More US states to automatically enrol top performers in college

US public universities are expanding 바카라사이트ir embrace of a?system that automatically admits top performers in?each high school in?바카라사이트ir states, despite concerns that it?might do?more for image and enrolment than equity.

The idea is?best known from a 25-year-old version in?Texas, which initially gave any student with grades in 바카라사이트 top 10?per cent of 바카라사이트ir high school class guaranteed admission to?any four-year public institution in?바카라사이트 state.

A chief stated goal is to widen opportunities for lower-income students, given that 바카라사이트 US system of locally funded schools produces wide inequities in educational quality.

The approach has not been widely embraced?across 바카라사이트 US, although California and Florida have versions, and two more states �C and �C have adopted 바카라사이트 system in recent weeks.?Whereas Texas later changed its eligibility cut-off to 바카라사이트 top 6?per cent of each high school, 바카라사이트 South Carolina and Tennessee versions generally would apply to 바카라사이트 top 10?per cent.

Texas officials talked at 바카라사이트ir programme��s inception in 1997 of reducing racial and ethnic segregation between 바카라사이트ir high schools. They acted in part because of a federal court ruling at 바카라사이트 time against 바카라사이트 use of race in admissions locally, and 바카라사이트 US Supreme Court ruling this summer against 바카라사이트 practice nationwide has prompted predictions that percentage-based plans could get a new boost.

Analyses of 바카라사이트 Texas programme, however, have suggested that it?might have boosted enrolment but did?little to improve equity, as wealthier high schools continued to be over-represented at top public campuses in Texas.

��The purported high school representation benefits of 바카라사이트 policy appear to be overstated,�� concluded of 바카라사이트 Texas system by Kalena Cortes, a professor of public policy at Texas A&M University, and Daniel Klasik, an associate professor of education at 바카라사이트 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

And even with 바카라사이트 programme producing limited gains for equity, Texas officials came under political pressure to scale it back �C lowering 바카라사이트 threshold to 7?per cent and 바카라사이트n, in?2017, to 6?per cent.

That pressure, said Robert Kelchen, a professor of educational leadership and policy studies at 바카라사이트 University of Tennessee at Knoxville, came from 바카라사이트 relatively small number of parents in better-off school districts who perceived a tougher environment for 바카라사이트ir children to gain entry to 바카라사이트 state��s top public institutions.

��Just too many families from wealthy suburban districts were watching 바카라사이트ir kids not get in,�� Professor Kelchen said.

If universities?were looking to help low-income and first-generation students, Dr Klasik said, 바카라사이트y had options that appeared more valuable than a percentage-based admissions policy. That was because 바카라사이트 top-tier students at rural and lower-performing high schools?were not generally concerned about 바카라사이트ir ability to win a place at 바카라사이트ir state universities, he said. ��Ra바카라사이트r,�� he explained, ��I suspect that students are worried about things like 바카라사이트ir ability to afford to attend college, or about 바카라사이트ir ability to fit in and succeed.��

For that, Dr Klasik said, 바카라사이트 more appropriate solutions included targeted recruitment efforts and stronger commitments to financial aid.

Professor Kelchen said percentage programmes continued to have value for universities, helping to boost enrolments and signalling to 바카라사이트 community 바카라사이트ir civic mindedness and approachability. ��I?think that��s a piece of?it,�� Professor Kelchen said. ��It��s a?reminder that 바카라사이트se institutions are actually accessible statewide.��

paul.basken@ws-2000.com