Illinois Developmental Education Equity in Action
Summary and Goals
This OCCRL project collaboration with the Partnership for College Completion (PCC) will inform the state of Illinois, community colleges in Illinois, and other education stakeholders about the influence and status of measures associated with the Developmental Education Reform Act (DERA) regarding student access and success at community colleges. The project will address the following questions:
- How have placement, pathways, curriculum, and teaching changed, or how are they currently changing, for students who require developmental education courses since the passage of DERA?
- What organizational changes and challenges have occurred due to DERA being implemented at higher education institutions?
- How have student outcomes been impacted by DERA programs, particularly with respect to equity?
OCCRL and PCC will work closely with local faculty and staff to identify meaningful measures and benchmarks of student achievement, ensuring these critical data are collected at the classroom, department, and institutional levels. A quantitative analysis will take place later in the project, using input to inform the evaluation design and data-collection tools, should the recommended idea be implemented.
Upcoming Event
Advancing Developmental Education Reform: Lessons from DERA Implementation in Illinois Community Colleges
As part of the Fall Sponsored Webinar Series from The Council for the Study of Community Colleges, this webinar will explore the implementation of the Developmental Education Reform Act (DERA) in Illinois through the collaborative work of the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) and OCCRL. Drawing on statewide research, advisory committee discussions, and practitioner perspectives, the session will highlight how community colleges are navigating developmental education reform while advancing student success and educational equity.
Participants will learn about emerging evidence related to multiple-measures placement, alternative developmental education models, and institutional strategies that support successful implementation. The webinar will also examine how colleges are adapting practices, responding to policy changes, and building organizational resilience in increasingly complex educational environments.
Podcasts on Developmental Education Reform in Illinois
News
Seventeen Equity-Minded Institutions Gather in Person for the First IDEEA Exchange