mathematics from high school to community college: preparation, articulation, and college...
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Mathematics from High School to Community College:
Preparation, Articulation, and College Un-readiness
Louise Jaffe, Ed.D.UCLA, 2012
Research on College Readiness in Math
for Community College (CC) Freshmen
Analyzed the effectiveness of different high school mathematics pathways in preparing students for college-level mathematics.
– Searched for routes to college readiness
– Found predictors of college un-readiness
2
Why Math?Math Functions As A Roadblock
3
Research Question
How do different high school mathematics course-taking patterns and achievement predict placement into community college mathematics?
4
Examined High School Math Pathways
• Where students start: Grade 9 Math
• When students stop: No Math in Grade 12
• Where students stop: Highest-Level Math– every course beyond Algebra 2 doubles the
odds of college completion (Adelman, 2006)
5
Sample: 2920 12th Grade Students
6
Multinomial Logistic Regression ModelIndependent and Predictor Variables Tested
1. Gender
2. Ethnicity: Black, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander, White
3. Highest-Level of Parent Education
4. Indication of Low Socio-Economic-Status
5. Grade 9 Mathematics Course
6. Grade 9 Mathematics Grade Point
7. Grade 10 Mathematics Grade Point
8. Grade 11 Mathematics Grade Point
9. California High School Exit Exam Mathematics Scores
10. Highest-Level High School Mathematics Course
11. No Mathematics in Grade 12
Ordered Dependent/Outcome Variable
1. Community College Assessment into 1-, 2-, 3-, or 4-Levels Below College-Level Mathematics
CC Math Assessment Placement
8
Finding
Gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and parent education were not significant predictors of placement in community college mathematics.
9
CC Math Assessment Placement by Ethnicity
Black (n=82) Latino (n=308) API (n=54) White (n=410)
46.3%36.4%
11.1% 12.0%
20.7%
23.7%
13.0%20.2%
17.1% 17.5%
57.4%
36.3% college-level
1-level below
2-levels below
3-levels below
4-levels below
10
Finding
Mastery of mathematics that precedes high school coursework is fundamental
11
Top Ten: Highest Correlation to Placement
Predictor Variables r 1. CAHSEE Mathematics Score .669
2. Grade 7 CST Mathematics scaled score .624
3. Grade 9 CST Mathematics scaled score .610
4. Grade 8 CST Mathematics scaled score .608
5. Grade 11 CST Mathematics scaled score .577
6. Grade 10 CST Mathematics scaled score .573
7. Grade 10 CST ELA scaled score .506
8. Grade 11 Mathematics course .499
9. Grade 12 GPA (all subjects) .489
10. Grade 10 Mathematics course .488p < .01
12
Finding
The CAHSEE Math scale scores were significant predictors of placement at all levels below college-level mathematics
Delta-p
Variable 1-level below
2-levels below
3-levels below
4-levels below
CAHSEE Math 22.64% 22.72% 22.53% 21.54%
p < .001
13
Finding Suggests Off-Label Use of CAHSEE Math to Improve College-Readiness (n=857)
CAHSEE Math By College Placement CAHSEE Math SS
College-Level
1-level below
2-levels below
3-levels below
4-levels below
*** *** *** ***
SOLID PROFICIENCY
431-450 (n= 77) 83.1% 9.1% 5.2% 1.3% 1.3%
MODERATEPROFICIENCY
401-430(n=201) 59.2% 16.4% 16.4% 6.0% 2.0%
LOW PROFICIENCY
380-400 (n=206) 28.2% 18.4% 19.9% 24.8% 8.7%
PASS 350-379 (n=340) 2.4% 10.3% 8.8% 32.6% 45.9%
FAIL 297-349 (n= 33) 3.0% .0% .0% 15.2% 81.8%
*** p < .001
14
Finding
No Math in Grade 12 was a significant predictor of placement, with a large effect, at 2-, 3-, and 4-levels below college-level mathematics
Delta-p
Variable1-level below
2-levels below
3-levels below
4-levels below
Grade 12 No Math
57.64%** 45.66%* 49.20%**
* p <.05, ** p < .01
15
Who Took No Math in Grade 12?
16* p < .05, ** p < .01
Who took No Math in Grade 12?
