WWC review of this study

What Happens When You Combine High School and College? The Impact of the Early College Model on Postsecondary Performance and Completion

Edmunds, Julie A.; Unlu, Fatih; Furey, Jane; Glennie, Elizabeth; Arshavsky, Nina (2020). Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, v42 n2 p257-278. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1253291

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
     examining 
    1,687
     Students
    , grades
    9-12

Reviewed: September 2020

At least one finding shows strong evidence of effectiveness
At least one statistically significant positive finding
Meets WWC standards without reservations
College degree attainment (long-run) outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Attainment of any postsecondary credential by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.44

0.33

Yes

 
 
7
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Earned both an Associate's degree and Bachelor's degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.15

0.04

Yes

 
 
30

Attainment of an Associate's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Underrepresented minority;
582 students

0.21

0.06

Yes

 
 
28

Received an Associate's degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.33

0.11

Yes

 
 
25

Attainment of an Associate's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Economically disadvantaged;
790 students

0.23

0.08

Yes

 
 
24

Attainment of an Associate's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

First-generation college-goers;
652 students

0.27

0.10

Yes

 
 
23

Earned only an Associate's degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.17

0.07

Yes

 
 
21

Attainment of an Associate's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Underprepared students;
481 students

0.14

0.07

Yes

 
 
15

Attainment of any postsecondary degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Economically disadvantaged;
790 students

0.36

0.23

Yes

 
 
11

Attainment of any postsecondary degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

First-generation college-goer;
652 students

0.36

0.25

Yes

 
 
9

Attainment of any postsecondary degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Underrepresented minority ;
582 students

0.36

0.27

Yes

 
 
7

Attainment of any postsecondary degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Underprepared students;
481 students

0.25

0.20

No

--

Attainment of a Bachelor's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Economically disadvantaged;
790 students

0.21

0.17

Yes

 
 
6

Received a technical credential

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.04

0.03

No

--

Attainment of a Bachelor's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Underrepresented minority;
582 students

0.25

0.23

No

--

Attainment of a Bachelor's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Underprepared students;
481 students

0.13

0.12

Yes

 
 
2

Received a Bachelor’s degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.25

0.24

No

--

Attainment of a Bachelor's degree by 6 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

First-generation college-goers;
652 students

0.17

0.16

No

--

Earned only a technical credential

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.02

0.02

No

--

Earned only a Bachelor's degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

6 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.10

0.20

Yes

-17
 
 
College degree attainment (short-run) outcomes—Statistically significant positive effect found for the domain
Outcome
measure
Comparison Period Sample Intervention
mean
Comparison
mean
Significant? Improvement
    index
Evidence
tier

Attainment of any postsecondary credential by 4 years after completion of 12th grade

Early College vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.38

0.22

Yes

 
 
13
 
Show Supplemental Findings

Received an Associate's degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.30

0.09

Yes

 
 
27

Received a Bachelor's degree

Early College vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.17

0.13

Yes

 
 
6

Received a technical credential

Early College vs. Business as usual

4 Years

Full sample;
1,687 students

0.03

0.03

No

--


Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.

Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.


  • Female: 59%
    Male: 41%

  • Rural, Urban
    • B
    • A
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • I
    • H
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • P
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • V
    • U
    • T
    • W
    • X
    • Z
    • Y
    • a
    • h
    • i
    • b
    • d
    • e
    • f
    • c
    • g
    • j
    • k
    • l
    • m
    • n
    • o
    • p
    • q
    • r
    • s
    • t
    • u
    • x
    • w
    • y

    North Carolina
  • Race
    Asian
    1%
    Black
    27%
    Native American
    1%
    Other or unknown
    8%
    White
    60%
  • Ethnicity
    Hispanic    
    9%
    Not Hispanic or Latino    
    92%

Setting

This study took place in North Carolina among 12 early college programs located in urban and rural settings.

Study sample

The analytic sample included 952 students in the intervention group and 735 in the comparison group. These 1,687 students applied to 12 early college programs between the 2005-06 school year and the 2008-09 school year. About 51% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and 3% had a disability. Sixty percent identified as White, 27% as Black, and 9% as Hispanic or Latino. Less than half were male (41%). The average age was 15.4 years at the time of the lottery.

Intervention Group

Students in the intervention group were offered admission to one of 12 early college programs in North Carolina. Early college programs combine elements of high school and college, offering students an opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and receive college credit over the course of a 4 to 5-year program. These programs are offered as small schools located on college campuses, primarily in community college settings. As students progress in early college, they gradually take more courses for college credit while also fulfilling high school graduation requirements. During their experience, students may earn enough college credit to receive an Associate's degree or complete the first 2 years of a 4-year degree program. In addition to more challenging academics, early college programs teach skills pertaining to good study habits and time management to help students successfully navigate college.

Comparison Group

Students in the comparison condition applied to an early college program but were not selected by lottery to attend the program. These students received business-as-usual high school education, which most likely would have been enrollment at a traditional high school in their school district.

Support for implementation

The authors do not describe additional details about implementation of the early college program.

 

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