Early college readiness assessments as well as “transition” curricula designed to help high school students avoid remedial coursework upon arrival to college represent promising approaches to decrease the numbers of entering college students who are academically underprepared. Yet little is known about the availability of these interventions across the country. The authors of this short paper conducted a scan to ascertain in which states these approaches have been undertaken and to find out whether they are developed through statewide initiatives or by individual colleges and schools.

Some form of early college readiness assessment is offered in 38 states, and in 25 of these states there is a state initiative for implementation. Transition curricula are offered in 29 states, and in 8 of these states there is a statewide initiative. Findings also suggest that the number of state and local initiatives is growing.