Gr 12 No Math
All Students(n=2920)
36%
CC Freshmen (n=953)
47%
17
Who Took No Math in Grade 12?
Ethnicity
No Math in Grade 12
n %Black 114 43.8Latino 356 41.3White 495 32.5
API 69 27.8
18
Students who started high school further behind were more likely to stop
sooner
No Grade 12 Mathematics by Students’ Grade 9 Mathematics
Grade 9 Math Course No Math in Grade 12
Geometry or above (n=1439)
24%
Algebra 1 (n= 508) 44%Below-Algebra 1 (n= 491) 48%
19
Finding
There is an opportunity cost to not taking math in grade 12.
Where students stop is determined in part by when students stop
Highest-Level Mathematics
StudentsLast
GradeAbove Alg. 2
Alg. 2 Geom.Alg. 1 and
belowAll
(n=2920)
Total
12 52% 9% 1% 2%11 11% 15% 3% 1%
63% 24% 4% 4%
CC Freshmen
(n=953)
Total
12 34% 14% 1% 3%11 12% 23% 4% 2%
46% 37% 6% 5%
21
Students who advanced beyond Algebra 2 were more likely to be college-ready
Highest-Level Math with CC Math Placement
High School Math
Community College Math Placement
NHighest-
levelGrade Taken
College-level
1-level below
2-levels below
3-levels below
4-levels below
> Algebra 2
12 54% 16% 13% 11% 6% 307
11 48% 16% 15% 12.5% 8% 104
Algebra 2 12 11% 8% 9.5% 32% 40% 126
11 11% 14% 16% 28% 31% 210
< Algebra 2
12 2% 2% 5% 24% 67% 42
11 1.9% 3.8% 5.7% 34% 55% 53
Most students who took No Math in Grade 12 passed Grade 11 Math
GPA in Grade 11 Math for students who took No Math in Grade 12
A B C D Fail
All Students
Above Algebra 2 (n=313) 21% 27% 33% 12% 6%
Algebra 2 (n=438) 12% 20% 33% 17% 18%
Geometry (n=86) 7% 10% 19% 37% 27%
CC
Freshmen
Above Algebra 2 (n=110) 8% 26% 36% 19% 10%
Algebra 2 (n=218) 11% 17% 30% 20% 22%
Geometry (n=39) 10% 13% 18% 41% 18%
23
Students traveled different paths through high school mathematics
High School Observed PathwaysHigh School Mathematics
Grade 9 Grade 12 Highest- Level Math
All StudentsN=2363
CC FreshmenN=739
> Algebra 1 Yes > Algebra 2 36.5% 17.7%> Algebra 1 Yes Algebra 2 .4% .5%> Algebra 1 Yes < Algebra 2 .4% .6%> Algebra 1 No > Algebra 2 9.6% 10.3%> Algebra 1 No Algebra 2 .9% 1.3%> Algebra 1 No < Algebra 2 .1% .2%
≤ Algebra 1 Yes > Algebra 2 11.0% 11.6%≤ Algebra 1 Yes Algebra 2 6.0% 10.4%≤ Algebra 1 Yes < Algebra 2 1.5% 2.2%≤ Algebra 1 No > Algebra 2 .2% .2%≤ Algebra 1 No Algebra 2 12.4% 19.5%≤ Algebra 1 No < Algebra 2 2.0% 2.9%TOTAL 81% 78%
24
Conclusions
The high school mathematics path most frequently travelled by community college-bound students was characterized by:
– Algebra 1 or below in grade 9, – no math in grade 12, and – no HS math beyond Algebra 2.
At these important junctures, students were directed to or chose paths that diminished their chances of attaining college-readiness.
Conclusions
These findings suggest high schools could decrease college un-readiness in mathematics for community college-bound students by:• Continuing to strengthen mastery of basic
arithmetic and pre-algebra content for students who score below 430 on the CAHSEE Math
• Requiring lower achieving students to take math in grade 12, using senior year to remediate weak skills or to advance beyond Algebra 2
Conclusions
If educators and researchers in California could study student records across segments (K12 to CC), they would identify useful and actionable findings to improve college readiness.
Questions? Comments?
Thank you!
Louise Jaffe
louisecjaffe@gmail.com
310-450-2487
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