Smile at Free or Low Cost Dental Services at Community Colleges

A pilot program that is set to debut in eight states will allow students to graduate high school as early as the end of 10^th grade if they pass certain exams and demonstrate subject mastery. Upon “graduation,” these students will enroll in community colleges.

About the New Program

The New York Times reports that the new program will allow 10^th graders who pass “board exams” in math, English, history, and science to graduate two years early and begin taking courses at a community college if they so choose.

Those students who pass the exams but want to attend a selective four-year college or university may choose to continue taking high school courses during their 11^th and 12th-grade years. Those students who do not pass the tests in 10^th grade will have the opportunity to take the exams again at the end of their 11^th and 12th-grade years.

The Program’s Goals

Reduce the Need for Remedial Coursework in College

One of the program’s goals is to reduce the number of students who enter community colleges and four-year universities unprepared for college-level work. The New York Times reports that “more than a million college freshmen require remedial coursework each year nationwide.”

The National Center on Education and the Economy, which organizes the program, says that students requiring remedial coursework are more likely to drop out before earning a degree, as Rhode Island’s Providence Journal reports.

Years ago, community college students were most likely to transfer to state colleges or universities. But today, community college graduates are increasingly found at private and highly selective four-year colleges.

Experts say the change is likely a result of increased recognition of the value of a diverse student body, the pressure that some small colleges are feeling to bring in tuition-paying students during this economic downturn, and awareness from college administrators that community college transfer students often bring a special set of strengths with them to four-year institutions.

Why Private Colleges and Universities are Recruiting Community College Students

Increasing Diversity

University of Virginia sociology professor Josipa Roksa tells the USA Today that selective private colleges specifically recruit community college graduates because these transfer students can often help with their campus diversity “in terms of race and socioeconomic status.

Tatiana Melguizo, an education professor at the University of Southern California, says that her university has been working hard to increase its population of minority students and that USC has found that accepting transfer students is a good way to accomplish the goal. The university, Melguizo tells USA Today, has found that “Community college transfers [are] the best deals. They're motivated, they're more likely to graduate, and they're relatively cheap" for the college to educate.

Seeking Tuition Revenue

Financial considerations may also be driving the surge of private institutions that are courting

In the last decade, community colleges have continued to move beyond the outdated stereotype of being a “13th grade,” providing invaluable education and workforce training to millions of students nationwide. However, a persistent challenge remains: a significant share of incoming students still require remedial coursework.

With recent national data showing that between 30% and 50% of community college students enroll in at least one developmental education course, the question remains whether this long-standing issue continues to affect student outcomes and institutional resources.

The Problem: Remedial Education Remains Widespread

High numbers of students need remedial coursework

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that approximately 40% of students at public two-year institutions take at least one remedial course, particularly in math and English. This is a notable improvement from earlier estimates of up to 60%, but it still represents a substantial portion of the student population.

At four-year colleges, the percentage is significantly lower, typically ranging between 15% and 25%, highlighting the unique access mission of community colleges and the varied academic preparation of their students.

Remedial coursework is costly for states and students

Remedial education continues to carry financial implications. While earlier estimates placed the annual cost at $1.4 billion, more recent analyses suggest that states and students collectively spend over $2 billion annually on developmental education across all postsecondary sectors.

According to the Community College Research Center at Columbia University, the costs are not just financial. Time spent in non-credit-bearing courses can

In the consumer world, "satisfaction guaranteed or your money back" is a common promise. However, this guarantee has rarely crossed into the academic realm. Michigan's Lansing Community College made headlines by offering a guarantee that was virtually unprecedented in higher education: get a job or your money back.

Although the program discussed in this article was introduced more than a decade ago, it remains an interesting example of how community colleges have long looked for innovative ways to prepare students for the workforce. Today, many community colleges partner directly with local employers, offer short-term workforce credentials, and provide extensive career placement services designed to connect graduates with in-demand careers.

Program Seeks to Encourage Prospective Students

According to Lansing Community College president Brent Knight, the guarantee was meant to alleviate the apprehension some people felt about returning to school during a difficult economy. Prospective students wondered whether investing time and money in a new degree or further job training was worthwhile if those efforts would not translate into better employment opportunities after graduation.

Knight acknowledged, "Many people are discouraged in job seeking. Why spend money, take time to learn when you may not get a job?"

The new program, called "Get a Skill, Get a Job or Your Money Back," aimed to ease those concerns. It promised students who enrolled in certain occupational training programs that if they were unable to find employment in their field within one year of graduation, Lansing Community College would refund