Goals of Developmental Education

Developmental education, as an umbrella term for a wide range of learning-centered activities, has several key goals:

• To preserve and make possible educational opportunity for each postsecondary learner.
• To develop in each learner the skills and attitudes necessary for the attainment of academic, career, and life goals.
• To ensure proper placement by assessing each learner's level of preparedness for college coursework.
• To maintain academic standards by enabling learners to acquire competencies needed for success in mainstream college courses.
• To enhance the retention of students.
• To promote the continued development and application of cognitive and affective learning theory.