Judge blocks 8th-grade algebra testing in Calif.

[Adsos Letter]

Source: AP

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- A judge on Friday blocked a plan to make California the first state in the nation to require algebra testing for all eighth-graders.

The ruling sidelines an ambitious mandate approved by the state Board of Education in July after Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger recommended it over the concerns of California's school superintendent and education groups.

The board pushed through the effort in order for the state to meet federal testing requirements or face losing up to $4.1 million in funding. The mandate would have affected students in the 2011-12 school year.

But the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators sued in September to overturn the requirement. They questioned whether the state had the money, staff and training to comply with the state board's decision.



Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ALGEBRA_DISPUTE?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[villager]

1. And this California parent says "thank you!"

Enough with the goddamn testing. Let's just fund some schools, for a change, and let teachers teach...

[high density]

2. I'm so glad I finished school before NCLB came into effect

It sounds like a nightmare. That said, I do have to wonder why half of the kids exiting 8th grade in CA have not had algebra yet. I think I took it in 7th grade. If you don't have that down pat it makes further math and science studies quite difficult.

[exboyfil]

3. Algebra in 8th grade is atypical for our school district

I had Algebra in 9th grade in the California school system in the 1970s. I very much want my oldest daughter who does well in Math to take Algebra in 8th grade, but she will have to pass a test in the Spring to be allowed to do it. Basically, the school system appears to be throttling down access to 8th grade Algebra (probably because of limitations on class size). She missed out on taking Pre-Algebra in 7th grade because of one assessment test which her 6th grade elementary teacher did not do a good job of preparing her for. I also take the blame for not understanding what was going on at the time. It will be difficult for her if she does make Algebra in 8th grade because she did not have the Pre-Algebra course in 7th grade.

I think California is crazy to think all students, especially in their troubled education system, are ready for Algebra in 8th grade. Their best are probably the best in the country, but their large underclass, especially English learners, makes any hope of accomplishing this goal out of reach. They would do better to set more realistic goals for all of the kids to finish at least Algrebra II and Statistics with strong comprehension and a love for Math by the time they graduate. It would be good for them to know Trig, but they should be able to accomplish most of their life's ambitions except being an engineer, scientist, or mathematician with only Algebra II/Stat in 12th grade.

Our school system is very good. My daughter's junior high is a National Blue Ribbon winner, but probably only 25% of the 8th graders take Algebra. A lot of this is throttling down and archaic thinking by some teachers, but in the majority of cases students are not ready for Algrebra in 8th grade. My daughter is smart, but she is having a very difficult time grasping algebraic concepts. I remember having the same struggle when I was her age and tried to make up for missing the Pre-Algebra class in 7th grade when I tried to jump to Algebra in the 8th grade.

Since I ultimately became an engineer with all course work completed for a Doctorate, I got to think the school system could have done a better job in getting me into Pre-Algebra in 7th grade. At least my daughter has me to help her with Math. My dad was a factory worker, who, while smart, was not able to explain Algebra concepts to me.

If she does not get into Algebra next year, then I may home school her in that subject with the hope of eventually reintroducing her back into the math sequence in 10th grade once she gets away from the Math Department Head at the Junior High.

[entanglement]

7. "Pre-algebra"? Is that the dumbing-down industry's next great invention after "pre-calculus"?

[Ms. Toad]

10. Both courses have been around since the 60s, at least.

Pre-algebra is the first named math class (prior to that level, the courses are generally just identified by grade). Pre-calculus includes a number of semi unrelated concepts, none of which justify an entire semester or year course - but all of which are necessary to succeed in calculus (for example functions, inverse functions, trig, logs, coordinate geometry, complex numbers, vectors).

[pnwmom]

15. How long has it been since you've been in school? They had pre-Algebra more

than 35 years ago -- at least. It's just what they call the year before Algebra, when they introduce Algebra concepts and reinforce concepts like percentages, fractions, etc.

[entanglement]

37. You should see the innumeracy and utter lack of ability of freshman-year students

to comprehend abstractions to understand my frustration. Every year, we deal with kids (at a very large state university) who are utterly unprepared for anything resembling college math. Considerable resources then have to be spent on remedial classes - courses that should never attract more than a handful of students are routinely filled to capacity. Universities have to step in to do the job that high schools fail to do.

9 out of 10 professional mathematicians would find the very idea of 'pre-algebra' absurd. Abstractions cannot be introduced 'partially', nor is there a preparatory stage for doing so. I suspect this kind of pedagogy creates the clueless students we encounter later on. It is a dis-service to students to dumb down mathematics.

