Are all community college courses in California that have the same general name (e.g., English 1A)—and for which students are assessed for course placement—comparable statewide, in what students are expected to learn?

REL West at WestEd researchers sought to answer this key question by analyzing the comparability of English 1A courses across a sampling of community colleges in California. Why is comparability important?

  • Prospective and enrolled students need reliable information about course expectations
  • Both students and administrators should have the same understanding of what it means for students to be ready for college-level work

Download this brief for the full analysis of this study.

Please visit the REL West website for more information. Information about the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) system and other REL publications can be found at the national Regional Educational Laboratory Program website.