Algebra I in the 8th Grade: Considerations and Consequences 2010 Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics College- and Career-Ready Standards Taking Algebra I in the 9th Grade as a “first choice,” and following up with Geometry, Algebra II with Trigonometry, and another mathematics course, will ensure that at the end of high school a student will be college and career ready. The State Department of Education does not advocate for the Algebra I course in Grade 8, but allows for system level decisions to determine whether offering coursework that includes a Grade 8 experience of Algebra I. This session of the Phase I professional development on the 2010 Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics will explore the considerations and consequences of offering an Algebra I course in the Grade 8. (CLICK) Algebra I in the 8th Grade: Considerations and Consequences

Algebra I in Grade 8: Considerations and Consequences Do you have middle school students who should have the option of taking Advanced Placement (AP) Mathematics, or two advanced mathematics courses as part of their high school experience? Some Pathways for Students Who Complete Algebra I in Grade 8 Geometry Geometry Geometry Algebra II W/Trig Algebra II W/Trig Algebra II W/Trig Precalculus Discrete Mathematics Precalculus Analytical Mathematics Precalculus Advanced Placement (AP) Mathematics Course (ACOS: Mathematics, 2010, p. 127) How you answer this question will be one of the considerations in deciding whether to offer Algebra I in Grade 8. If a successful Algebra I experience at Grade 9 is the goal for all students, then an early experience of Algebra I in the Grade 8 is not for all students. And if the purpose is to give a child the opportunity to take college-level AP Mathematics in high school, then the early experience of Algebra I in the Grade 8 may not be the path that needs to be taken by the majority of students or even the average student. (CLICK)

Algebra I in Grade 8: Considerations and Consequences “Systems offering Algebra I in the eighth grade have the responsibility of ensuring that all Algebra I course content standards and Grade 8 course content standards be included in instruction.” (ACOS: Mathematics, 2010, p. 81) The State Department of Education will provide further guidance and training (Phase II) in the fall of 2011 relative to issues local education agencies may encounter in providing an Algebra I course in Grade 8. First Bullet – COS guidance for systems that want to offer Algebra I in the Grade 8 is summed up in the first bullet. Providing a Grade 8 Algebra I course requires some serious decision-making. One of the first issues to face is the rigor and the sheer number of skills that must be mastered by students contained in the 2010 Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics for the content in the Grade 8 course and in the Algebra I course. (CLICK) Second Bullet – While Phase I training introduces considerations and consequences, the Phase II training will be able to look in greater depth at the arrangement of standards for course sequences, and discuss other key parts of the 2010 COS like the critical areas of focus, overview of possible teaching units, clusters of standards with instructional notes, and maintaining alignment of learning progressions as it relates to accelerating students through middle school content into an Algebra I experience. (CLICK)

Algebra I in Grade 8: Considerations and Consequences Decisions to accelerate students into a high school Algebra I course before Grade 9 should not be rushed. Placing students into an Algebra I course too early should be avoided at all costs. Local education agency’s decision should: Be Advertised Be Equitable Provide Written Policy Decisions to accelerate students into a high school Algebra I course before Grade 9 should be based on solid evidence of student learning. First and Second Bullets – One of the main goals of the new 2010 COS is to prepare students to successfully complete an Algebra I course in the Grade 9. If there is any question about a student’s ability to master all of the content in Grades 7, 8, and Algebra I courses in middle school, then the student should not be accelerated into Algebra I coursework ahead of time. (CLICK) Third Bullet - If a LEA allows students to take Algebra I in Grade 8, then there should be three items addressed in writing: 1. Registration for this accelerated course should be advertised for all to see. 2. The admission to the early course should be equitable for all students who meet the enrollment requirements. 3. The policy for early admission into the course should be a part of LEA written policy. (CLICK) Fourth Bullet - According to the Brookings Institute's 2009 Brown Center Report on American Education, the NAEP scores of students taking Algebra I in the Grade 8 varied widely. The data showed that of the students who took Algebra I early (in Grade 8), the bottom 10 percent scored far below grade level. This is a reminder that, rather than skipping or rushing through content, students should have appropriate progressions through foundational content to maximize their likelihoods of success in high school mathematics. This also indicates that some students would likely have greater success in mathematics by following the normal progression through Grades 7 and 8 courses and take Algebra I in Grade 9. (CLICK)

Algebra I in Grade 8: Considerations and Consequences Not all students are ready for Algebra I in Grade 8. The 2010 COS Algebra I content is not the same as the Algebra I content in earlier Alabama Courses of Study. Much of what was previously included in Algebra I will now be taught in Grades 6-8 in the 2010 COS. First Bullet – Only two states have mandated that all students take Algebra I in the 8th Grade (Minnesota and California). Currently, California’s policy that all students take Algebra I in the 8th Grade has gone to court and is still pending. (CLICK) Second Bullet –Given the shifts of content that have occurred through the progression of courses, it would be wise to closely examine who is ready for Algebra I in Grade 8. The mathematics courses for all grades in the 2010 COS are more rigorous than the same grade level courses in previous years. The middle school mathematics courses are more rigorous in order to prepare students for a more rigorous high school Algebra I experience. If there is any doubt concerning whether a child will be able to successfully accelerate through Grades 7, 8, and Algebra I content before the 9th Grade, then the child should take the regular Grade 7 and Grade 8 course sequence in order to have a successful experience of Algebra I in Grade 9.

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Contact Information ALSDE Office of Student Learning Curriculum and Instruction Section Cindy Freeman, Mathematics Specialist Phone: 334.353.5321 E-mail: cfreeman@alsde.edu This concludes the presentation of Phase I of the 2010 college- and career-ready mathematics standards. Are there any other questions? Would you please take a minute and complete the evaluation form? Please include any further questions you have and be sure to put your contact information if you would like a personal response. Common questions will be posted on our Website along with answers and comments from state personnel. You may access this information at the address listed on the screen. This Website will be an excellent source of information concerning the college- and career-ready standards for mathematics and English language arts. It will include presentations, handouts, lessons and lesson ideas, links, and other valuable resources. If you have additional questions concerning the standards, please contact either Dr. Davis or Ms. Freeman at the email addresses listed on the screen. Thank you for your attention and have a safe trip home.