{"id":132054,"date":"2023-08-09T00:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T04:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=132054"},"modified":"2023-08-09T00:22:46","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T04:22:46","slug":"university-of-california-votes-to-no-longer-accept-easier-math-class-for-admissions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/university-of-california-votes-to-no-longer-accept-easier-math-class-for-admissions\/","title":{"rendered":"University of California votes to no longer accept easier math class for admissions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Academic committee says students too unprepared for rigors of college STEM courses<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A committee that oversees the University of California system\u2019s admissions standards recently voted to stop accepting high school data science classes as advanced math courses, saying students who take these classes are not fully prepared for college-level STEM courses.<\/p>\n

The UC\u2019s Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools, or BOARS<\/a>, voted unanimously to revoke the admissions standards, according<\/a> to the July 7 meeting minutes.<\/p>\n

However, how the California Board of Education, which determines high school curricula, will respond to the committee\u2019s decision remains to be seen. The board has not responded to repeated emails and a phone call from The College Fix<\/em> seeking comment over the last several weeks.<\/p>\n

As of now, the California Board of Education\u2019s curricula framework continues to recommend<\/a> that high schools implement data science classes in place of algebra II.<\/p>\n

The UC system includes 10 campuses and enrolls 280.000 students. One of the largest higher education systems in the nation, it is known for its rigorous research in STEM fields.<\/p>\n

The system began accepting data science in place of Algebra II in 2020 on the advice of a group of mathematicians and statisticians, the Chronicle of Higher Education<\/em> reported<\/a>, noting the UC system requires applicants take at least three years of high school math.<\/p>\n

Since then, however, that decision has caused consternation among UC faculty members, who have expressed concerns that data science courses at high schools are unable to effectively prepare students for the math required in college-level STEM courses.<\/p>\n

\u201cProponents of maintaining the requirement of Algebra II or advanced math courses that validate Algebra II \u2026 are concerned that existing high school data science courses are not academically rigorous enough, and that courses approved under the data science rubric do not sufficiently require demonstration of mastery of key concepts traditionally taught in Algebra II-type courses,\u201d the BOARS\u2019 meeting minutes state<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a result, students are entering UC underprepared, negatively impacting their student experience and time to degree.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite these concerns from faculty, though, data science courses proved popular among high schoolers, with over 200,000 students having taken one of the several approved classes, according<\/a> to the Chronicle of Higher Education<\/em>.<\/p>\n

In the BOARS\u2019 most recent vote, however, representatives from each UC school decided unanimously to stop data science classes from qualifying as advanced math. The motion stated: \u201cData science courses approved in the Statistics or Other advanced math category no longer validate Algebra II.”<\/p>\n

But the committee did agree that students who have already taken or are taking data science courses under the prior guidance should be grandfathered in, and that courses that are genuinely “advanced math” by virtue of assuming mastery of Algebra II may continue to receive approval as validating Algebra II, the meeting minutes state.<\/p>\n

Not everyone agrees that data science classes are ineffective, though.<\/p>\n

Robert Gould, a UCLA professor who designed one of the most common data science classes, told The College Fix<\/em> via email that data science programs are more challenging and complex than typical statistics classes.<\/p>\n

\u201cData science programs are an effort to bring high school statistics in closer alignment with the modern practice of statistics \u2013 which includes computer-intensive approaches to inference, modeling, and data visualization,\u201d Gould said.<\/p>\n

\u201c[These programs] provide students with the conceptual approaches required to work with much more complex data than is found in the typical statistics classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE: 1619 Project releases new \u2018reparations math\u2019 curriculum for high school students<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

IMAGE: WK 1003 Mike \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n

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