Minnesota's math requirements have been in the news recently, though it's been in the California press. Students in California will be required to complete Algebra I by eighth grade, a similar standard being implemented in Minnesota. That hasn't been met with universal approval on the West Coast because of how the standards were decided and the standards themselves.

Now, the standards will end up in court.

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1220659.html

"A controversial decision that requires all California eighth-graders to be tested in algebra has started a court fight between groups representing local schools and the State Board of Education.

Two organizations that advocate for hundreds of school districts and thousands of school officials are suing the board over its July 9 vote to require eighth-grade algebra tests.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had urged board members in a letter to make the change. Others opposed it because they said not all 13- and 14-year-olds were ready for the abstractions and unknowns of algebra.

The California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators filed their complaint late last week in Sacramento Superior Court.

In the 21-page filing, the groups claim the board failed to give adequate notice prior to its July 9 meeting that it would be considering a change of such dramatic proportions...

…The lawsuit also claims board members appointed by the governor exceeded their authority by effectively changing the state's curriculum for middle-school math n a task that belongs to the Legislature."

By the 2010-11 school year, Minnesota students will be required to complete Algebra I by eighth grade to graduate.

Minnesota math standards found here:

http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Academic_Excellence/Academic_Standards/Mathematics/index.html

Kind of interesting how much controversy these standards are creating in California compared to Minnesota.

The Winona school district has a new math curriculum this year, which will help students prepare for algebra by eighth grade.

Do you think these standards are a good idea?

Why is the response in Minnesota so different in California (besides the obvious answer of "It's California”)?

A couple more reads on the issue.

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2008/07/16/43algebra.h27.html

http://www.pe.com/politics/parsavand/stories/PE_News_Local_S_algebra13.495a3fd.html

Nolan Rosenkrans may be reached at (507) 453-3519 or at nolan.rosenkrans@lee.net.