Consensus on Meaning of 'Readiness' Remains Elusive

What knowledge and skills do students need for college?

By Sterling C. Lloyd

Policymakers from across the ideological spectrum affirm the benefits of a college education. Few campaign speeches are completed without a pledge to help more people secure them. Despite such enthusiasm, the backdrop for policy debates continues to be formed by a host of disconcerting statistics about the college readiness and college-completion rates of American students.

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 42 percent of entering students at two-year postsecondary institutions enroll in remedial courses, for example. And the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ranks the United States just 12th among developed nations in the percentage of 25- to 34-year-olds with college degrees.

Researchers and policymakers express widespread agreement that too many American high school students lack the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in college—yet a consensus on how to define college readiness remains elusive. As a result, students and teachers may receive conflicting signals about the...