According to a piece by Erik Robelen (09-04-13, Education Week), what is called Algebra II in today’s American schools doesn’t have the rigor of Algebra II of the past. Robelen focuses on a study by Dr. Tom Loveless of the Brooking Institute, which says that the good news is that more students are taking Algebra II today, but that the bad news is that scores are declining. Loveless doesn’t know the reason for the problem but suggests that it could be that more low performing or poorly prepared students are taking the course, that the quality of the materials used has declined, and/or that teaching is less effective. It was found that, while students are not failing Algebra II courses, they are failing in Algebra II testing.
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