Nearly half of the freshmen entering the California State University system need remedial education in math and English, according to the latest report issued at the March board of trustees meeting.

The report said that 37 percent of freshmen systemwide needed more help in math and 47 percent needed help in English.

Larry Glasmire, director of special programs and enrollment analysis, said Sacramento State freshmen enter with 43 percent needing help in math and 55 percent needing help in English. Glasmire said Sac State numbers are higher than the systemwide numbers because there are a few CSUs that are impacted and have stricter requirements for entering freshmen.

“We take the minimum requirements,” Glasmire said. “It’s clear that these students aren’t getting the necessary skill in public high schools.”

Freshmen are required to finish remedial classes in their first year at Sac State, and only 2 percent of Sac State courses are in remedial subjects, Glasmire said.

The Early Assessment Program, which began last spring, allows high school juniors to take the proficiency test a year early to find out whether they need more help in English and math. This gives them a year to improve their skills and prepare to attend a university, Glasmire said.

Sac State’s Director of the Learning Skills Center Roberta Ching has served on a task force with 11 other teachers, principals and CSU faculty, creating a curriculum to be used by high school students to raise their English scores. This fall will be the first time for the course to be used.

“I’ve devoted my career to under-performing high school students,” Ching said. “I feel optimistic (the new course) will help fill the gap.”

Ching said that part of the problem is that there are increasing numbers of students for whom English is their second language.

This makes it hard for teachers to teach to higher standards.

Glasmire said 40 percent of high school juniors took the Early Assesment Program.

“That’s a really good percentage,” Glasmire said. “It’s mostly for students who think they might want to go to a university.”

The board of trustees is confident that with the program and the new high school cirriculum, scores for freshmen will improve.

Karen Marie Watson can be reached at [email protected]