As states examine their high school mathematics standards and align requirements with the demands of work and college, some concerns are emerging. How much math is really needed? What if students are not planning to go to college? Do all students really need Algebra II?
The research is clear: Whether students are going on to a two- or four-year college or directly into the workplace, taking challenging mathematics in high school is the gatekeeper that either opens or shuts the door to opportunity.
See the fact sheet and PowerPoint for more. Achieve also recently developed a suite of materials - including fact sheets, PowerPoint presentations and the Mathematics at Work brochures - that make the case of why all students will benefit from advanced math course-taking in high school: Math Works.
Over the past five years, the phrase "college and career readiness" has been used often by state and local policymakers, education foundations and non-profits,...