It turns out, the value of calculus is in the eye of the beholder. College admissions officers are all about it. College professors? Not so much.
Our Jill Barshay dug into the research and found that math professors say students race to the calculus finish line, then wind up with weak algebra skills. Professors in non-STEM fields say high school grads would be better off learning more practical math — such as statistics, data analysis, accounting and spreadsheets. Read Jill's column to find out how admissions officers have an entirely different view.
Also this week, we have the tale of how Washington state plans to wean students from reliance on the FAFSA, which turned out to be especially troubled last year. Instead, it will find other ways to connect students in need with financial aid for college, and other states are considering similar steps. And read the story behind the story of our examination of how states are trying to “fix” child care.
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The calculus track often serves to separate rich and poor students, sorting middle schoolers into an accelerated path to calculus or a slower path that does not include calculus. So why do more than half of U.S. high schools offer calculus and why do so many students choose to take it? Many critics point their fingers at college admissions.
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The Hechinger Report’s story examining how and why rural colleges are cutting dozens of programs and majors showed the enormous impact on rural students, who often have few college options
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