EXPLORING THE USE OF MULTIPLE MEASURES FOR PLACEMENT INTO COLLEGE-LEVEL COURSES Seeking alternatives or improvements to the use of a single standardized test Kathy Reeves Bracco Mina Dadgar Kim Austin Becca Klarin Marie Broek Neal Finkelstein Susan Mundry Dan Bugler March 21, 2014

Suggested Citation: Bracco, K. R., Dadgar, M., Austin, K., Klarin, B., Broek, M., Finkelstein, N., Mundry, S., & Bugler, D. (2014). Exploring the use of multiple measures for placement into college-level courses: Seeking alternatives or improvements to the use of a single standardized test. San Francisco, CA: WestEd.

Table of Contents to College Initiative ................................................................ i Executive Summary ................................................................................................................... ii Introduction ................................................................................................................................1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................2 Literature Review .......................................................................................................................4 Current Placement Landscape ............................................................................................4 Using Multiple Measures to Increase Placement Accuracy ................................................5 Implementing Multiple Measures.........................................................................................6 Four Main Methods of Using Multiple Measures.................................................................7 Cross-State Overview ................................................................................................................9 Use of a Single Placement Test ........................................................................................10 Use of Multiple Measures ..................................................................................................10 State Profiles: Using Multiple Measures for Placement Decisions .........................................13 Colorado ............................................................................................................................13 Florida ................................................................................................................................16 Hawaii ................................................................................................................................19 Massachusetts ...................................................................................................................20 North Carolina....................................................................................................................25 Tennessee .........................................................................................................................29 Washington ........................................................................................................................32 Key Takeaways and Next Steps..............................................................................................37 Observations and Recommendations for Implementing Effective Placement Policies ....37 .........................................40 Indiana ...............................................................................................................................40 Kentucky ............................................................................................................................41 Louisiana ...........................................................................................................................43 Oregon ...............................................................................................................................44 References.....................................................................................................