Contributed by: THE CHARLES A. DANA CENTER and THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESEARCH CENTER
This year-long transition course is intended for 12th grade students whose academic performance prior to their senior year indicates that they are not yet ready to perform entry-level college mathematics coursework. The goal of the course is to ensure that these students meet a college readiness measure by the end of their senior year and are prepared for most entry-level, credit-bearing college mathematics courses, especially quantitative reasoning, statistics, or college algebra.
In contrast to other math courses that often have students repeat material in order to become college-ready, this course covers a range of mathematical topics that equip students with the skills to succeed in college-level math. The course focuses on application and uses a real-world approach to math such as evaluating reports from statistical studies. Additionally, these courses support students’ social, emotional, and academic development by covering topics like growth mindset, valuing mathematical understanding as personally relevant, effective collaboration, seeking help and acting on feedback, persistence, and setting and monitoring feedback. Students will leave the class prepared to succeed in college-level math and with additional skills to help them persist through college.
How does the strategy create more equitable access and opportunities?
The current system of mathematics education fails to meet the needs of many of our students. Black, Hispanic, and Pell students are overrepresented in college remedial education, and students who begin in remedial education are less likely to persist and graduate.
Math transition courses can help students graduate high school with the academic skills to be able to succeed in college-level math. The transition course also supports students’ social, emotional, and academic development—an often-overlooked aspect of education that research indicates is crucial to students’ ability to thrive in school, career, and life. As a result, students may be able to bypass remedial math education, saving them time and money, and complete gateway math courses more quickly, an early indicator of college success.
These courses, like the Transition to College Mathematics course designed by the Data Center, should be designed via collaboration with stakeholders from K-12 and higher education to develop a course that is rigorous, relevant, engaging, and inclusive and which aligns expectations for mathematical knowledge and skills across high schools and colleges.
What are the budget implications for implementing the strategy?
Math transition classes can be implemented for a low cost per student. Costs may include building a curriculum, creating course materials, and professional development for instructors. Using a curriculum and materials that have already been developed, such as the Data Center’s Transition to College Mathematics course, is extremely cost effective. The online course is offered as an annual subscription service at a cost of $14 per student per year. Teacher subscriptions accompany student subscriptions at no additional costs. All student and teacher print materials are available as part of the subscription as downloadable PDF documents, but can also be purchased in spiral bound books from the Dana Center. Additional investment is needed to support professional development.
