Published: Monday, December 15, 2008
Everett will push algebra to improve college prep
EVERETT -- The Everett School District is trying a new approach to make sure high school students are ready for math when they get to college.
In February, the district's high schools will introduce a semester-long algebra review class aimed at preparing seniors for college math placement exams.
Math has long been a problem for students making the transition from high school to college. Many don't take math their senior year. In 2007, 45 percent of community and technical college students who graduated from high schools statewide in 2006 had to take pre-college math courses.
The idea of the new course is to have seniors brush up on their algebra skills right before they graduate.
"Math is one of those subjects that you use or lose and if we can narrow the time frame from the last time a students used math, I think that would help a lot," said Margaret Balachowski, chairwoman of the Everett Community College math department.
The longer a student has been away from math, the greater the likelihood they won't be ready for college math.
For instance, 22 percent of EvCC students, which includes recent high school grads and adults who are returning to college, are prepared for college-level math, according to EvCC's Office of Institutional Research.
School district leaders consulted with the college to get a better grasp of what is expected as they designed the spring course, which will cover some geometry and trigonometry but mainly algebra.
"This will be formal math, traditional math. That's what the colleges are concerned about," said MaryAnn Stine, Everett's director of curriculum and instruction. "We are going to brush up those skills in a tutorial situation to help them meet that standard."
Students in the class will prepare for and take a college placement exam through EvCC.
Bill Moore, coordinator for assessment, learning and teaching for the state Board of Community and Technical Colleges, said more attention is being paid in the state and nationally to the math disconnect between high school and college.
Everett is among a growing number of school districts trying to address the issue, he said.
"It sounds like a promising thing to try," Moore said.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
In February, the district's high schools will introduce a semester-long algebra review class aimed at preparing seniors for college math placement exams.
Math has long been a problem for students making the transition from high school to college. Many don't take math their senior year. In 2007, 45 percent of community and technical college students who graduated from high schools statewide in 2006 had to take pre-college math courses.
The idea of the new course is to have seniors brush up on their algebra skills right before they graduate.
"Math is one of those subjects that you use or lose and if we can narrow the time frame from the last time a students used math, I think that would help a lot," said Margaret Balachowski, chairwoman of the Everett Community College math department.
The longer a student has been away from math, the greater the likelihood they won't be ready for college math.
For instance, 22 percent of EvCC students, which includes recent high school grads and adults who are returning to college, are prepared for college-level math, according to EvCC's Office of Institutional Research.
School district leaders consulted with the college to get a better grasp of what is expected as they designed the spring course, which will cover some geometry and trigonometry but mainly algebra.
"This will be formal math, traditional math. That's what the colleges are concerned about," said MaryAnn Stine, Everett's director of curriculum and instruction. "We are going to brush up those skills in a tutorial situation to help them meet that standard."
Students in the class will prepare for and take a college placement exam through EvCC.
Bill Moore, coordinator for assessment, learning and teaching for the state Board of Community and Technical Colleges, said more attention is being paid in the state and nationally to the math disconnect between high school and college.
Everett is among a growing number of school districts trying to address the issue, he said.
"It sounds like a promising thing to try," Moore said.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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