1. What Do the California Standards Test Results Reveal About the Movement Toward Eighth-Grade Algebra for All?
- Author
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Paul E. Heckman, Jamal Abedi, and Jian-Hua Liang
- Subjects
business.industry ,Standardized test ,Pre-algebra ,Integrated mathematics ,Education ,Test (assessment) ,Algebra ,Connected Mathematics ,Mathematics education ,Algebra over a field ,Core-Plus Mathematics Project ,Psychology ,Mathematics instruction ,business - Abstract
In California, an increasing number of 8th graders have taken algebra courses since 2003. This study examines students’ California Standards Test (CST) results in grades 7 through 11, aiming to reveal who took the CST for Algebra I in 8th grade and whether the increase has led to a rise in students’ taking higher-level mathematics CSTs and an improved performance in following years. Results show that the pipeline of 8th-grade algebra and following years’ higher-level mathematics CSTs has a significant leak in it. Furthermore, the longitudinal analysis reveals that 9th-grade students have a 69% greater chance of succeeding in algebra if they passed the CST for General Mathematics in 8th grade compared to those who failed the CST for Algebra I.
- Published
- 2012