My suggestion: If schools want to improve math education, please listen to what the math department of the nearest university has to say on the matter.

[murielm99]

11. I think it is a great idea for you to home school her

in algebra. You sound like a great parent.

Another thing that might be worth looking into is some sort of math class at a local community college over the summer. There is a CC near me that has great review courses in algebra and geometry. An eight week summer course might be just the thing. She need not take it for credit.

I took one of those classes one summer, because I wanted to be sure in my own mind that I was ready for college algebra. The review was great, and it left me more confident. That school also had a great learning resource center for any student who needed tutoring or help with homework.

I noticed that there were a few high school kids taking math classes over the summer, too. They were taking them for credit, and to advance themselves in their math sequences at the high school level.

You sound like you are skilled enough that you may not need help or advice. But it is out there for parents who do want the help.

[exboyfil]

23. Thanks for the advice

I am fortunate that my daughter's 7th grade math teacher is very good. My daughter loves him. He is actually a former student of my father-in-law, and a wonderful man. Given the fact that my daughter could have ended up with my wife's old 7th grade math teacher, we are thanking our lucky stars.

I am trying to supplement my daughter's content with content from the Pre-Algebra book. What I can't understand is what will happen if my daughter has to take Pre-Algebra in 8th grade. It appears at least half of the material will be repeat for her even without the supplemental teaching which I am doing.

[slackmaster]

27. Another California student of the '70s - I was taking trig and analytical geometry in 9th grade

Schools were a lot better back then, it seems.

[exboyfil]

34. But was everyone taking these courses?

My school system, Garden Grove, was pretty good back in the 1970s. Probably about a 1/4th of my 6th grade class took Pre-Algebra in 7th grade (and thus Algebra I in 8th grade and Geometry in 9th grade). I never understood why, when I was one of the top three math students in 6th, I ended up in the Pre-Pre Algebra class in 7th grade. I know that I was bored out of my mind that year.

[slackmaster]

38. About 1/3 of my class was at the same level as I in math

We were the best students in that subject. I have a hard time comprehending how anyone can have a lot of difficulty with basic algebra, but obviously many do.

[Mrs. Ted Nancy]

4. In eigth grade, we did algebra lite.

The first part of the year we were given copious amounts of problems that were slightly more difficult problems than we were given in the 7th grade. The second part of the year we got into pre-algebra equations like these:
4x+1=9 Solve for x.

In ninth grade, we got our polynomials, then y = mx + b, multiply these equations (8x + 4)*(3x + 1), the quadratic equation and so on.

In tenth grade, I took Algebra II and geometry. In 11th grade I took trig and analytic geometry and another class where we got into computer programming, statistics and other stuff. In 12th grade I took Calculus I and II with more computer programming.

My easiest A's in college were statistics and the three semesters of Calculus.

My goal is not to show off my math knowledge, but rather, kids can start Algebra later than the seventh grade and still do well in the higher math courses.

[du_grad]

6. No algebra for me till 9th grade

I started algebra in 9th grade. I was near the top of my class in both junior high and high school. I took Algebra in 9th, Plane Geometry in 10th, Algebra II in 11th, and Solid Geometry/Trig. in 12th. I did very well with algebra and placed high in statewide tests. After I hit three dimensional math I didn't do so well. I took Calculus in my freshman year and struggled. Thankfully I didn't have to take any more for my Biology major.

I cannot imagine a lot of kids taking algebra in 8th grade. What's the rush here? Do they have that many math teachers? Do they want to force underperforming kids who struggle with math anyway to absolutely HATE math and never take any more than they have to? My husband is a systems analyst. He HATED math and did everything he could to avoid it at all costs, yet he can program and figure things out logically. This requirement would have sent him into some tizzy in junior high for sure.

I agree: kids can start Algebra later than junior high and still do very well in math. For the kids who are able to handle advanced math at a younger age, I think it's fine. Our 7th grade math teacher (back in 1961) had a group of kids he taught higher level math to on his/their lunch hour. Many of those kids (mostly boys, if truth be told) went on to become engineers, chemists, etc. I cannot remember if I was invited to this group or not. It may have conflicted with a singing group I attended during my lunch hour and I wanted to do this rather than math (as I was contemplating a music major for awhile). By the time I got to senior math, however, there was only one other girl taking it with me. We both ended up on the technical side of health care; she became a Physical Therapist, and I went into Medical Technology.

