Is Algebra 2 the gatekeeper to college success? - ASSOCIATION OF MATHEMATICS TEACHERS OF NEW JERSEY Monroe Crowne Plaza, Monroe, NJ Tuesday, February 23, 2010 F. Joseph Merlino, President The 21 st Century Partnership for STEM Education (…and why such interest from policymakers?)

We Have Made Progress In 1930, less than 20% over the age of 25 years graduated high school, and less than 4% had earned a Bachelors degree.

20 th Century Trends in High School Completion 25 years and older

20th Century Trends in College Degrees year olds %

Total fall enrollment in degree-granting institutions, 2 and 4 year 1963 to 2007

Percentage of year olds with a 4 year College degree

Percentage of Year Olds with either a 2 or 4 year College degree (2007)

Trends in Math Carnegie Units Academic Track

Trends in Carnegie Units Other Subjects

TIMSS 2003 Math Source: Trends in International Math & Science Study, 2004

TIMSS 2003 Science Source: Trends in International Math & Science Study, 2004

Constitutes 85% of World “Gross National Income” The United States Is Still on Top…

Education Pays: Year: 2003 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

So What’s the Problem? Why All the Talk of “Educational Crisis?”

High School Completion Rates 25 year and older

21 st Century Trends in College Degrees year olds

Of th graders nationally….

The 21st century global economy is increasingly “knowledge-based”. Thus, requiring higher levels of education and thinking ability

Program for International Students Assessment (PISA) Source: Organization for Cooperative Development, PISA, Year Old Performance

High School Graduate Science Performance Source: Trends in International Math &Science Study, 1995

High School Graduate Math Performance Source: Trends in International Math &Science Study, 1995

Professors and High School Teacher Perceptions of Their Students' Preparation for College-level demands Not well prepare d Somewhat well prepared Very well preparedDK Science 8%44%38%11% High school 20%32% 5% 42% College Mathematics 9%46% 37% 7% High school 32% 4% 32% College Research skills 18%53% 26%3% High school 49%42% 4%6% College Motivation to work hard 27%54%17%2% High school 29%50%20%1%College

Percent of 2 Year College Enrollment in “Precollege Math” Source 2005 CBMS Survey of Undergraduate Programs

Trends: Percentage change of the population with 4 year college degrees year olds compared to year olds

Trends: Percentage change of the population with 2 or 4 year college degrees year olds compared to year olds

Stiffer Competition from Abroad in College Talent

Lockheed Martin Kimberly S. Adams Vice President, Human Resources

Trends in Percent STEM Graduates

HEALTH SCI & ALLIED HLTH193, % BUSINESS & MGMT92, % SOCIAL SCIENCES72,9547.9% VISUAL & PERFORM ARTS60,0666.5% SCIENCE (BIOLOLGY & PHYSICAL)48,0515.2% EDUCATION46,8355.1% ENGINEERING45,0494.9% COMMUNICATION & COMM TEC31,3793.4% COMMUNITY & PRSNL SVCS30,3523.3% TEACHER EDUCATION29,3703.2% 2005 College Bound US Seniors Intended Majors Top Ten of Declared Majors Accounts for 80% Source: ACT High School Profile 2005

F. Joseph Merlino Jan United States Is Competing in a Global Economy

Fastest Growing Economies are China, India & Russia

Washington, DC Feb , 2007

Rising to the Challenge Are High School Graduates Prepared For College & Work? Key findings from surveys among public high school graduates, college instructors, and employers Conducted December 2004–January 2005 for

Few Employers Feel High School Graduates Prepared For Advancement Applicants with no high school degree Recent public high school grads who have no further education/training Recent grads of two-year college or training program Recent graduates of four-year colleges

College Instructors Are Harshest Critics Of High School Do public high schools adequately prepare graduates to meet the expectations they face in college Employers 70% 28% In first-year classes, how much class time do you spend reviewing material and skills that should have been taught in high school? Significant amount of class time (24%) Some class time Very little class time No class time Do not adequately prepare graduates Adequately prepare graduates

Achieve’s Conclusions   Public high schools are failing to prepare a substantial minority of graduates for skills expected of them today.   Employers and instructors are the harshest critics and say many graduates come to them inadequately prepared.   More rigorous courses and higher expectations lead to better prepared graduates. .  Graduates themselves say they would welcome more challenging requirements and raised expectations for high school graduation.

Algebra II Critical For Work World And College Non-students When it comes to mathematics, how well were you prepared in high school for the expectations you face in college/working world? Completed less than Algebra 2 Completed Algebra 2/more Completed less than Algebra 2 Completed Algebra 2/more College students

A focus on improving educational outcomes in mathematics and the sciences is particularly crucial given the future pace of technological change and extent of global competition. A focus on improving educational outcomes in mathematics and the sciences is particularly crucial given the future pace of technological change and extent of global competition. (National Commission of Mathematics and Science Teaching for the 21st Century, 2000)

And Yet……

Traditional Algebra 2 as the highest course attained is associated with less than 40% of college completers

The 21 st Century labor market demands a more adaptable, technically capable, workforce with skills not traditionally taught in schools: Abstract reasoning Problem-solving Collaboration Communication Entrepreneurial skills Affinity for lifelong learning Source: (RAND Labor and Population: The 21st Century at Work)

Employers/Instructors Dissatisfied With High Schools’ Skills Prep ( In each area, % saying they are somewhat/very dissatisfied with the job public high schools are doing preparing graduates ) Thinking analytically Work and study habits Applying what is learned in school to solving problems Computer skills College instructorsEmployers 29% very dissatisfied 22% very dissatisfied 16% very dissatisfied 17% very dissatisfied

Large Majorities Support All Reforms (% public high school graduates saying each would improve things in encouraging HS students to work harder/be better prepared) Real-world learning opportunities (internships) Early guidance on courses for career/college prep More honors, AP, IB courses available for free More tutoring, summer school, extra help Give juniors college place- ment tests to see if ready Require exams in math and English to graduate Smaller high schools, more contact with teachers Require four years’ math, biology, chemistry, physics 96% 93% 88% 87% 81% 80% 74%