Transition To The New "National" Common Core Math Standards May Be Rough For California Public High School Students

Forty five states have voluntarily adopted new "Common Core State Standards" or "CCSS" in exchange for Race To The Top Funds and waivers from No Child Left Behind. While it may be unconstitutional for the Federal Government to mandate a national curriculum, the issue of constitutionality has been skirted by the voluntary adoption of the new standards by States needing the additional funding.  

While most parents and the public are just starting to hear about the new standards, the California Board of Education actually adopted CCSS on August 2, 2010. Source: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/tl/index.asp

The State Board will adopt CCSS- aligned instructional materials for mathematics in (January 2014) with full implementation of the new standards in 2014- 2015.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/documents/ccsssysimpplanforcaapr13.pdf 

While there is a lot of controversy surrounding the new standards, one positive will be transparency resulting from the ability to measure math competency from State to State.  As individual States begin the process of aligning their current High School graduation requirements to the new CCSS requirements what is obvious, is that California Public Schools (along with Alaska, Maine and Wisconsin) have the lowest graduation requirements in the nation for mathematics. The old California State Standards required High School students to complete two years of mathematics and the completion of Algebra I to graduate. Nineteen States require four years of math to graduate, and twenty four States require three years of math to graduate. Three States- Colorado, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania do not specify the course requirements.

Source: http://changetheequation.org/sites/default/files/MathGraduationRequirements_table.pdf

Under the new Common Core Math Standards, students will be required to complete 3 years of mathematics and demonstrate a proficiency in Algebra I and Algebra II in order to graduate. Some States are considering opting out of the new standards arguing that CCSS are lower than their current State standards, and will dumb down their curriculum by preparing students for Community College rather than a four year university. California has the opposite problem- how to accelerate a curriculum by at least one year and in some cases two years. To date, the California State Board of Education has not addressed how current High School students who are not on an accelerated math path will be able to graduate without meeting the new standards? 

For more information see: 

http://sanjuancapistrano.patch.com/groups/eye-on-education/p/college-prep-starts-in-6th-grade-under-...

For better or for worse- Common Core State Math Standards recognize that prosperity for a great many future adults will hinge on a STEM education (Science, Engineering, Math and Technology). At a minimum, jobs of the future will depend on a greater understanding of math and technology. The goal is to raise the standards in math so that all students are proficient in Algebra II before they graduate high school. This will be sufficient to get those students ready for technical job training in Community College that will prepare them for a skilled job. Those students aspiring to go to a four year college or elite university will have to stay on an accelerated path that goes two years beyond what CCSS is setting as the minimum bar. 

The accelerated math sequence needed to get into most elite Universities is the following:

• 8th Grade Algebra I
• 9th Grade Geometry
• 10th Grade Algebra II/Trig
• 11th Grade Pre-Calculus
• 12th Grade Calculus  

For CUSD's current plan to transition from middle school to high school see: 

http://sanjuancapistrano.patch.com/groups/eye-on-education/p/college-prep-starts-in-6th-grade-under-...

How Can You Best Prepare for Harvard?

• The study of English for four years: close and extensive reading of the classics of the world’s literature
• Four years of a single foreign language
• The study of history for at least two, and preferably three years: American history, European history, and one additional advanced history course
• The study of mathematics for four years, including the particular topics described
• The study of science for four years: physics, chemistry, and biology, and preferably one of these at an advanced level
• Frequent practice in the writing of expository prose

Source: https://college.harvard.edu/admissions/preparing-college/choosing-courses

Capo Valle Christian School, San Juan Capistrano

• California: 30 Credits
• Cum Laude: 30 Credits including Algebra I, Geometry & Algebra II
• Summa Cum Laude: 40 Credits including Pre-Calculus or higher 

JSerra Catholic High School, San Juan Capistrano 

• 30 Credits: 3 years of Math  

St. Margaret's Episcopal School, San Juan Capistrano

• 3 years Math: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II