Maryland will join eight states to develop a common assessment in Algebra II, the state Department of Education announced Tuesday.
The test will not be tied to graduation, but will likely be used for placement in college math courses.
“College and university leaders tell us that Algebra II is a stepping stone to college success,” State Superintendent of Schools Nancy Grasmick said in a statement. “By mastering Algebra II, students are prepared to enter credit-bearing college mathematics courses, and by being clearer on those expectations for both teachers and students, we will help improve the success students will have at the post-secondary level.”
The American Diploma Project Secondary Math Partnership, a subsidiary of Achieve, a nonprofit education policy organization, will produce the test. Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island will join Maryland in the test?s development.
Achieve estimates that more than 200,000 students will take the test in 2009. Other states will be encouraged to use the test.
The American Diploma Project Secondary Math Partnership will develop the assessment over the next year and will make it available to states in May 2008.
The test could be in Maryland schools by 2009.
The exam will be a voluntary assessment of the content typically covered in a high school Algebra II course and the math content considered by colleges for placement, said Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Education.
Maryland?s involvement in the assessment will assure that the test is aligned with the state?s Algebra II course content, Reinhard said.
