Lengthening the Placement Levels to

Shorten the Math Sequence Path:

Outcomes of Moving from a
Three-Level to Six-Level Math
Placement System
San Joaquin Delta College
Student Success Conference, October 2013

Outline of Session
Institution Profile
Background
Process of Change
Data Trends Pre and Post Placement Change
Reflections
*Interactive Activities throughout

Session Outcomes
As a result of this session, participants will
understand:
the processes involved with changing the
placement cut score system at one institution
the implications of those changes at the
institution

Institution Profile
Located in the central valley of California
2012-13 unduplicated headcount 22,679
75% Non-White student population, 56%
female
Over 50% qualified for California Board of
Governors Fee-Waiver
Over 80% of students require remediation in
Reading and/or Math

Interactive Session
What assessment system is your college
currently using to place students in English and
Math?
http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choi
ce_polls/5bf03HmIFP1t98R

Historical Background
Prior to 1999: ASSET Paper and Pen 3 Level
Level 1 = Arithmetic
Level 2 = Pre-Algebra
Level 3 = Algebra

Historical Background
1999-2007
COMPASS Computerized Adaptive Testing
Level 1 = Arithmetic
Level 2 = Pre-Algebra
Level 3 = Algebra

Historical Background
2007 to present: COMPASS2
Level 1 = Arithmetic
Level 2 = Pre-Algebra
Level 3 = Algebra
Level 4 = Intermediate Algebra
Level 5 = Math courses with Intermediate Algebra
as pre-req
Level 6 = Calculus

Data Trends: Assessment

Test Type and Math Level

2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13

ASSET
1: Four Levels Below

60.7%

60.8%

65.3%

60.3%

2: Three Levels Below

25.5%

26.3%

21.2%

22.1%

3: Two Levels Below

13.9%

12.9%

13.4%

17.6%

1: Four Levels Below

56.4%

57.8%

67.9%

67.8%

2: Three Levels Below

25.4%

27.6%

17.0%

17.9%

3: Two Levels Below

18.2%

14.6%

15.2%

14.3%

COMPASS

COMPASS2
1: Four Levels Below

35.1%

34.6%

31.2%

32.3%

29.0%

24.0%

2: Three Levels Below

34.1%

34.0%

35.4%

35.1%

34.4%

33.0%

3: Two Levels Below

19.7%

20.6%

20.8%

20.7%

21.3%

23.5%

4. One Level Below

5. College Level

6.2%
2.9%

5.8%
3.1%

7.2%
3.2%

6.9%
2.7%

9.2%
3.7%

10.8%
4.7%

6. Advanced (Calculus)

2.0%

2.0%

2.2%

2.3%

2.4%

4.0%

9191

9455

12951

7353

9296

9244

Grand Total

6920

7891

7424

8270

Data Source: San Joaquin Delta College System 2000, Assessment Data

Interactive Session
How many Math levels below college does your
institution offer?
http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choi
ce_polls/VaMRyaayZKvxmcx

Process of Change
Collaboration
Math Committee, Math Faculty
Assessment Center, Assessment Director
Planning, Research, and Institutional Effectiveness

Outcomes Data
Faculty-Driven Process

Data Trends: Course Level Success Rates by

Ethnic Group Before Assessment Change
65.0%
60.0%
55.0%

50.0%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

Asian

57.8%

60.9%

56.6%

58.5%

Black/African American

37.7%

37.8%

37.2%

39.5%

Filipino

53.9%

54.7%

58.3%

58.1%

Hispanic

48.1%

48.6%

47.6%

49.3%

Pacific Islander

41.8%

58.5%

47.7%

45.5%

Other

49.1%

48.1%

55.7%

54.3%

White

56.2%

54.6%

56.4%

57.7%

Overall

52.3%

52.1%

52.7%

53.6%

Data Source: San Joaquin Delta College System 2000, December 2010

Interactive Session
What would you do given these low rates?
http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choi
ce_polls/BAM1JO0GsESnCn8

Matrix of Success: Data Sample to

Math Faculty
Score
Range

Level

MATH
74*

MATH
72/76

MATH
78/88

MATH
80

MATH
82

MATH
12

MATH
38A/B

MATH
1

0 30

1 PA

58.1%
(308)

39.3%
(1,066)

61.1%
(36)

33.7%
(163)

29.7%
(64)

58.3%
(24)

