What It Costs, What s at Stake, was prepared by The Institute for Higher Education Policy, a non-profit research group in Washington, DC, and sponsored by the Ford Foundation. Colleges and universities also contribute to misperceptions of remediation. Many institutions do not find it in their interest to acknowledge that they enroll students who require remediation because they believe their reputation may be hurt. The report states that the percentage of students receiving remediation, and the number of institutions that offer remedial education, is probably higher than reported. However, there is no evidence that remediation is expanding in size or scope, as the intense public scrutiny and attention suggests.
Remediation is a good investment for society, the report argues.
The alternatives unemployment, low-wage jobs, welfare participation, and even incarceration are far more expensive for society. The modest financial costs combined with the high individual and societal payoffs associated with going to college make the investment worthwhile. It s time to move beyond the finger pointing and jockeying over who should pay for remediation and get at the important educational and social issues, said Jamie Merisotis, President of The Institute for Higher Education Policy. College education is simply too important for the nation and individuals to walk away from these underprepared students. The public debate needs to move forward and focus on what works in remedial education, for which students, and at what cost.