Federal law requires that items on a mathematics test for accountability must contain items for the highest-level required math course in that state. Mississippi currently requires geometry for graduation, but the state exam only contains items up through Algebra I. So Mississippi might change the exam - or drop the geometry requirement:
In Mississippi, geometry is the highest-level math course required for graduation, but students are given standardized tests in Algebra I, which is a lower-level course than geometry.
The board is considering either dropping geometry as a graduation requirement, or changing its standardized test into a comprehensive math test that would include Algebra I and geometry.
If the geometry requirement is dropped, the number of required math courses would increase from three to four. Board members hope that would force most students to take geometry, anyway.
Board member Kenny Bush of Philadelphia said removing the geometry requirement, even if the new requirement forces most students to take it by default, would send a message that Mississippi is lowering math standards.
"If the public can perceive us as lowering standards, that's not good," he said. "I think we either need to require geometry or at least some other math higher than Algebra I."
Believe it or not, one Mississippi math teacher is quoted as saying the exam should not be changed because that would be inconvenient - for the teachers:
Wingfield High math coach Valerie Kursar said the state has invested a considerable amount of money in developing the Algebra I test and providing teachers extra strategies to teach...
"If they change (the test) to geometry, teachers are going to have to start all over again providing extra resources for the geometry test," she said.
Isn't that what teachers are getting paid to do? Teach the skills that the state deems necessary?
Posted by kswygert at December 29, 2003 09:55 AM