SACRAMENTO (AP) California educational leaders have voted to make their state the first to require an eighth-grade algebra test, despite concerns over funding, teacher staffing and how it could raise the dropout rate.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately applauded the state Board of Education's action Wednesday to require algebra at such an early level. He called algebra "the key that unlocks the world of science, innovation, engineering and technology."
Schwarzenegger's education secretary, Dave Long, said the governor would help find the billions of dollars it would cost to boost what he referred to as California's education "infrastructure." He did not say where the money would come from.
Schwarzenegger fueled a political firestorm by issuing a letter asking for the algebra requirement the night before Wednesday's board meeting.
The board, which the Republican governor appointed, had been scheduled to consider adopting a new eighth-grade math test proposed by Democrat Jack O'Connell, superintendent of public instruction, that would have measured some algebra standards but not all. Instead, it voted 8-1 for Schwarzenegger's recommendation.
O'Connell blasted Schwarzenegger during the hearing, saying he had never seen such meddling by a governor at the last minute on a policy change that deserved rigorous public debate.
"The governor never took the time to weigh in until last night" on a policy that "will have significant impact on literally tens of thousands of students in our state," O'Connell said.
Just half of California's eighth-graders currently take full algebra, up from about 34% four years ago.
Critics say pushing students into higher-level math too early could increase the dropout rate. Algebra I is a requirement to graduate from high school, but many students need remedial classes or a pre-algebra course first. The eighth-grade test O'Connell proposed would have measured some algebra standards, but not all.
Board members agreed with Schwarzenegger's contention that the superintendent's proposed exam could set up a two-tiered system that fast-tracked some students into regular algebra while allowing others to take a less rigorous general math test. The governor and his supporters argued all students should be held to the same high standard.
The state was under pressure from the U.S. Department of Education to change its current eighth-grade math test by Aug. 1 or face losing up to $4.1 million in funding.
Several of the more than 30 speakers who raised concerns about the test Wednesday noted that California already has a shortage of qualified math and science teachers. And board members did worry how the state could teach algebra to nearly 500,000 eighth-graders in such a short time without dramatically boosting education funding in California, which faces a $15.2 billion budget deficit.
Assistant U.S. Secretary of Education Kerri Briggs praised the board's action. She said California was setting a bold goal that would not be easy to achieve but was critically important.
"Kids are dropping out because they're bored and they don't feel like there's enough challenge and expectations for them," she said. "This may be exactly what they need to help spur achievement."
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more.