What is the Early Assessment Program (EAP)?

The EAP is a collaborative effort among the State Board of Education (SBE), the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California State University (CSU). The program was established to provide free opportunities for students to measure their readiness for college-level English and mathematics in their junior year of high school, and to facilitate opportunities for them to improve their skills during their senior year. Students may participate in the EAP by completing the voluntary EAP test questions that are included in the STAR test that students take toward the end of their junior year in high school. Additionally, students should complete the 45 minute EAP essay that is given during class separate from the STAR test.

Goal

The goal of the EAP program is to have California high school graduates enter the CSU fully prepared to begin college-level study.

The Challenge

More than 60 percent of the nearly 40,000 first-time freshmen admitted to the CSU require remedial education in English, mathematics or both. These 25,000 freshmen all have taken the required college preparatory curriculum and earned at least a B grade point average in high school. The cost in time and money to these students and to the state is substantial. Moreover, these students are confused by seemingly having done the right things in high school only to find out after admission to the CSU that they need further preparation.