Retroactive Placement

It is never too late to get students on the right path. Retroactive placement empowers students previously placed in remediation to enroll themselves in transfer-level courses according to the guidelines established by AB 705, which may include corequisites or other support.

A Retroactive Placement Model

Start by involving partners and stakeholders

  • Research Office

  • IT

  • Instructional Deans for Math and English

  • AB 705 Workgroup

  • Testing Center

  • Web Services


This promising practice is recommended for all colleges by the RP Group

  • Any student who had been enrolled in the past three years should be algorithmically re-placed based on available High School GPA & coursework information from CCCApply.

  • Students who don’t have any High School GPA information should be directed to Guided Placement.

  • Any student who is not placed into the highest placement options (i.e., English with no co-req and Precalculus or higher with no co-req) should be informed that they can meet with a counselor to discuss their new placement, including the ability to provide additional high school information that could be used to adjust placement upward.

For students enrolled in the last 3 years who don't have a GPA, direct to guided placement. For students enrolled in the last three years with a high school GPA, place using algorithm. If the student is at highest placement level, you're done. If not, inform the student they can meet with a counselor about placement.

Retroactive Placement Considerations

Retroactive placement gives students a chance to overcome roadblocks imposed by previous placement approaches. Practical considerations that can inform the development of your own retroactive placement process are outlined in a PDF. Feel free to share it with colleagues or college committees developing their processes.

Download Process

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