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An Examination of Trends in Algebra II Enrollment and Completion in Texas Public High Schools

Region:

Southwest

Description:

Description: In June 2013, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill (HB) 5—the Foundation High School Program—into law, which changed high school graduation requirements for public school students in Texas. Prior to this, most students were required to complete algebra II in order to graduate from high school. After the enactment of HB 5, completing algebra II became optional—students may elect to complete algebra II as part of two of the graduation plans offered under HB 5. REL Southwest is working with the Texas Education Agency to examine trends in the percentage of students who enroll in algebra II, complete algebra II, and pass/fail their first advanced mathematics course (any mathematics course above geometry) by the end of their junior year for students who entered grade 9 during the 2004–05 through 2014–15 school years. REL Southwest will pay particular attention to the percentage of low-income, low-achieving, and minority students who enroll in and complete algebra II.

Research Questions:

• What are the trends in enrollment in algebra II, completion of algebra II, and first advanced mathematics course failure rates by the end of grade 11 for students who entered grade 9 during the 2004–05 through 2014–15 academic years?
• Are there differences in the mathematics courses that students complete by the end of their junior year before (2014–15 through 2015–16) and after (2016–17) the enactment of House Bill 5?

Study Design: First, a series of descriptive analyses will be conducted to examine and display algebra II enrollment, algebra II completion, and first advanced mathematics course failure rates over time. Next, additional descriptive analyses will be conducted to describe how districts responded to HB 5 with regard to diploma plan placement for students, advanced mathematics course offerings, and information distribution. Finally, REL Southwest will examine changes in advanced mathematics course completion over time.

Projected Release Date: Fall 2017

Study Related Products: What's Happening report, Stated Briefly report

This study builds on another study already in progress: Understanding the Impact of Providing Information to Parents about the Role of Algebra II: An Opportunistic Study

Publication Type:

What's Happening

Online Availability:

• View, download, and print the report as a PDF file (511 KB)

Publication Date:

February 2018

Contact:

• Johnson, Amy
  amy.johnson@ed.gov