Dana Center Mathematics Pathways. Intervention Report. Developmental Education. WWC 2021-014

Colleges attempt to identify students who are underprepared for college-level courses and then place them into developmental courses intended to help them succeed. These courses are usually offered on a non-credit basis and do not count toward graduation. As a result, students enrolled in developmental education can take longer to graduate than peers who enroll in credit-bearing college courses from the outset. Several interventions have been designed to accelerate students' transition from developmental to credit-bearing college courses, including the "Charles A. Dana Center Mathematics Pathways," hereafter referred to as "Dana Center Mathematics Pathways" or "DCMP." "DCMP" offers multiple math pathways aligned to programs of study, accelerated enrollment in credit-bearing college math courses, integrated student supports, and math instruction that incorporates evidence-based curricula and pedagogy. This What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) report, part of the WWC's Developmental Education topic area, explores the effects of "DCMP" on student progression in developmental education and progression in college. The WWC identified seven studies of DCMP. Three of these studies meet WWC standards. The evidence presented in this report is from studies of the impact of "DCMP" on community college students--including Asian, Black, White, and Hispanic students--in urban, suburban, and rural settings. [For the Intervention Brief, see ED613060. For the Intervention Snapshot, see ED613061.]