Really Old Math Person

Chapter 1

A college degree is

an important life goal!

No High School

Diploma$19,915 Annual Income

High School Diploma

$29,448 Annual Income

Bachelor’s Degree

$54,689 Annual Income

Advanced Degree

$79,500 Annual Income

http://www.census.gov/pubinfo/www/broadcast/photos/census_bureau/004313.html#school

If you don’t believe me, look it up.

2005 Census Data

This chart shows the percent of companies who say, “I really wish I could hire someone right now who has…”

10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

HS Diploma or GED

Vocational Associate Degree

Academic Associate Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Source – Employer Survey 2004, Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board

I’ve been saying that

for centuries.

Most companies are looking for employees with skills learned in a math class

Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking

Positive Work Habits & Attitudes

Communication Skills

Source – Employer Survey 2004, Workforce Training and

Education Coordinating Board

Chapter 2

You can get ready

for a college degree now!

College students who took this many years of

high school math…

Percent returning to college after their

freshman year

Average First term

GPA

Four years 91% 3.0

Two years 86% 2.8

Below 77% 2.5

Source – Making the Transition from High School to College in Ohio 2005: A Statewide Perspective, Ohio Boardof Regents.

You need to be ready to STAY in college, too.

“Of all pre-college curricula, the highest level of mathematics one studies in secondary school has the strongest continuing influence on bachelors degree completion..”

Adelman, C. 1999. Answers in the Tool Box: Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and Bachelor's Degree Attainment. Washington, DC: U.S.

Department of Education.

This chart shows a lot of things, but mostly that

Calculus students are best prepared for college. If

you’re not ready for Calculus, don’t worry…but

do take a math class!

• Demonstrates intellectual engagement

• Takes responsibility for own learning

• Perseveres when faced with time-consuming or complex tasks

• Pays attention to detail

These characteristics describe me perfectly. They can describe you too... no matter which math class you chose!

The next slide sums

it up perfectly…

What’s needed for high school students to be ready

for college?• Take more rigorous math and

more years of math in high school• Take math and/or math-based

science in the senior year• Understand why math is

important• Know what preparation is needed

for college

Source – What's needed for high schoolers to be ready for college © 2004, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges,

Chapter 3

Once you’re ready for college,

you need to be ready to take a

college-level math class, but first the test…

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

320-324325-329330-334335-339340-344345-349350-354355-359360-364365-369370-374375-379380-384385-389390-394395-399400-404405-409410-414415-419420-424425-429430-434435-439440-444445-449450-454455-459460-464465-469470-474475-479480-484485-489490-494495-499500-504505-509510-514515-519520-524525-529530-534535-539

WASL Math Score

Per

cen

t P

laci

ng

at

Co

lleg

e L

evel

WASL Standard

Source – Relationship Between the WASL and Placement Tests Used by Community and Technical Colleges, Social & Economic Sciences Research Center, WSU 2002

Well for Newton’s sake, the WASL isn’t designed for college

placement; it’s a 10th Grade test!

WASLCollege-Level Course

Placement Tests

You can’t expect these tests to be the same; they measure different things…

WASL is a 10th grade exam

College Placement Tests are taken at the end of the 12th grade

WASL exam includes Algebra, Geometry Probability, Statistics, Problem-Solving and Application problems

College placement exams may test all of these concepts, but place particular emphasis on Algebra & Functions at a higher levelMultiple-choice, short

answer and extended response

Multiple-Choice only

Calculators No Calculators

Spokane Community Colleges

SchoolEntrance

Requirement in Mathematics

Placement Test

SCC and SFCCAny Level of High

School Math

COMPASS or ASSET

www.act.org

Do not use these as official statements. Contact the school to get current and official admission information.

If an airplane leaves Spokane at 1 pm traveling at 550 mph, and another airplane leaves Athens at 4 pm traveling 100 mph slower, when will they meet?

Washington Universities

Do not use these as official statements. Contact the school to get current and official admission information.

SchoolMath Entrance Requirement

Placement Test

EWU

3 years – Algebra I, Geometry & Algebra II

(or Core 1 through 3)

APTP www.washington.edu/oea/services/testing_center/aptp/index.html

WSU APTP, ACT or SAT

UW APTP

CWU APTP, ACT or SAT

Compass

WWU APTP

Whitworth 3 years recommended

No placement test

Chapter 4

What if you take a

placement test, but

don’t place into college-level math?

Developmental vs. College-Level Mathematics Coursework

Pre-Algebra Courses

(Community Colleges)

Basic Algebra Courses

Intermediate Algebra Courses

PrecalculusMath for

Liberal ArtsFinite Math

Math forElem. Ed.

Probability/Statistics

Other

Developmental Math Courses bring

a student up to college level. They do not transfer or count for college

credit.

Why does it matter?

more time to degree

The cost of placement into developmental

mathematics…

more money

more frustration in college courses that use

mathematics

There’s more evidence on the next slide!

A Closer Look at the Costs

# of Dev. Ed. Classes Taken

Additional cost at SCC or SFCC*

Additional cost at EWU*

Additional cost at WSU*

1 $370.50 $713 $1470

2 $741 $1426 $2940

3 $1111.50 $2139 $4410

4 $1482 $2852 $5880

* Based on 2006-2007 tuition rates for 5 undergraduate credits.

Did you know that more than 80 % of

high school graduates say they would work harder, and take tougher courses, if they could do high

school over again?www.achieve.org/files/pollrelease.pdf

Chapter 5

I just love testimonia

ls!

“I really think math should be a four-year requirement. If I had had a better experience in high school, I would have been more successful in college-level math.”

Jill placed into Basic Algebra (a developmental course) at EWU in the Fall of 2005.

Take math seriously. Retain as much as you can, or you will just be wasting time in High School, you'll also be wasting time in College trying to catch up. Take math. It's worth it !

If I had a long lever and a

place to stand, I could move

the earth. But seriously, I

couldn’t do it without math.