Programming for adult learners’ success in developmental reading and writing: Equity and access

Abstract

Research has shown upwards of 40% of adult learners entering community college may need developmental education intervention in reading and writing skills. Of those who enroll in developmental education, a large portion will never receive college-level credit and will leave the community college. This research investigated a compressed reading and writing developmental education course for adult learners in a community college setting. The newly designed course integrated skill development, contextualized the content, and connected students and teachers in a meaningful way. The developmental education reading and writing course was compressed to eight weeks and attached to a compressed (eight weeks) college-level course. The course’s efficacy was analyzed using multiple patterns of outcomes including for the developmental education coursework (pre and post new design), gateway courses’ pass rate, and program completion. Moreover, this research compares the outcomes to national, statewide, and institutional data. The review of the patterns of gateway course success before and after implementation (2009–2020) saw mixed results when examining career and technical programs and transfer-level programs. Results also showed that while college-level competency was enhanced, the outcome did not translate fully to the completion of programs of study.