We need to do what we can to recognize boys AND girls who have mathematical talent at young ages. I do not think forcing everyone to take high level math at a young age is the answer. It will slow down the kids who can whiz through this stuff, and it will discourage the kids who have a tough time of it.

I knew a few kids who got law degrees and did extremely well with English, History, etc. who struggled with science and math. One of them is now a vice president of a large corporation and he heads their legal department. Another friend was an absolute math whiz, got one of the highest SAT scores you could get on the special Math II SAT test, but almost didn't graduate from college because he did so poorly in Freshman English that he had to take it three times to pass it.

We are not all created equal when it comes to left and right brain talents.

[LibDemAlways]

13. "What's the rush here?" I heartily agree. When I was in

8th grade back in the 60's the counselor suggested to my dad that I take what was called Algebra Prep in 9th grade. My dad would have none of it and insisted that I take Algebra I. I wasn't ready and struggled through it. Then I barely made it through geometry. I couldn't do a proof if my life depended on it. Still can't. I'm just not wired that way. Anyhow, I continued on in Algebra II in 11th grade, still struggling along. That was the last math I ever took.

I went on to become an English teacher. Fortunately my college didn't require that I take a math course. I would probably have failed it. The state of California requires teachers to pass a standardized test called C-Best. I aced the English/Writing portions, but barely passed the math.

My daughter is now a high school sophomore. She took Algebra I in 8th, Geometry in 9th, and now she's already in Algebra II with A's all the way. The difference, I think, is natural aptitude plus much better instruction. She has had excellent teachers. Back in my day math was frequently taught by the athletic coaches, and they had no idea what they were doing.

I think each student should be in a math class according to his or her ability. If a kid is ready for Algebra in 8th, fine. If another kid isn't ready until 9th or 10th, that's ok too. I absolutely hate the concept of "one education fits all," which seems to be the norm today.

My local district has a thriving continuation program for high schoolers who were pushed beyond their limit and failed. It's basically an educational holding tank until they turn 18. Such a waste.

[pnwmom]

19. "One education fits all" has a new name in my district. It's called

"Standards based learning" and requires that all students "meet standard." But it's just another name for a cookie cutter education.

After years of fighting this, I've given up and moved to a private school. My youngest just doesn't fit in their little box.

[pnwmom]

18. I completely agree with you. Of my three kids, one of them

gobbled up the whole math curriculum, ending up several years ahead of grade level (which caused some inconvenience when she ran out of math classes to take either in the high school or in the local community college).

But my other two bright children have taken very different paths through school. There's nothing magical about getting through a curriculum before everyone else -- in the case of math, it's usually because the student LOVES what s/he's doing -- and you can't force that. (And if you do, then you might well be looking at a case of burn-out down the road.)

[pnwmom]

17. Many professors of college math agree with you.

They feel that they're getting more students who were rushed through math in order to take Calculus in high school. And they would rather have students who went through the math curriculum at a slower pace, so they were really solid in Algebra when they left high school -- and then they would benefit the most from college instruction in Calculus.

[exboyfil]

22. Wow I can't imagine Algebra II and Geometry in the same year

They were two separate years for me in school (Geometry in 10th and Algebra II in 11th). I was pretty good in math when compared to my peer group, and I don't think I could have handled the entire content in a single year. Trig and Analytic geometry in 11th (or in my case the 12th sounds like what I did), but Calculus I and II for for a single year in High School. Again quite impressive, and I don't think I could have managed it in High School. In college at Purdue my Calculus I and II were 5 credit hours each, and these courses took by far the most time.

The reason for hurrying up is strictly about the dollars. Right now I don't really know how we are going to pay for college educations for my daughters with tuition going up 5%+ per year and salaries growing at 2% per year. Merit based scholarships are highly competitive and even kids with great AP courses and grades in High School are not getting much. Right now, if my daughter stays on track for Algebra in 9th she gets locked out of AP Calculus and probably AP Physics in High School. Not only does this mean she would have less chance for merit scholarships, we will have to pay for those classes in college and probably add another semester to her college career.

[pnwmom]

32. This isn't about your daughter, but if a child who isn't ready takes Algebra

in 8th grade, with the idea to take Calculus in high school, that student's grade in AP Calculus might not be high enough to assist them in getting into college, much less a merit scholarship.

Also, my daughter took AP Physics in high school, but my husband advised her not to think of that as a substitute for Physics in college -- rare is the high school that truly offers a physics class comparable to what engineering or physics students would take at college. (But it would be okay if you just wanted a Physics credit for meeting a requirement and didn't care about pursuing Physics any further.)

