Pre-Algebra Diagnostic Assessment Helps Ensure Student Success in High School Math and Exit Exams
Article by Anne-Evan Williams, Director of Educational Development, Let’s Go Learn
Over half of American states now require a high school graduation exam that includes math knowledge up through the Algebra I level. With the stakes for graduation being set higher and higher, early diagnosis of and intervention in the mathematics skills that serve as the foundation for Algebra I is imperative. In order for students to find success in high school math courses and on graduation and course exit exams, they must enter Algebra I with the pre-requisite knowledge already in place.
The U.S. Department of Education recognizes that Algebra I is the "gateway" to upper-level mathematics courses. It is the prerequisite for all upper-level mathematics courses and is a requirement for most two-year and four-year college programs. It is the transition into Algebra I, however, that is such a challenge for many middle school and high school students.
But it is such an important transition. Take, for instance, these statistics, released by the U.S. Department of Education in the 1997 document Mathematics Equals Opportunity:
- "Students who take rigorous mathematics and science courses are much more likely to go to college than those who do not."
- "Students from low-income families who took Algebra I and geometry were almost three times as likely to attend college as those who did not."
- "In the job market, workers who have strong mathematics and science backgrounds are more likely to be employed and generally earn more than workers with lower achievement, even if they have not gone on to college."
Mathematics achievement plays a crucial role in further life successes, especially in college and the workforce. It is imperative that students be prepared for success at the Algebra I level when they enter the course.
In order for students to be successful in Algebra I, there are multiple areas of basic math skills in which they must have a strong foundation. The Department of Education says that educators, policy makers, and community members must "build the groundwork for success in algebra by providing a rigorous curriculum in grades K-7 that moves beyond arithmetic and prepares students for the transition to algebra."
In order to ensure that students are ready to begin Algebra I, leading them to higher level math, success on high school graduation exams, and college preparedness, teachers and parents must be monitoring progress in algebra readiness concepts. Diagnostic assessment can provide teachers and students with a complete view of students’ levels of achievement across multiple strands, and diagnose areas for remediation if necessary. Comprehensive assessment provides a way for teachers to monitor student progress, drive differentiated instruction, and ensure that all students find success in Algebra I and beyond.
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