EDU KATE

Have you ever wondered if there are more special needs students attending college than reported?

Since the No Child Left Behind Act went into effect in 2001 and the revision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2004, there seems to be an increase in the number of college students receiving developmental or remedial services on college campuses.

According to the National Association of Developmental Education, which is located at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC, developmental education provides academic skills preparation to underprepared college students. Instead of being guided by the K-12 principals, developmental progams are guided by the principles of adult learning and development. The National Center for Education Statistics, as referenced by Boylan (1999), just under 30% of students entering college required skill preparation in English, reading, and/or mathematics. An astounding 2.5 million college students participate in developmental education during any given year (Boylan, 1999, p. 1).

Somehow, these numbers seem to mirror the number of students with disabilities who graduate from high school. There is a correlatation there somewhere, I just know it. Students qualifying for services, through a special education program, had skill deficits in either English, reading or mathematics. I am no rocket scientist, but if the student had a skill deficit that meant they were not on grade level, right? This would classify them as underprepared, right? It would be interesting to see the records of students enrolled in developmental programs to see if they were receiving academic support services in high school, but failed to disclose this information for fear of being stereotyped. Makes you wonder.

Now you know. Comments welcomed.

Reference:

Boylan, H. R. (1999). Developmental education: Demographics, outcomes, and activities. Journal of Developmental Education, 23(2), 1-9. Retrieved from http://www.ncde.appstate.edu/resources/reports/documents/V23-2...

Other resources:

http://www.districtadministration.com/article/postgraduation-special-needs-students

www2.ed.gov/ocr/transition.html