Examining Reforms in Postsecondary Student Placement Policies

For several years, RFA has been examining how postsecondary systems and institutions have reformed their approach to student placement in first-year classes. Until recently it was common practice to place students based on a cut score of a single exam. Yet in the last several years, the sector has moved rapidly towards collecting a much broader array of student readiness indicators to ensure more accurate placement and increase student success. RFA’s work focuses on documenting changes to state and system postsecondary placement policies; and identifying both challenges and emerging best practices. Our work takes us to states across the country, and to institutions serving a wide range of students.