College success starts in math

College success starts in math.
Singapore students learn multiplication in the 1st grade. Unfortunately, our schools do not stress early math literacy, which is a mistake. We need to accelerate learning for all children. Students need to get to precalculus in high school, but how do they do that? The one-size-fits-all of Common Core and state standards is the wrong path. The stress on thinking strategies instead of knowledge stalls achievement. 

"Precalculus is the baseline high school math course for bachelor's degree attainment," writes Paul Cottle.

How do students attain that level? Math can be a great equalizer for many students, primarily from lower-income families and minorities, but not through Common Core reform math and state standards. 

Common Core (CC) is not world-class math and fails to prepare students for college. The members of the math group (2009) that wrote the Common Core math standards were not qualified. None of the 15 original members had taught elementary or middle school, according to researcher Mercedes K. Schneider (Common Core Dilemma: Who Owns Our Schools). Moreover, all the members of the math group were affiliated with an education company or nonprofit, except for one. When the workgroup was expanded, most members worked for the state departments of education or colleges and universities. "There was a lack of current classroom teachers involved in decision making roles," writes Schneider. 

On the other hand, there were key members from ACT, Achieve, The College Board, and SAP (Student Achievement Partners) in the math group. They would profit from CC. 

The CC math standards were not "college-career ready" or benchmarked to international standards, as originally marketed to states. Instead, they were part of a much larger picture--"test-driven reform" (NCLB). The CC math standards were not world-class, and they did not prepare students for college.

High School Algebra-2 (called Intermediate Algebra at community colleges) might get you to community college, but it is a far cry from earning a bachelor's degree. In short, "getting into college or community college" is not the same as earning a degree or certificate. Getting a high school diploma does not qualify students for community college unless they have had a rigorous Algebra-2 course and reviewed the content before the college math placement tests. Also, Algebra-2 is not enough for students seeking bachelor's degrees.  

Unfortunately, many high schools deliver watered-down math courses to increase the graduation rate to over 90%, which doesn't help disadvantaged or minority students. A large number of lower socio-economic students end up trapped in remedial math classes at the community college level. Either they weren't taught acceptable algebra courses for mastery, or they didn't review the content sufficiently before the college math placement test, or both. Too often, so-called "college prep courses" were in name only, not in content. Sad to say, many "remedial" students drop out of community college and never earn a 2-year degree or a certificate. 

Algebra-2 is required for graduation in some states, such as Arizona, but is that a good thing? The course is watered-down so that more students can pass it and graduate from high school. Or, more likely, a much easier course is substituted for Algebra-2, so almost all students graduate. Both are pathways to remedial math at community college. In the real world, community colleges expect entering students to know Algebra-2, but many don't. 

College success starts in math. It begins in 1st grade. It is the great equalizer according to Muhammed Chaudhry, CEO of the Silicon Valley Education Foundation, who writes that schools should implement programs that equalize the playing field (equalize opportunities) by "fostering new opportunities for girls, for children of lower socioeconomic status, and children of minority racial backgrounds. Math, he says, is the great equalizer, but, in my opinion, we need to upgrade the curriculum to world-class, use explicit methods of instruction--not minimal guidance methods taught in ed school--and teach standard arithmetic early on, not reform math. We may be able to equalize opportunities, but we cannot equalize outcomes. Children are novices and need to memorize stuff and practice a lot so that the basics stick in long-term memory.

Elementary school math predicts high-school math achievement, which, in turn, predicts college success. Knowing math content makes sense. Content knowledge in long division and fractions in elementary school (K-4) jumpstarts young children for success in middle school (prealgebra & Algebra-1) and high school math (Algebra-2, Precalculus, Calculus), according to the Renaissance blog. Here's the catch. To learn long division and fractions, students must first learn addition, subtraction, and multiplication. Singapore students start multiplication in 1st grade. Our schools do not stress early math literacy, which is a mistake. Most elementary school teachers do not teach long-division and fractions for mastery. We need to accelerate learning for all children, but the current version of reform math taught via Common Core stalls achievement.  

"Precalculus is the baseline high school math course for bachelor’s degree attainment.” writes Paul Cottle. The high school course students should aim for is precalculus. Most of the students who take precalculus in high school complete a 4-year bachelor's degree in college. Students who want a bachelor's degree should take harder math courses such as precalculus or above and science courses such as chemistry and physics in high school, including AP courses in math and science. 

College success starts in math. 

Taking Algebra-2 in high school isn't enough. Students who covet a bachelor's degree should take precalculus in high school. We have known this correlation for decades, which is the reason that independent schools often require precalculus for graduation. 

Muhammed Chaudhry writes, "Math scores better predict the likelihood a student will one day reach college and graduate into a successful career beyond." Indeed, math can be a great equalizer for many students.

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