Community Colleges Update STEM Math Placement Policies to Address Criticisms
STEM students in California community colleges will soon have the opportunity to enroll in calculus prerequisites like trigonometry even if they didn’t take those classes in high school. The California math educators have been embroiled in a heated debate this fall over whether a new law will aid more community college STEM students by allowing them to skip prerequisites and move directly into calculus, or if it will set up the least-prepared students for failure.
Critics of the new law scored a victory this week when the chancellor’s office for the state’s community colleges issued a memo clarifying that students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math who haven’t passed courses like trigonometry in high school will still have the option to start college math with up to two semesters of courses that prepare them for calculus. This move, though already facing legal scrutiny, marks a significant departure from the previous guidance that required colleges to enroll students directly into calculus or new preparatory classes offered on a trial basis.
Math Faculty Criticisms and Advocacy
The changes in policy came after math faculty across the state voiced concerns about the original guidance during an EdSource roundtable discussion. These educators feared that students without a strong math foundation would struggle if pushed to start right away in calculus. While some faculty supported the idea of students going straight into calculus regardless of high school math preparation, critics argued that the research backing this approach was flawed.
The chancellor’s office listened to feedback from faculty, administrators, and students before issuing the memo. John Hetts, the college system’s executive vice chancellor for the Office of Innovation, Data, Evidence, and Analytics, emphasized the need to make a decision promptly to give colleges enough time to prepare for the upcoming changes.
Implications and Compromises
Under the new guidance, students who didn’t pass Algebra II in high school can take two semesters of calculus prerequisites, while those who passed Algebra II but not trigonometry or precalculus can enroll in a one-semester prerequisite course like precalculus. This compromise aims to strike a balance between offering necessary support to students and ensuring they have a clear path to completing calculus.
Pamela Burdman, executive director of Just Equations, noted that while there has been a trend to place students in more prerequisites than needed, the optimal placement system is still unclear. The updated guidance seeks to address these concerns while maintaining a focus on equity in education.
Future Challenges and Research
Despite the updated policy, some legal challenges may lie ahead. Jetaun Stevens, an attorney with Public Advocates, criticized the chancellor’s directive and hinted at potential legal action. Faculty associations are also looking to clarify legislation that would provide more guidance on offering foundational pre-transfer courses.
The chancellor’s office plans to collect data from colleges to assess how students are accessing calculus and whether prerequisite courses are beneficial. The goal is to ensure that all STEM students have equal opportunities to succeed in their chosen fields. The guidance represents a step towards addressing criticisms and adapting to meet the diverse needs of students across California’s community colleges.