Basic calculus, on the other hand, IS a subject that students can place out of in college without having missed out on anything important.

One more thing to think about. For college students in the pre-med and other related careers, where GPA is all-important -- a physician advised my daughter to not try to pass out of ANYTHING -- because repeating Calculus in college would be an easy A, and would help her GPA.

[pnwmom]

16. Unless you were in a very advanced track, what you remember as Algebra in 7th grade

was probably pre-Algebra.

In any case, it is no mystery why half the graduating 8th graders haven't had Algebra yet. Algebra has traditionally been offered to 9th graders, with only the more advanced students receiving it in 8th grade. But lately there has been a push to offer it to everybody in 8th grade, so that everyone MIGHT be able to take Calculus in high school.

Many college professors are objecting to this new approach, however, saying that they would rather have freshman who were really solid in Algebra, rather than students who were rushed through the math curriculum in order to take high school calculus. These professors think many students would be better off if they spent the time in high school solidifying their high school math, then took Calculus in college.

[woodsprite]

5. I don't know what year my daughter started Algebra, but

in 9th grade it was precalc/integrated math III and now in 10th, it's calculus. She loves it (she didn't get that from me). I was surprised to see a grade for my 8yo (3rd grade) on yesterday's report card for 'algebraic reasoning'. He scored a 'hi-avg'.

It's a big joke around our house that for math and science help, my kids have to go to hubby - I only agree to help with the english, history, poli sci, and social studies if needed ;)

I know when I was in school, we didn't even have pre-algebra until 9th grade.

[Ms. Toad]

8. As a former math teacher,

10th grade is generally too early for calculus - although I am aware the trend is to move it there. It is not necessarily because some of the kids can't handle it - some clearly can. But there are a number of factors that make it not a terribly good idea even for the kids that can handle, as well as for those for whom it really is too early (IMHO).

In most states, middle school teachers do not have to be certified to teach math - and many are not. They are solely elementary certified, which means in most cases they have had very few - if any - college level math classes. I tutored a woman studying to be an elementary school teacher, and her inability to do simple fractions was pretty frightening; the thought of someone with that level of math skills teaching what is traditionally middle school math is kind of scary. When Algebra is shoved down to 6th grade (the track your children seem to be on), far too many of the best and brightest are being taught by people who do not have a clue how the things they are teaching eventually mature into the concepts taught in more advanced classes and cannot properly fertilize the ground, so to speak. Many cannot even nurture the ma thematic crop in soil that was already well fertilized because they are not even capable of teaching the basic grade level concepts.

In addition, in many students do not develop the deductive formal reasoning abilities that are necessary to excel at geometry until 9th-10th grade. When Algebra is taught in the 6th grade, one of two standard tracks would put them in geometry in the 7th grade (the other would put them in geometry in the 8th grade). A substantial number of people who could excel at math if it were delayed a few years just haven't lived long enough to wrap their brains around that kind of reasoning by the 7th or 8th grade - and may be discouraged from going into the field of math for no reason other than that we've decided people who have barely starting high school ought to be doing college level math - and ought to have finished three years of college math before they are out of high school. Back when I was teaching high school, the raging debate among math teachers was whether the sequence should be AI/AII/Geometry or AI/Geometry/AII, with the main disagreement being whether enough of the top 9th graders would have developed the reasoning skills necessary to do geometry by the 9th or whether the algebra sequence should be together to permit geometry to be put off until 10th grade.

Frankly, most of the certified math teachers I know were not math majors - and barely had three years of math in college (my recollection is that my math certification required 12 hours which would have been 4 semesters of college math - calculus plus one year. That creates a high school problem similar to the middle school problem - the best and the brightest in high school are (in some instances) being taught by teachers who do not know enough math beyond the level they are teaching to fertilize the soil for the more advanced math to come.

[EFerrari]

12. My math experience in jr high and high school was so addled

(and I still don't know if was me or them or us or what) that when I went back to school in my mid-twenties, I just started over. And, surprise, I loved it and it loved me. Maybe my brain just wasn't ready before then. But my algebra classes were some of my very favorite ones -- something I never could have imagined at 13 or even, at 18. Go figure. :)

[Ms. Toad]

14. May well have been the teacher.

Algebra is very different kind of reasoning - kids are (or can be) ready for that pretty early. It's lots of fun, but a lot of teachers make it really hard (or can only see one strict order of steps to follow to finish a problem, so when you don't do the steps in the order the teacher expects s/he makes you start over, and that's no fun). If you get a teacher who can see where your are and nudge you to a step that moves you forward (even if it isn't the path s/he would have followed) you gain a lot of confidence and eventually learn a more efficient set of steps on your own.