31 - 45

2 PA

63.6%
(33)

51.6%
(192)

58.1%
(496)

41.7%
(1,411)

39.1%
(417)

54.8%
(168)

36.8%
(68)

46 - 100

3 PA

50.0%
(34)

53.7%
(67)

43.4%
(396)

37.9%
(116)

51.7%
(60)

42.1%
(19)

0 - 45

3 AL

78.9%
(38)

53.5%
(482)

46.0%
(276)

65.6%
(160)

45.7%
(81)

46 - 65

4 AL

67.4%
(92)

63.7%
(179)

73.1%
(197)

57.7%
(97)

66 100

5 AL

0 100

5 CA

70.0%
(30)

77.5%
(40)

77.8%
(27)

0 45

5 TR

71.8%
(39)

72.7%
(22)

52.2%
(23)

46 - 100

6 TR

90.6%
(53)

85.3%
(34)

72.1%
(122)

53.3%
(60)

Data Source: San Joaquin Delta College System 2000, December 2010, Cohort of first-time students between 2007-08 to 2009-10

Data Trends: Math Success Rates

Assessment Test changed from 3 level placement to 6

6 Level Placement Implemented

70.0%

59.9%

60.0%
52.3%

52.1%

52.7%

53.6%

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

51.9%

53.4%

54.2%

2008-09

2009-10

52.4%

52.7%

2010-11

2011-12

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%
2007-08

Data Source: San Joaquin Delta College System 2000, all Math courses.
Note. Success rates significantly higher post change, X2 (1) = 19.61, p < .001, Cramers V = 0.12

2012-13

Data Trends: Math Success Rates by

Ethnic Group
75.0%
70.0%
65.0%
60.0%

55.0%
Success Rate

50.0%
45.0%
40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Asian

57.8%

60.9%

56.6%

58.5%

56.5%

61.2%

61.9%

60.3%

61.0%

66.6%

Black/African American

37.7%

37.8%

37.2%

39.5%

35.4%

40.3%

40.0%

37.4%

37.0%

43.7%

Filipino

53.9%

54.7%

58.3%

58.1%

55.3%

55.1%

58.3%

58.9%

57.2%

68.8%

Hispanic

48.1%

48.6%

47.6%

49.3%

49.7%

50.8%

51.2%

51.0%

51.0%

58.6%

Pacific Islander

41.8%

58.5%

47.7%

45.5%

49.2%

44.2%

54.3%

44.3%

59.0%

54.3%

Other

49.1%

48.1%

55.7%

54.3%

51.9%

51.9%

52.6%

49.9%

49.6%

55.9%

White

56.2%

54.6%

56.4%

57.7%

55.8%

56.3%

57.9%

54.8%

56.6%

63.2%

Data Source: San Joaquin Delta College System 2000, all Math courses

Data Trends: Math Success by

Instructional Mode
70.0%

60.0%

50.0%

40.0%

30.0%

20.0%

10.0%

0.0%

2003-04

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Internet

49.6%

44.0%

45.6%

47.8%

48.8%

48.9%

51.4%

46.6%

47.3%

55.9%

Traditional

53.1%

55.8%

56.3%

56.9%

53.8%

56.0%

55.7%

54.9%

54.7%

61.7%

Data Source: San Joaquin Delta College System 2000, all Math courses

Matrix of Success

Placement Level Prior to

Enrolling in Course

Cohort of first-time students enrolled in 2011-12 and 2012-13.

1
2
3
4
5
6

Course Level
3

37.9%

57.1%

35.5%

44.3%

64.2%

50.0%

31.9%

51.7%

64.2%

57.0%

51.0%

51.7%

66.7%

72.3%

75.2%

100.0%

79.6%

68.9%

61.1%

86.6%

66.4%

Reflections
Success rates in courses improving over time
Course progression rates also improving
3 levels below to transfer
16.7% for Fall 2003 Cohort vs. 18.8% for Fall 2008
Cohort*

More refined placement = better placement

*Chancellors Office Data Mart Basic Skills Cohort Tracker

End of Session
the processes involved with changing the
placement cut score system at one institution
the implications of those changes at the
institution

Contact Information
Alyssa Nguyen
anguyen@deltacollege.edu
Sabrina Sencil
ssencil@deltacollege.edu

Dr. Matthew Wetstein

mwetstein@deltacollege.edu