On July 9, 2008, the State Board of Education (SBE) voted to implement Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to require all eighth grade students to be assessed in Algebra I within three years.
The information collected below contains information relating to the requirement, correspondence, press releases, SBE information, comments from local educational agencies, and California Department of Education (CDE) resources, which includes links to the current California Mathematics Frameworks, etc.
“…I have serious concerns with this proposal on its merits. I strongly disagree with the Governor’s proposal to require all eighth graders to take algebra within three years without also offering any of the support for our school districts and schools to successfully make this major change.”
- Jack O’Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell's remarks (WMV; 15:55) before the SBE on July 9, 2008, regarding eighth grade algebra testing requirement. Transcript of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell's remarks.
Correspondence | Press Releases | News Articles | Reports | Comments from Stakeholders | SBE Agenda Items | Curriculum Resources |Testing Resource
Correspondence
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell Letter
July 8, 2008: Letter to County and District Superintendents, and Charter School Administrators regarding my recommendation to replace the current eighth grade General Mathematics test with a more rigorous assessment based on Algebra standards.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Letter (PDF; Outside Source)
July 8, 2008: Letter to the State Board of Education (SBE) urging board members to adopt a requirement that every California 8th grader be enrolled and tested in Algebra I within three years.
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Press Releases
The California Algebra I Success Initiative: A Comprehensive Plan to Help Schools Prepare All Students for Success in Algebra I in Eighth Grade
News Release #108 - August 12, 2008
Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Issues Statement Following State Board of Education Vote Mandating Algebra for Eighth Graders - News Release #92 - July 9, 2008
California School Board Association (CSBA) - Critics: 8th-grade algebra standard doesn’t add up -
(Outside Source) Published: July 17, 2008
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News Articles
Algebra Plan Will Cost State Billions, O'Connell Says (Outside Source)
In order for California's new eighth-grade Algebra I requirement to work, the state superintendent of public instruction says, the state needs to spend about $3 billion each year for smaller math classes, additional class time, more school counseling services, teacher recruitment and training, and expanded after school and summer programs. Katy Murphy (Contra Costa Times, 8/27/08)
California's algebra problem (Outside Source)
Even if there were money to pay for it, the state's new algebra mandate would still be a bad idea.
Now that the State Board of Education is foolishly requiring every eighth-grader to take algebra, starting in three years, all that remains to be figured out is, how on Earth is this going to happen when so few kids are on track to get there? Opinion (Los Angeles Times, 8/16/08)
Editorial: We can't afford not to invest in universal algebra plan (Outside Source)
Getting all middle school students to take and do well in Algebra I within three years won't come cheap. It may not cost $3.1 billion, which is Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell's price tag. But it will be closer to that than what Schwarzenegger has budgeted: zip.
Mercury News Editorial
(San Jose Mercury News, 8/14/08)
O’Connell issues comprehensive plan for Algebra I (Outside Source)
Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell today released a $3.1 billion plan for statewide Algebra I instruction and a challenge to Gov. Schwarzenegger: Either put up or take back. If you’re not willing to fund the program, then ask the state Board of Education to rescind its decision requiring all eighth graders to take Algebra I within three years.
John Fensterwald (San Jose Mercury News - News Blogs ,8/12/08)
Additional News Articles
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Reports
California’s Approach to Math Instruction Still Doesn’t Add Up: Impending Retirements + Chronic Math Teacher Shortages = Deepening Concerns for California’s Middle and High Schools (Outside Source) The Center for Future Teaching and Learning (July 2008)
Using Standardized Test Data as Guidance for Placement into 8th Grade Algebra (PDF; 10pp.; Outside Source) By Shelley Kriegler and Theresa Lee, University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Mathematics
Comments from Stakeholders
“More than half of our students come to us in the sixth grade Below Basic or Far Below Basic in Math. Very few of those students are prepared to succeed in Algebra I at the eighth grade level. So being forced to place all students in that class, without regard to their level of preparation, would lead to an increase in the number of students who both fail eighth grade Algebra I and are not ready to succeed in Algebra I in the ninth grade either.”
- Steven Weinberg, Instructional Facilitator, Frick Middle School
“It is intellectually dishonest for the state to ask students to be tested on academic content that they have not studied. The proposed mandate runs counter to all principles of sound policy in education.”
- Kathy Woods, President, California Mathematics Council
“Experience has told us that not all students are ready to take Algebra at the same time, and a one-size-fits-all approach unfairly punishes students, often those who need our help the most.”