It's the geometry which a lot of brains just aren't mature enough to handle in middle school.

Geometry is much more creative kind of analysis - you pretty much have to be able to work from both ends toward the middle. It's much harder to coach because no matter how far off the most direct path you get in algebra, a skilled teacher can always suggest a step that will move you closer to the solution. In geometry, it is sort of like starting at the base of a tree trunk, thinking through all of the paths you could take from there to the tip of each branch by applying all the rules you know, visualizing which of the many branch paths you could follow that will lead you to a branch tip that touches a branch of a tree adjacent to the one you are on, leaping across, and working your way back down the adjacent trunk. If you crawl out on the wrong branch, on the opposite side of the tree from where you need to be, it's pretty much impossible for even the best teacher me to do anything other than tell you to ignore the last big chunk of work you did and start back very near the bottom of the trunk. You really have to be able two visualize where you will be several branch junctions up the tree to visualize from the bottom of the trunk which of the many branches you could take will end up close enough to make the leap.

Glad you finally came to love algebra. I wish the same for my very mathematically talented daughter (much more inherently talented than than I was - and I have two math degrees), who currently doesn't like math very much. (Well, not albegra, she's a few years past that, I'll settle for liking DifEQ)

[pnwmom]

21. I'm not aware of any school districts in Washington where the trend is to

push Calculus in 10th grade; I agree that that is much too early for most students. In my own family, one of my children did that -- but she practically had to beg people to let her. She LOVED math. I would never have pushed her siblings to do the same thing. If you're not ready for it, you won't benefit.

There is a push in WA to take Algebra in 8th grade, and I'm not sure I even agree with that -- for most students, anyway. There isn't any important reason for most students to take Calculus in high school, rather than waiting till college. Many college professors would rather their Calculus students NOT have been rushed through math in high school, but come to college Calculus really well prepared in Algebra and the rest of high school math.

[Ms. Toad]

28. My nephew (now in 9th grade)

was strongly pushed to take Algebra in 6th grade so that he could have three years of college math before he got out of high school. His parents (wisely, IMHO) declined. He appears to be ready 2nd or 3rd year math taught by secondary certified math teachers (who are not necessarily even required to have taken the classes they would be teaching - and even if they have taken those, that may have been the limit to their exposure to math.

His school is listed as one of the top 100 public schools in the country by U.S. News and World, partly because they offer so much college level math.

As to Algebra in the 8th grade - given the national trend, most students who are advanced in math can handle geometry in the 9th grade. My only concern there is at the top end - getting a competent calculus instructor. My daughter's was grossly incompetent - despite her inherent abilities, the instruction she received was poor enough that she earned a 2/5 on the AP exam (for comparison, she earned a 4/5 on the AP chemistry exam). She's retaking calculus in college, as a result.

Private liberal arts colleges generally do prefer that their students enter having had calculus in high school - and some math majors are getting pretty hard to achieve if you don't enter with calculus. I have hopes my daughter will do a math major (in addition to the art, which she loves but probably won't get her a job with health insurance...another story). If you come in without calculus, you have to take more than one math class a semester in order to complete the major.

Other related programs are changing, as well. At my daughter's college, the core physics program used to wait until 2nd semester freshman year to start, because very few incoming students had exposure to calculus - a necessary prerequisite for basic college level physics. It now starts first semester freshman year. That means if you don't come in with calculus under your belt, you are a year behind for a physics major since you wouldn't be able to start it until your sophomore year.

As a general rule, I'm all for parents working with their children to decide what they are ready for - and not artificially limiting them. If your daughter is ready for calculus in 10th grade - go for it.

My primary concern is pushing all bright children into college math earlier and earlier. Many bright children, who may also be very talented or inclined to do math, will end up discouraged when they hit geometry before their brains are ready to handle it.

As to my secondary concern (unqualified teachers for upper level math), if you have any question about the competency or experience level of the instructors you might want to consider having your daughter attend college to pick up the upper level courses. My daughter's high school had a program that allowed students to earn both college and high school credit for classes taken at any local college (and the school district paid the tuition). That would give her access to teachers who at least have a bachelor's degree in math, and likely a masters or PhD.

[pnwmom]

31. Your advice is all very good, Ms Toad,

and I know that because I've already passed this stage with my daughter, thank goodness. Unfortunately, when she ran out of high school math, we were too far away from college other than the local community college to make that an option, so she made do online. But she's 2/3 through her PhD. in engineering now, so she's doing okay!

