Did you know?

That according to the U.S. Department of Education, about a third of 2007-08 first-year college students have taken at least one remedial course. That number rises to about 42% at two-year community colleges.

USA Today reports that, education observers worry that the vast numbers of students coming to college unprepared will pose a major roadblock to President Barack Obama's goal for the United States to once again lead the world in college degrees.

According to studies done by the U.S. Department of Education, many secondary schools across the nation aren’t adequately preparing students to excel at college. Universities and community colleges are stepping in to fill the gap by offering remedial college courses in subjects like reading and math.

Reading comprehension is such a critical skill, in college, because textbooks become more complex, leaving many students unprepared for advancement.

Will Taxpayers Pay for the Same Education Twice?

Remedial training is costly. The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that the nation loses $3.7 billion a year due to the fact that students have not learned the basic needed skills, like basic reading, comprehension, and fluency.

According to 2004 Education Department data, students who need remedial classes are more likely to drop out of college. For example, those taking any remedial reading, only had a 17% chance of completing a bachelor's degree,

Remedial Reading programs should be research-based and implemented with fidelity by teachers who have received sufficient training.

Reading concepts should be explicit while moving sequentially from the simplest concepts to the more complex.

For a free instructional reading framework, click here >

I have the opportunity to serve on a board that promotes adult and community education in the state of Utah. We recently held a conference for adult educators from across the state and I was reminded of the wonderful individuals that serve in this critical segment of the education landscape.

Most aspiring teachers see themselves teaching somewhere in the K-12 space, helping children or young adults to improve their lives and realize their dreams through education. Very few new teachers ever fathomed that they might someday work as an adult education professional. However, for most of them, once they find this unique niche they never want to go back to the K-12 classroom. It is challenging and emotionally draining work that also requires extreme flexibility. Many of these teachers have students who range from 0-12th grade level in all of the key content areas. It is difficult to cater to individual needs and schedules and to feel the frustration of losing a student to work or relocation when they were finally "breaking through."

I was recently participating in a video shoot at UMASS-Dartmouth and had the opportunity to speak to a few of the amazing teachers who work there. They expressed their deep appreciation to work with adults and the rewards they realized as their students made significant improvements in their reading ability and in their lives.

I salute adult education professionals across the world who committ themselves to this noble work and the students that need them most. Thank you for your diligence and for your genuine interest in making a difference. We're proud to partner with so many of you in helping to remediate struggling readers.