improving developmental education, including English language instruction, by customizing developmental education to student career goals; and

helping students move rapidly from developmental coursework into for-credit occupational courses and through program completion.

are from institutions of higher education in which not less than 50 percent of the institution’s entering first-year students who are subject to mandatory assessment are assessed as needing developmental courses to bring reading, writing, or mathematics skills up to college level; and

propose to replicate practices that have proven effective with adults, or propose to collaborate with adult education providers.

Designing and implementing innovative ways to improve retention in and completion of developmental education courses, including enrolling students in cohorts, accelerating course content, dually enrolling students in developmental and college-level courses, tutoring, providing counseling and other supportive services, and giving small, material incentives for attendance and performance.

In consultation with faculty in the appropriate departments, reconfiguring courses offered on-site during standard academic terms for modular, compressed, or other alternative schedules, or for distance-learning formats, to meet the needs of working adults.

Developing counseling strategies that address the needs of students in remedial education courses, and including counseling students on career options and the range of programs available, such as certificate programs that are articulated to degree programs and programs designed to facilitate transfer to four-year institutions of higher education.

Improving the quality of teaching in remedial courses through professional development, reclassification of such teaching positions, or other means the institution of higher education determines appropriate.

Any other activities the institution of higher education and the Secretary determine will promote retention of, and completion by, students attending institutions of higher education.