Graduation rates have been rising for over a decade. Indeed, even during the pandemic, as students learned less and chronic absenteeism exploded, graduation rates continued to rise.

One important part of this story might be the rise of credit recovery programs. Each year, credit recovery programs help students who have failed a course continue their schooling without repeating a year. But what exactly are credit recovery programs? How do students who participate in online credit recovery programs fare later in life? Can credit recovery courses be improved? And if so, how?

On this episode of The Report Card, Nat Malkus discusses these questions, and more, with Carolyn J. Heinrich.

Carolyn J. Heinrich is a University Distinguished Professor of Leadership, Policy, and Organizations and Political Science and the Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor of Public Policy, Education and Economics at Vanderbilt University.

Show Notes:

Design Principles for Effective Online Credit Recovery

Failing to Learn from Failure: The Facade of Online Credit Recovery Assessments

Does Online Credit Recovery in High School Support or Stymie Later Labor Market Success?

Mapping the Inequity Implications of Help-Seeking in Online Credit-Recovery Classrooms