College ready or not: Measuring college readiness in an English concurrent enrollment program

This action research project examines the issue of college readiness measured by the comparison of surveyed perceptions of high school administrators, teachers and students and college professors, all of whom were participants in a concurrent enrollment program based out of a small, southwestern Minnesota four-year public university during the Fall 2008 semester. The study compared the participants' perceptions of college readiness before and after students completed the English concurrent enrollment course. Analysis of the data consisted of descriptive statistics to compare pre- and postsurvey data. Statistical data were supported with qualitative data collected during focus groups. The findings of this study revealed that perceived college readiness grew the more inquiry-based practices were used. Results of this study will provide relevant information for educators, administrators, and legislators interested in concurrent enrollment programs.