Early Assessment Program (EAP)
What is the EAP?

Implemented in 2004, the Early Assessment Program is a collaborative effort between the California State University (CSU), the California Department of Education (CDE), and the State Board of Education to determine a high school students’ readiness to do college-level work in English language arts and math and to provide students opportunities to improve skills during their senior year. The EAP builds off the state’s Standards Testing and Reporting accountability program for public K-12 schools. High school juniors taking the California Standards Tests (CST) have the option of completing fifteen additional multiple-choice questions on both the math and English CST, as well as writing a separate essay. In August before their senior year, students receive information based on their test results indicating whether they meet college-level expectations for math and English. If so, students who go on to attend CSU can enroll directly in college-level classes without taking a placement test. If they do not, students are advised to receive additional instruction in these subject areas during their senior year of high school.
Senate Bill (SB) 946
On September 28, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 946 (Scott) enabling California’s community college system to implement EAP. This bill enables community colleges to work with their local high schools and CSU, through the EAP, to address the high number of students who are unprepared for college-level course work.
What are the benefits of EAP?
  • Students get an early signal about their preparedness for college. Those who find that they are not proficient in mathematics or English have their senior year to improve their skills level in these areas.
  • EAP aligns California high school standards and tests and makes a connection with a student’s readiness for college.
  • Students who pass the EAP in English and math are exempted from taking CSU placement tests.
  • Provides high school seniors with a “wake-up call” to provide them with information that will enable them to make the most of their last year in high school to prepare for college.
  • Given that a majority of California’s high school graduates attend community college soon after graduation, the inclusion of the California Community Colleges in the EAP increases the relevancy of the CST.
CCC EAP Contact

Kimberly Cortijo, State EAP Coordinator:  (916) 327-5192 or via email at kcortijo@cccco.edu.
Resources

Go to www.collegeEAP.org for additional information about the EAP.

For information on the CSU EAP, please go to http://calstate.edu/eap

Posted:  November 30, 2011
California Community Colleges Early Assessment Program (EAP) 2011 Participation Survey:  The purpose of this survey is to identify all community colleges that are accepting student EAP test results as a waiver to assessment for the placement of students demonstrating college readiness.  Read More…



Listserv:

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Forms:

Reference:

Research:

  • Postsecondary Preparation and Remediation: Examining the Effect of the Early Assessment Program at California State University (Jessica S. Howell, Michal Kurlaender, Eric Grodsky, June 2008) (doc will be available soon)

Policy Reports:

    • Back to Basics: Improving College Readiness of Community College Students (Legislative Analyst’s Office, June 2008) (doc will be available soon)