earned an actual high school diploma they are prepared for
college. I understand that EDP is now in the process of revamping their
competencies to increase the amount of math required. For those students who
are interested in pursuing higher education, I do believe this is a positive
step.

 

Thank you,

Jessie Stadd

AoH Program Coordinator, Pathways College Preparation Program

Lifelong Learning Coach, Academy of Hope/Beyond Talent

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