- Christopher J. Steinhauser, Long Beach Unified School District Superintendent
“Algebra I is the toughest course on a middle school campus. While many students succeed at Algebra I during their 7th and 8th grade school years, this is not the case for all students. Just as we differentiate learning, in general, for all students, we should do the same for Algebra I.”
- Kip Meyer, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services, Lake Elsinore Unified School District
“It is an unrealistic expectation that ALL be successful as 8th grade algebra students.”
- Jeanie Cash, Assistant Superintendent, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District
“It is not a matter of the quality of instruction, or school’s giving in to low standards, or lack of accountability of teachers, schools and the instruction by former grade levels, because some 8th grade students are just not developmentally ready to learn Algebra I. Anyone who doubts this just needs to teach an 8th algebra class to the struggling math students for a day or two.”
- Dale Lofgren, Director of Pupil Services, El Segundo Unified School District
“Some students are ready for Algebra 1 by eighth grade, but my experience is only about 5-10% of the students truly are ready and they struggle a little as well. We can still accommodate that placement without punishing the rest of the students (and the schools).”
- John Pendley, Superintendent, Columbia Unified School District
“Developmentally, many students are not ready to successfully take on the Algebra I curriculum.”
- Jeff Hearn, Superintendent, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
“At the present time, many thousands of students are already enrolled prematurely in Algebra I and the failure rate is horrendous. The Governor’s plan would make this situation even worse.”
- Dan Fendel, Professor of Mathematics (emeritus), San Francisco State University
“There are far too many young people who are not mature enough to grasp the abstract concepts in Algebra I as 8th graders. To require them to take a course that may set them up for failure does these youngsters no good and makes both our teachers and our state look like they are failing our students.”
- Janet Knoeppel, Retired Principal, Argus High School
“There's a big void at the middle-school level. We have a lot of students who take Algebra I in the eighth grade, and then they repeat it in ninth grade. A lot of students aren't ready for that level of math.”
- Stephen McCahon, Math Teacher, Pioneer High School
“You need to lay the groundwork if you're going to make this kind of policy shift. We need to invest in the teaching of mathematics at the lower grade levels.”
- Chuck Weis, Santa Clara County Schools Chief
State Board of Education Agenda Items
Below you will find links to the SBE agendas regarding the General Mathematics Blueprint.
Note: The July Item 10 motion to approve the SBE Action details the Algebra I testing requirement.
July | July Item 10 Motion | June | May | March | March Item 20 Motion
July
Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR): “Revised General Mathematics Blueprint” - Item 10 (DOC; 81KB; 5pp.)
Note: This item was tabled by the board at the June 2008 State Board meeting. Item attachments can be assessed via the link below:
June 2008 Agenda Item 4 and Attachments
June
Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR): “Revised General Mathematics Blueprint - Item 4 (DOC; 71KB; 4pp.)
Item 4 Attachment 1 (PDF; 648KB; 2pp.)
Accessible Alternative Version of Item 4 Attachment 1
Item 4 Attachment 2 (DOC; 60KB; 2pp.)
Item 4 Attachment 3 (PDF; 54KB; 4pp.)
Item 4 Attachment 4 (PDF; 293KB; 2pp.)
Item 4 Attachment 5 (DOC; 54KB; 1p.)
Item 4 Attachment 6 (DOC; 53KB; 7pp.)
Item 4 Attachment 7 (DOC; 36KB; 1pp.)
Item 4 Addendum (DOC; 44KB; 1p.)
Item 4 Addendum Attachment 1 (DOC; 28KB; 1p.)
May
U.S. Department of Education Peer Review of Standards and Assessment: Update of Peer Review Result - Item 5 (DOC; 66KB; 2pp.)
Standardized Testing and Reporting Program (STAR): Revised General Mathematics Blueprint - Item 9 (DOC; 57KB; 1p.)
Item 9 Attachment 1 (PDF; 57KB; 1p.)
March
U.S. Department of Education Peer Review of Standards and Assessment: Update of Peer Review Results - Item 20 (DOC; 74KB; 4pp.)
Item 20 Attachment 1 (DOC; 39KB; 3pp.)
Item 20 Attachment 2 (PDF; 1MB; 3pp.)
Item 20 Attachment 3 (DOC; 63KB; 2pp.)
Item 20 Attachment 4 (DOC; 38KB; 2pp.)
March Item 20 Motion - Scroll to Item 20
Curriculum Resources
Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools Kindergarten through Grade Twelve
2007 Mathematics Primary Adoption - includes Algebra Readiness Programs.
Testing Resource
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) - Program Resources
