Content area
Abstract
The state of Texas has committed to increased access to Higher Education (HE) for all state residents. Among the steps Texas has undertaken to raise inclusion is specific attention to equitable placement testing in community colleges. The purpose of this study was to determine if placement is affected by the instrument applicants use, specifically, the non-standardized, or the standardized version of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) exam. Final grades of applicants placing into Freshman Composition in Texas (ENGL 1301), instead of Developmental Education (DE), served as the measure of student success appropriate for this study. A sample was created from two large urban community colleges in Texas, accessing archival data from the institutions, including placement test scores, and final grades in ENGL 1301. A comparison was made between students testing into ENGL 1301 using the non-standardized TSI, and the standardized TSI, and their final grades in ENGL 1301.
