Re: Algebra I for all 8th graders

[Susan Harman <susanharman@igc.org>]

Why not for 2nd graders?
Susan

On Thursday, July 10, 2008, at 10:14 PM, George Sheridan wrote:

> Why not calculus for all sixth graders? Apparently Governor  
> Schwarzenegger
> believes that if we require something, no matter how difficult, all  
> students can
> do it, especially if he promises to come up with money after solving  
> the current
> structural budget deficit.
>
> California 8th-graders face algebra mandate
> ======================================================================= 
> =========
>
>
> By Deb Kollars - dkollars@sacbee.com
>
> Published Thursday, July 10, 2008
> Story appeared in The Sacramento Bee MAIN NEWS section, Page A13
>
>
> The California State Board of Education agreed Wednesday to do  
> something that no
> state in the nation has attempted: put every eighth-grader in public  
> school
> through Algebra 1.
>
> The tough new requirement, which takes hold in three years, is  
> expected to send
> shock waves across middle schools throughout the state. Currently,  
> half of
> California's eighth-graders enroll in Algebra 1 – a high rate compared  
> with other
> states. But the other half is struggling mightily with basic sixth- and
> seventh-grade mathematics.
>
> The 8-1 board decision drew deeply polarized responses from educators,
> politicians and business leaders. Among the strongest voices was Gov.  
> Arnold
> Schwarzenegger, who urged the change in an unexpected letter to board  
> members
> Tuesday.
>
> "Today's decision sends a signal to the rest of the nation that  
> California has
> faith in our students to achieve their dreams and exceed expectations,"
> Schwarzenegger said in a statement issued Wednesday. "California's  
> children have
> already proven that when we set the bar high – they can do anything."
>
> Many others were outraged. They said it was unfair and unrealistic to  
> expect
> every 13- and 14-year-old student to master the notoriously difficult  
> subject
> without a massive infusion of cash to pay for books, computer  
> programs, more
> class time and more qualified teachers.
>
> The subject, which involves abstractions and solving for the unknown,  
> is
> considered critical not just as a mathematical foundation, but for  
> developing
> critical thinking. Although many students succeed in algebra before  
> getting to
> high school, others are still struggling with fractions, decimals and  
> exponents
> and need more time, educators said.
>
> "We're setting every school up for failure," said state Superintendent  
> of Public
> Instruction Jack O'Connell, who argued passionately against the move.  
> "It's going
> to be a firestorm in our state."
>
> He noted that although California has high levels of enrollment, many  
> students
> are not mastering the subject. Testing even more unprepared students  
> will lead to
> more low test scores that will bring more penalties to schools under  
> the federal
> No Child Left Behind regulations, O'Connell and others said.
>
> O'Connell also raised concerns about the current budget crisis and  
> said schools
> could not afford to implement the eighth-grade algebra requirement.
>
> Schwarzenegger's secretary of education, David Long, acknowledged  
> during the
> meeting that it could cost billions to enable all eighth-graders to  
> succeed in
> Algebra 1. When pressed about paying for it, Long expressed confidence  
> that the
> state would solve its immediate budget impasse, but did not say how or  
> when the
> state would cover the new algebra bills.
>
> To many, Wednesday's decision was not only huge, it came out of the  
> blue.
>
> Until the day before, the state board was set to debate a new and  
> easier Algebra
> 1 exam for certain eighth-graders. The new test was created to appease  
> the U.S.
> Department of Education, which found California out of compliance in  
> testing
> students. The department noted California's academic standards call  
> for Algebra 1
> in eighth grade, yet half of eighth-graders are tested at lower sixth-  
> and
> seventh- grade levels.
>
> The federal government told California to either enforce the standard  
> for all
> students by enrolling and testing them in Algebra 1 within three  
> years, or
> develop an alternate test with some – but not all – Algebra 1 concepts  
> for
> students not completing the full subject.
>
> The state chose to develop the new test, O'Connell said, to promote  
> both rigor
> and flexibility.
>
> The exam, which covered 15 of the state's 29 individual standards for  
> Algebra 1,
> became controversial. Some critics called it "Algebra Light."  
> Department leaders
> said it was the best compromise for meeting the federal guidelines,  
> and put it on
> Wednesday's agenda for adoption.
>
> Late Tuesday, however, Schwarzenegger transformed the debate with his  
> letter. In
> it, he urged state board members to skip the alternative algebra test  
> and instead
> take the leap of putting all eighth-graders through a full course of  
> Algebra 1.
>
> The governor argued that a two-tiered system was inequitable. His  
> message
> resonated with many who have been concerned about the well-documented  
> disparity
> in achievement among children who are poor, African American or Latino.
>
> For the next 24 hours, people rallied on each side. They sent out  
> press releases
> with exclamation points. They called in colleagues to testify. They  
> packed the
> chambers to witness the long and historic board session.
>
> After listening to several hours of testimony, board members offered  
> their own
> impassioned views.
>
> "I think we've got to set our standards higher, not lower," said board  
> member
> Greg Jones. "A two-tiered system is going to be unequal."
>
> Member David Lopez agreed: "We need bold innovative action to make  
> things
> happen," he said.
>
> Board member James Aschwanden, who cast the only dissenting vote,  
> cautioned that
> the policy change was "hatched in the last 48 hours" and had serious  
> implications
> for children and schools that were not being addressed.
>
> "I'm embarrassed for us, quite frankly," Aschwanden said. "Not all  
> children are
> developmentally ready to take algebra in eighth grade."
>
> Several board members said they wanted to hold Schwarzenegger  
> accountable for
> providing money for the new algebra requirement. In his letter, the  
> governor said
> he was "committed" to providing the needed resources.
>
>
>
> George Sheridan
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