A hullabaloo in Georgia over the dismal algebra end-of-course exam results:
More than two-thirds of the DeKalb County school system's eighth-graders failed the state's End of Course Test in Algebra I, according to preliminary results. The End of Course Test counts for 15 percent of students' final grades in the course. Teachers issued failing grades to 21 percent of all eighth-graders. This was the first year district policy required all eighth-graders to take high school algebra, a move the board approved in 2003 to beef up math instruction in all grades.Officials reviewed first-semester grades and anticipated a high failure rate. Originally, the policy called for eighth-graders to earn credit toward graduation. But the school board is expected to approve a policy change in July. Parents will get to choose whether their child gets a credit toward graduation, known as a Carnegie Unit, or a middle school credit that does not show up on the transcript college admissions officers see...
For many, it would jeopardize their chances for a lottery-funded HOPE scholarship. Other issues cited by board members: This year's eighth-graders did not have the foundation starting in kindergarten for algebra, and some teachers were not adequately trained to teach algebra.
All pertinent issues. The officials were wise to antipate a poor showing. The question is whether results will improve in the future.
Posted by kswygert at June 15, 2005 10:38 AM