Whatcom County Math Project: For Parents

In 2006-2007, 60% of recent high school graduates entering Whatcom Community College had to begin their math studies with remedial coursework.

Why More Math?
Students need to take as much math as possible while still in high school.  The highest level of math in high school is the strongest predictor of BA attainment, regardless of race, family income or background. (Source: Clifford Adelman, U.S. Department of Education, The Toolbox Revisited, 2006.)  When students complete Algebra II in high school, they more than double their chances of earning a four-year college degree. 

Two Year Colleges Require Rigorous Math Skills
Community and Technical colleges also require rigorous math which includes strong Algebra II skills.   While students only need a high school diploma to attend most two-year colleges, students must meet a certain level on a placement test in mathematics in order to get into "credit-bearing" courses.  Students who do not meet the minimum standard to begin college-level work are placed in pre-college, or remedial, courses.   More than one-third of WA state community and technical college students need to take remedial math courses.   Pre-college courses cover content that should have been learned in high school.  Students pay tuition for these courses, yet they do not earn college credit.

The True Cost of Remediation
For students, remediation also costs them opportunity.  National research shows students who took remedial classes were much less likely to obtain a college degree than students who were prepared for college.  In Washington state two-thirds of those students taking remedial math courses will drop out without earning their degree. 

In 2005-06, the state spent $17.2 million on remediation to high school graduates in two-year colleges. (Source: WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Research report No. 06-5.) In short, state taxpayers are footing the bill twice to teach college freshmen content that they should have learned in high school.

Living Wage Jobs Require Strong Math Skills
Jobs that pay a living wage and allow for career advancement need employees with strong mathematics, problem-solving and reasoning skills.  Increasingly, manufacturing companies need workers with strong math skills to operate the machinery on the factory floor.   The construction trade also requires higher math skills.   The Associated General Contractors of America stated that electricians, pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, draftsmen and surveyors need algebra, geometry, trigonometry and physics in order to successfully perform their job.

Resources
Washington's Education Watch Profile-April 2009
Snapshot of Washington's NAEP performance, education attainment, teacher quality and curriculum rigor by socioeconomics and ethnicity.

Do all students need challenging math in high school?  How much math is really needed? What if students are not planning on going to college? Do all students really need Algebra II?

Frequently Asked Questions About Math   One page handout for parents provided by College Work Ready Agenda.

Questions to ask your child's math teacher

What is Needed to be College Ready? Take more rigorous math and more years of math . . .

Why Should Students Take More Math?    Workers who earn more than $40,000 annually have two or more high school credits at the Algebra II level or higher . . .

A Call to Parents   A lot of students in middle school and high school try to avoid math . . .

Math Education in Washington State: Where We Are and Where We Need to Be   Employers are requiring more algebra, geometry, trigonometry, physics and technical literacy . . .

Are Students and Parents Ready for More Math?   Report by Public Agenda.

Planning for Math Success  Having a plan helps students select high level math courses fitting their future education goals, and ultimately, get into their college or program of choice without remediation.  Here are some straightforward steps to use a plan to your student’s advantage. . .

Achieve Data Profile for Washington (January 2008)
This PowerPoint looks at Washington students' performance in math and reading at all grade levels and then looks at the degree completiong rate at 2 year and 4 year colleges.

Important but Not for Me- This new report from Public Agenda  found that parents and students still aren't convinced that math and science is important for them.

More Math Please- The public wants more math, not less, according to a poll conducted by the Boston-based Mass Insight Education and Research Institute and the Partnership for Learning.

Helpful Websites

Transition Math Project: Help for Parents

Math Lab-math planning resources to assist your child in their high school math coursework.
The Math Forum  provides resources, materials, activities, person-to-person interactions, and educational products and services that enrich and support the teaching and learning of mathematics.

Washington State Parent Teacher Association
A nonprofit, membership association which seeks to bring together the home, school and community on behalf of all children and youth.

Partnership for Learning
This is an independent, statewide nonprofit organization that communicates about Washington State’s school improvement efforts and the need to better prepare ALL of our high school graduates for the demands of today’s global society.