I agree with you about advanced math students and kids aiming toward majors in math related fields needing to take at least Algebra in 8th grade. But I also agree with you about brain development. For students who haven't reached the level of abstract reasoning required, it's just too frustrating to put them through that.

In the best of all worlds, kids like my daughter and your nephew would be able to proceed at their own pace, unfettered -- but no one would be pushed to begin Algebra before they were really ready. (And no one would be determining readiness based on race or gender.)

[Ms. Toad]

35. Congratulations to your daughter -

we need more women engineers.

I'd love to go back to teaching high school math (or early college). Unfortunately, after I took a 5 year break to be a stay at home mom, it wasn't practical to go back so I had to switch fields. (With a Master's Degree and 11 years of experience, I cost way too much for a school district to take a risk on - about double what it would take to hire a first year teacher.)

[du_grad]

41. I could not have handled Calculus in high school

I was an A student but could never have handled Calculus in high school. I took Calc my freshman year in college and didn't understand any of it. The prof graded on the curve and I got a C (luckily). The second happiest day of my life was the day I walked out of the final for that course and knew I would never have to take another math class ever again. I loved algebra, but calculus ruined math for me forever.

I work in a clinical laboratory. I daresay I have never used calculus since I walked out of that horrid final exam in 1967. I do not need calculus to do my job. I didn't need calculus in the TRAINING to do my job (back in 1973-4).

Why this push? Everyone can't be an engineer.

[pnwmom]

20. Your daughter is way ahead of average, even for advanced students today.

I assume your high school offers Calculus 2. What is offered after that? The high schools here stop at Calc 2, and the community college didn't have anything to offer either, so my oldest ended up taking an online class in senior year -- and she missed having classmates along for the ride.

[Ms. Toad]

30. Differential Equations

My nephew's high school offers it - the fact that they offer it contributes to their position as one of the top public high schools in the country. If my child were that advanced, that class would be taken in college unless I had had a long chat with the instructor to make sure s/he had at least a solid math major - and preferably a Masters degree in math, rather than just being certified to teach it.

My daughter would have been allowed to take classes at any regular college (with the tuition paid for by the high school). It's called the post-secondary option here - and the kids get both college and high school credit for the classes. Some students from my daughter's high school get enough credits to enter college as late sophomores or juniors, and they are permitted to take any classes they meet the prerequisites for.

[roody]

9. I want him to take the algebra test---and all the legislators that push it

as well.

[slackmaster]

29. That's pretty funny

I wonder how many of our brilliant legislators would flunk the test.

[Sex Pistol]

24. There is nothing wrong with testing, it just shouldn't be mandated by

bureaucrats who are more interested in acquiring power than bettering education.

[Scooter24]

25. I took Calculus in 10th Grade and though difficult it was still manageable

thanks to early preparation and being able to take two math classes in 9th grade because I tested out of my Government class.

My math classes were as such:

6th- Pre-Algebra
7th- Algebra I
8th- Algebra II
9th- Geometry and Pre-Calculus
10th- Single Variable Calculus
11th- Multi-Variable Calculus
12th- Linear Algebra

I think a rigorous math requirement is good for students but I wouldn't mandate it. Most schools should offer different tracks so that students who can do a more difficult course load are able to.

[exboyfil]

33. Great idea with Geometry and Pre-Calc together at the same time

For most students Geometry and its proofs are as dead end. Great for understanding but not really necessary for building up to Calculus. I assume Pre-Calculus would be equivalent to Advanced Algebra-Trig.

[slackmaster]

26. It disturbs and annoys me that algebra is referred to as "higher-level math"

I learned basic (or "elementary") algebra in 7th and 8th grade, and found it pretty easy. I know people have different levels of aptitude, but algebra really isn't very complicated.

Most kids should be able to deal with fundamental concepts like variables and constants at that age.

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Good

[bemildred]

39. More teaching and less testing.

Don't take federal money, it has too many strings attached.

[proud patriot]

40. as a cross district student in the 70s , IMHO

Each district is different .. the rich kids get algebra starting in
7th ... the working class and gheto kids only get it as an option
in high school.

IMO the Algebra mandate brings some equitity between districts.

[mackerel]

42. My son is doing Algebra in 6th Grade at a parochial school.

Damn shame to see so many against algebra. The funny part is public schools don't have to pay extra to get Algebra. Public Education is the only bargain out there and nobody wants it.