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February 2023 — Cicero Social Impact published student efficacy data that indicate that Texas College Bridge (TCB), a college readiness program established in 2020, is effectively preparing academically at-risk high school students to succeed in entry-level math and English coursework and persist in their studies.
The program, which has been adopted by more than 400 independent school districts and 90 institutions of higher education and has awarded nearly 78,000 certificates of completion, was designed to ensure that students who were identified as underprepared for postsecondary education—based on GPA, standardized test score(s), or another conventional measure—were provided the opportunity to address their math and English gaps and matriculate to a participating college.
Students are identified as underprepared for postsecondary education based on GPA, standardized test score(s), or another conventional measure.
Prior to the introduction of Texas College Bridge, underprepared Texas students who wished to pursue higher education had few opportunities to improve their subject mastery, relegating them to remedial or developmental studies, non-credit coursework that lengthens the time it takes to earn a postsecondary credential while increasing the cost of college.
Alternatively, the Texas College Bridge program, free to high school juniors and seniors in participating districts, was built on the premise that all students are postsecondary material. The intervention is not a standardized test; it’s a digital, personalized learning experience that empowers students to improve their college readiness.
Conceptual diagram showing the anticipated student success outcome in the absence of any intervention.
Conceptual diagram showing the anticipated student success outcome of an intervention with some meaningful impact.
Conceptual diagram showing the anticipated student success outcome of an intervention with ideal impact. The intervention in this case was the Texas College Bridge (TCB) program, and the ideal student success outcome was achieved.
What the Data Show
Cicero Social Impact reviewed representative samples of student data from seven community and technical colleges and four universities from both urban and rural geographic areas. The study posed two primary research questions:
What percent chance do students have of earning at least a C in first-semester, credit-bearing college courses, and
What is the first-to-second semester student persistence rate?
The data for this initial study were limited; nonetheless, the analysis, which compared Texas College Bridge students to students who did not participate in the program, revealed the following preliminary findings:
1. Texas College Bridge students (who were initially deemed underprepared for college) and their peers (who were deemed sufficiently prepared) pass their first-semester math courses (College Algebra, Math or Calculus for Business, and Statistics) at equivalent rates.
2. Texas College Bridge students and their peers also pass their first-semester liberal arts courses (Composition I, US History I, Introduction to Philosophy, Introduction to Speech Communication, Federal Government, and Texas Government) at equivalent rates.
3. Texas College Bridge students persist and enroll in the second semester at the same rate as their peers.
In addition to the primary takeaways, researchers found directional evidence that Black Texas College Bridge students have higher persistence rates than students of other races.
TCB, powered by EdReady, closes the readiness gap between at-risk and academically prepared high school students
“The NROC Project is committed to improving educational equity, and Cicero’s determinations, while preliminary, underscore that we are achieving that aim. The Texas College Bridge program, powered by EdReady, closes the readiness gap between at-risk and academically prepared high school students and proves that students who may not perform well on high-stakes standardized tests can be just as successful as their peers who do,” said Dr. Ahrash Bissell, President of NROC.
Research Methodology
Cicero Social Impact used logistic regression to model binary response variables for semester course grades and second-semester enrollment. A spectrum of considerations informed the research model, including first-generation student status, socioeconomic factors, institution types (2-year versus 4-year institutions), ethnicity, race, Texas Success Initiative Assessment exemption achieved through a standardized test (SAT and ACT), first-semester credit load, reporting semester and year, and withdrawal course grades.
The Future of the Program
Hundreds of additional districts and new higher education partners are expected to adopt Texas College Bridge in 2023, and, at present, more than 55,000 students are actively participating in the program.
This report and future Cicero Social Impact research and other analyses are informing program improvements, ensuring that students across the state of Texas will not only be able to enroll in college, but persist, enjoy expanding credential and degree options, and succeed.
Additional Research and a Commitment to Continuous Improvement
While these preliminary data suggest that Texas College Bridge helps students shore up essential math and English skills and perform as well in their gateway courses and persist at rates similar to non-Texas College Bridge students, The NROC Project is committed to broadening and deepening the scope of our efficacy research via continued third-party analyses, interviews with Texas College Bridge participants, a Summer convening of Texas College Bridge institutional partners, and more. Additional insights will inform technological, curricular, and implementation improvements.
