REVISED 10/2008
Algebra
One
Policy: CWCS’s graduation requirements for Math include Algebra One
and one math course other than Algebra. Our students can meet the Algebra
requirement with regular or basic courses. Please keep in mind that if
a student takes a basic course to meet this requirement, the basic course
may not prepare them for the CAHSEE. With a basic Algebra One course,
the student may also need test prep. materials to
help him/her prepare for the CAHSEE.
Special Education Students: On 11/16/2004, CDE ruled that a school may not request a
waiver from the state law requiring every student who receives a high school
diploma in
Seventh and Eighth Graders: Students who take Algebra 1 in seventh or eighth grade, may
use that course to meet the Algebra graduation requirement, but they must
take two math courses at a higher level than Algebra in order to meet our
20 credit math requirement (Geometry, Algebra II, Consumer Math are all acceptable.
Unacceptable would be remedial courses like Math Basics 9A etc.). The Algebra
course taken in Jr. High counts for the Algebra graduation requirement, but
not towards the 20 credit math requirement. If your student claims to have
taken Algebra I in seventh or eighth grade, please have the office check their
cume for verification. If they have a notation on
their high school transcript from a prior high school, this should have been
noted by the office at the bottom of the credit summary on their transcript
in WEBfiles (new process). If the student claims
to have taken it and it's not noted on their transcript, contact the office
for verification.
High School Transfers:
Some students may transfer into our school with varying Algebra course titles
on their transcripts: i.e. Algebra A and Algebra B, Algebra Essentials 1-6,
etc. If the Algebra they have taken equals 1/2 of the Algebra I requirement,
then the student must complete another 5 credits, Algebra IB, even if the previous
courses totaled 10+ credits. (Sometimes the previous school's course summary
will indicate
if the Algebra requirement has been met.) Various high schools break up the
required Algebra I course in a variety of ways. If you receive a student with a
transcript that is unusual, please contact your advisor for assistance in
determining whether the Algebra I requirement has been met.
For Example: If the student has
transferred from a school that has assigned 10 credits of Algebra A and 10
credits of Algebra B, this school may have an extended two year Algebra
program. These 20 credits would count as 10 credits Math Elective, and 10
credits Algebra 1A/1B.
If only a portion of the credits
have been earned at the previous school, the ES should contact their advisor to
help determine how many credits the student still needs to complete to meet the
Algebra requirement.
If a school assigns Algebra
Essentials 1-6, (this is specifically for Modesto City Schools) Alg Essen 1,2 is equivalent to Pre-Algebra for 10
credits, Alg Essen 3,4 is
equivalent to Alg 1A for 5 credits and 5 credits of math elective , and Alg
Essen 5,6 is equivalent to Alg 1B for 5
credits and 5 credits
of math elective. Alg. Essentials 5-6 is equivalent to Algebra 1Aand 1B, and we
would have to assign additional coursework accordingly unless the student had
completed all 6 courses. If the student had only completed Algebra Essentials
1-4, then they would still need Algebra 1B for 5 credits, or if only 1-5, then
they'd need an additional 2.5 units of Algebra 1B.
(If the parent thinks the course
was the equivalent of the required Algebra 1 course, and the ES is unsure, the
ES will need to contact their ES Advisor or Mary Halter for clarification.)
For a listing of standards to be
covered in a high school Algebra course, see
http://www.cde.ca.gov/be/st/ss/mthalgebra1.asp
For a description of several (work
in progress) Algebra Vendors, with the level of courses that they offer,
whether or not they are standards aligned, and the number of credits per course,
see "Algebra Research."