Many enter CSU unprepared, report says
Sacramento Bee 3/13/07
The CSU system, which accepts freshmen in the top third of their high school classes, sends 45 percent of incoming students to remedial English and 37 percent to remedial math classes -- the same rates as last year.
In 2004, the CSU governing board set a goal of 90 percent readiness in both subjects by fall 2007. CSU educators call the goal unrealistic. Only 44 percent of students in fall 2006 were prepared in both subjects.
The CSU system spends $5 million a year helping high schools coordinate their teaching to CSU's standards, which require freshmen students to demonstrate proficient reading and writing, and Algebra II skills.
Gary Reichard, CSU executive vice chancellor of academic affairs, said 83 percent of remedial students were up to speed by their second year of enrollment and are showing the same graduation rate as non-remedial students. "We are very pleased to be able to bring those students along in one year," he said.
Students who don't achieve proficiency after their second year are sent to community college with the promise of re-entry in CSU.
The full CSU report will be available after 2 p.m. today at www.asd.calstate.edu/performance/proficiency.shtml.