How much algebra do students need to succeed in college? UCLA sparks angry debate

Good morning. It's Wednesday, March 27th. I'm Teresa Watanabe and I cover higher education. Here's what you need to know to start your day.

How much algebra do students need to succeed in college?

How many of you took Algebra 2 and need these skills to succeed in college? This question is at the heart of a major debate about the high school math skills required for admission to the University of California and California State University.

What sparked the uproar was UC's decision to revoke the university's approval of three high school data science courses to replace Algebra 2. UC and California State University require students to take three years of mathematics — algebra, geometry, and Algebra 2, or the integrated mathematics equivalent. Courses – to qualify for admission. They also recommend the fourth year of advanced mathematics.

I think almost everyone who goes to a four-year university takes Algebra 2. The course is important not just for students going to college. Some school districts require three years of mathematics for high school graduation, including Los Angeles Unified.

Only 44% of California high school students complete two semesters of Algebra 2, according to the University of California, so teachers have been looking to expand math pathways through other courses.

The University of California approved the first data science course, developed by the University of California, to replace Algebra 2 at an LAUSD school in 2013. The University of California's decisions about which courses are considered college preparation courses are binding on the California State University.

The back story of what led to this transformation is a bit complicated, but bear with me.

Data science courses began attracting particular scrutiny — with questions being raised about their mathematical accuracy — around 2020. This is also when work began on revising statewide guidelines for mathematics education, known as the California Math Framework.

Also in 2020, an official in the UC office that approves college preparatory courses organized an ad hoc committee that recommended formally approving data science as an alternative to Algebra 2. The UC Faculty Council that oversees admissions approved the recommendation in October 2020.

Continued work on the California Mathematical Framework later brought the problem to light. The first draft of the framework was released in early 2021, which strongly called for data science courses and specifically mentioned UCLA's decision to approve it as a replacement for Algebra 2. Many educators objected, including the CSU Academic Senate, which passed a resolution in March 2023 says the courses were not rigorous enough to count for admission.

In July 2023, state education officials prepared to vote on a new mathematics framework that includes data science as an alternative track endorsed by the University of California. Amid fierce pressure from all sides, the UCLA Faculty Senate voted to overturn the decision.

A working group appointed to delve deeper into these issues confirmed the shift last month, and the University of California then informed high school counselors.

The controversy launched an angry debate about the high school math skills needed for college success, and how best to deliver them equitably to a diverse group of students. Some equity advocates argue that alternative math pathways are necessary for students who struggle with algebra and do not plan to major in STEM fields.

There are racial disparities in Algebra 2 performance, with Asian American and white students receiving the highest scores. There are also differences in the proportion of 12th graders who take calculus, with Asian Americans at 25%, white students at 13%, Latinos at 7%, and Black students at 5%, according to a February 2023 report by Policy Analysis for Education in California. .

But many STEM professionals, including people of color like UC Berkeley professor Jelani Nelson, argue that the solution is to teach Algebra 2 in a more engaging way — not assume students can't learn it and give them the opportunity. They say all students should be equipped with advanced algebra skills, and not be placed in specific tracks at such early ages.

When I started reporting this story, I admit, I had to go to Khan Academy's online math classes to reacquaint myself with the basic concepts that define Algebra 2: polynomials, logarithms, and exponential models. It's been decades since I took high school algebra. I don't remember needing long equations with multiple variables to get into university or work as a journalist. Did you actually need those math skills?

When I visited San Gabriel High School, many students wondered the same thing. They were students in a data science class, and they were very happy. Today's question was whether the difference in survival rates between men and women in horror movie slashers was due to chance; Students analyzed the data files and used coding to find the answer.

Some students said they hated math, hadn't learned algebra, and couldn't see how it could help them. They spoke enthusiastically about how fun it was to collect real-life data for their labs, such as sleep hours, stress levels, and snack consumption.

The labs have changed people's lives, with one student saying she was horrified to learn how much sodium she was consuming in her daily snacks like Takis and Flamin' Hot Cheetos.

Another student who was also studying calculus said he believed Algebra 2 was necessary for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers — which he planned to pursue — but questioned the necessity of the subject in other fields.

But Jennifer Chase, dean of UC Berkeley's new School of Computing, Data Science and Society, told me that “thousands” of students are changing their minds about majors, and all students must have advanced preparation in mathematics to keep their options open. Other experts have reminded me that understanding, for example, the paths of spread of the coronavirus or the spread of wildfires, the growth of pension funds, interest on mortgages and other real-life situations requires algebraic understanding.

The UC working group will complete its report in May on the content required to qualify as advanced mathematics for admission to UC and CSU. Data science courses can likely be tailored to meet any specific requirement, experts say. The question is how.

Stay tuned.

Read more about Teresa's story here: UCLA sparks angry debate over high school math skills needed for college success

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