Remedial help approved for math students
The state Board of Education voted Thursday to allow students struggling with the tougher math curriculum to take a remedial class as a core, not elective course.
On the End of Course test in May, 48 percent of high school students failed Math II and 36 percent failed Math I. A remedial class has been available, but it will be offered as a core course this year and next so these students can stay on track to graduation, officials said. Math III -- an Algebra II and statistics course -- could then be taken in the students' senior year, board spokesman Matt Cardoza said.
Both Math I and II integrate multiple math concepts, something critics say has made an already tough subject area even more challenging. Supporters argue that math scores will improve with time as teens become more familiar with complex concepts in algebra, geometry and statistics, which are being taught to students earlier than ever.
