Untold Barriers for Black Students in Higher Education: Placing Race at the Center of Developmental Education

Overview & Synopsis

This report specifically addresses developmental education (DE), also known as remedial education, approaches that serve as major barriers and, conversely, opportunities for success that are often overlooked and disproportionately affect Black students who gain access to higher education. Its primary focus is to draw light to the systemic issues many Black students face within the education pipeline. This report argues that many of the Black students who require DE have experienced a P-12 education that left them deficient in some areas. In order for Black students who require DE to succeed and persist to graduation, their time in DE cannot mirror that of their previous education experiences. The report details recommendations for curriculum development and administration of developmental education programs where students of color are most likely to be served, and it ultimately has implications for all institutions of higher learning. Chapters include: (1) Pipeline to Developmental Education; (2) Who is in Developmental Education?; (3) Who Teaches Developmental Education?; (4) Outcomes for Black Students in Developmental Education; (5) Examples of Developmental Education at Historically Black Colleges and Universities; (6) Recommendations for the Future; (7) Considerations for DE Policymakers and Funders; and (8) Considerations for Institutions of Higher Education. [Technical review provided by Josh Pretlow.]