About ECS

1. Mathematics Education in the States: Trends and ChallengesJennifer DounayEducation Commission of the StatesPresentation at MIND Research Institute ForumWashington, DCOctober 21, 2008

2. About ECS • 50-state education compact est’d 1965 • Nonpartisan, nonprofit • Serves all state-level education policymakers and their staffs: • Governors • Legislators • State board members • State superintendents • SHEEOs and higher education boards Education Commission of the States

3. High School Trends in the States • Increasing high school graduation reqts. • End-of-course assessments in Algebra I, II • More challenging math in exit exams • Alignment with college admission reqts. • “College readiness” assessments • Emerging: 9th grade math/Algebra I success as “at-risk” indicator • Less so: High school teacher prep./prof. devt. • Fall 2008 ECS report: “Improving the Skills and Knowledge of the High School Teachers We Already Have” Education Commission of the States

4. Increasing HS graduation requirements • Math and science = areas of greatest change • Increasing # and rigor • Four states currently req. 4 years math (AL, AR, RI, SC) • 13 states + DC will req. w/future class (AZ, DE, FL, GA, ID, LA, MI, NM, NC, OH, TN, TX, WV) • Extremely contentious Education Commission of the States

5. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I Currently * District of Columbia = “elementary algebra” * • * Kansas: Equals “algebraic concepts.” • * Wisconsin: Must include "instruction in the properties, processes, and symbols of arithmetic and elements of algebra..." Education Commission of the States

6. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I 2010 Education Commission of the States

7. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I 2011 District of Columbia = Algebra I Education Commission of the States

8. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I 2012 * • * Arizona: “Patterns, Algebra and Functions.” Education Commission of the States

9. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I 2013 * • * Washington: Algebra II required, assumption Algebra I will be required. Education Commission of the States

10. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I 2014 * • * Ohio: Algebra II required, assumption Algebra I will be required. Education Commission of the States

11. Graduation Requirements: Algebra I Fully Phased In Education Commission of the States

12. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II Currently Education Commission of the States

13. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II 2010 Education Commission of the States

14. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II 2011 Education Commission of the States

15. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II 2012 Education Commission of the States

16. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II 2013 * • * Alabama: Algebra II with Trigonometry. Education Commission of the States

17. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II 2014 Education Commission of the States

18. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II 2015 Education Commission of the States

19. Graduation Requirements: Algebra II Fully Phased In Education Commission of the States

20. Concerns raised by critics ECS 8/2008 report: “Dispelling the Myths”: • If we raise reqts, more students will drop out • Don’t have teachers to teach these courses • Additional requirements = unfunded mandate • Arts, foreign language will be “pushed out” • Career/technical ed. will be pushed aside • Not everybody needs to go to college • Most kids don’t need 4 yrs. math/adv. math Education Commission of the States

21. 9th grade math “on track” indicator • Chicago Public Schools (CCSR) • Louisiana (2008 H.B. 1091): • Districts with 4-yr. grad. cohort below 70% • Early intervention for kids at risk of failing Algebra I or any 9th grade math • BESE must track # of students failing Algebra I, use for program improvement • Rhode Island (2007 H.B. 5351) • Districts with dropout rate > 15% Education Commission of the States

22. K-8 Approaches • Fewer common state-level approaches • Less momentum than at HS level Education Commission of the States

23. K-8 Approaches (cont’d) • Teacher preparation/professional devt. • FL, WA: New K-8 math standards • AR: License for 8th grade algebra teachers • VA: “Math specialists,” Algebra Readiness Initiative • LA, RI: Comprehensive coaching/supp. ed. for middle grades below grade level in math • TX: Intensive math/algebra intervention pilot (grades 4-8) Education Commission of the States

24. Texas Math/Algebra Intervention Pilot • Grades 4-7: Intensive math intervention • Grade 8: Algebra readiness intervention • Where % of at-risk students > state avg. • Approved programs must: • Incl. tech.-based instruction that IDs, addresses need • Incl. 3 days+ of teacher training, PD, mentoring • Give kids individual access to 90+ minutes technology-based instruction/week • Give teachers daily access to required technology • Show “significant effectiveness” serving kids at risk of dropping out • Program must be evaluated, report to legislature Education Commission of the States

25. Virginia Algebra Readiness Initiative • Kids in grades 6-9 at risk of failing Algebra I EOC • Diagnostic pre-test, intervention, post-test • Pretest: CAT, math stds. 3-8, Algebra I • Intervention: 2 ½ hrs. weekly add’l instruction • Gains in 8th grade, Algebra I tests since ‘02 • Alg. I pass rate up 30 pts. for students with IEP • Alg. I pass rate up 26 pts. for African American Education Commission of the States

26. More ECS Resources • E-Clips daily news service –eclips@ecs.org • E-Connection weekly e-newsletter –econnection@ecs.org • www.ecs.org: 50-state databases on: • High school graduation requirements • STEM • High school-level assessment • Policy briefs • Progress of Ed. Reform: STEM Education Commission of the States

27. jdounay@ecs.org Education Commission of the States