Requiring Algebra II In High School Gains Momentum

ChadHurley writes with this quote from the Washington Post: "Of all of the classes offered in high school, Algebra II is the leading predictor of college and work success, according to research that has launched a growing national movement to require it of graduates. In recent years, 20 states and the District have moved to raise graduation requirements to include Algebra II, and its complexities are being demanded of more and more students. The effort has been led by Achieve, a group organized by governors and business leaders and funded by corporations and their foundations, to improve the skills of the workforce. Although US economic strength has been attributed in part to high levels of education, the workforce is lagging in the percentage of younger workers with college degrees, according to the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development."

Re:Require a class on abstract logic!

[khallow]

Many schools offer a course on geometry via mathematical proof.That covers a lot of abstract logic theory.

Re:Correlation is not causation

[DivemasterJoe]

From TFA:
Among the skeptics is Carnevale, one of the researchers who reported the link between Algebra II and good jobs. He warns against thinking of Algebra II as a cause of students getting good jobs merely because it is correlated with success. “The causal relationship is very, very weak,” he said. “Most people don’t use Algebra II in college, let alone in real life. The state governments need to be careful with this.”

Wait, what? Algebra in HIGH SCHOOL

[hackel]

Don't most people take Algebra II in Junior High? I skipped it entirely myself... What level of maths do most U.S. high schools require? If it's not even Algebra II then I would say that's yet another sign of how pathetic the U.S. education system has become. Personally, I found Calculus to be one of the most beneficial, eye-opening maths classes I had in high school and think every student should be required to complete it. It can be used in so many different scenarios and yet still most people graduate from high school thinking all but basic math is useless!