Lindsey Henderson is the Policy Director for Math policy at ExcelinEd.
At ExcelinEd, we believe that every student deserves access to educational opportunities that challenge and inspire them to reach their full potential. As part of our comprehensive K-8 math policy, we are excited to announce the launch of our Guaranteed Access to Advanced Math model policy, sometimes called Automatic Enrollment in Advanced Math.
This policy is designed to ensure that, starting in middle school and extending through high school, students who demonstrate high proficiency in mathematics are guaranteed access to advanced math. Students who want to take advanced mathematics and who missed the “highly proficient” cutoff score can opt in with parent/caregiver permission while parents/caregivers can also opt their “highly proficient” student out of automatic enrollment. These policy components are intended to strengthen parent/caregiver and school relationships while guaranteeing that students are on a path to mathematical success in higher education and beyond.
For far too long, many students who were ready for more challenging math courses were not given the opportunity to enroll in them. Whether due to administrative barriers, lack of awareness or other factors, these students were often defaulted into classes that did not match their capabilities.
Our new policy aims to change that by removing barriers and ensuring that all students who are “highly proficient” in mathematics on end-of-year exams are guaranteed access to advanced math courses through automatic enrollment.
Access to advanced mathematics pathways give students the opportunity to progress through math sequences faster, allowing them to take on more challenging material in their academic careers.
For example, while algebra is traditionally taught in high school, students who are guaranteed access to advanced math courses can take algebra, or the integrated equivalent, in middle school. This head start opens the door for them to take college-level courses, such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Concurrent or Dual Enrollment during their high school years.
Research supports the importance of early and advanced math opportunities. A study from Johns Hopkins University highlights the impact of providing access to advanced coursework, demonstrating that students who engage in math classes that appropriately challenge them early on are more likely to excel in the subject and pursue it further in their education.
“Automatic enrollment is a straightforward education reform that facilitates both educational excellence and equity in K-12 schools. By automatically placing highly qualified students in advanced coursework, this low-cost, bi-partisan strategy creates opportunities for high achievement for all students, with low-income, rural and small town, and underrepresented minority students especially appearing to benefit.”
A report from RAND highlights the need for more advanced coursework, citing significant disparity in access to advanced math courses, particularly among students in small, rural, and high-poverty schools. These schools often offer fewer opportunities for students to participate in an advanced math pathway as compared to their peers in larger, urban schools.
Math teachers in high-poverty schools reported skipping standards-aligned content more frequently and teaching material from previous grade levels. While well intentioned, common practices like these significantly disadvantage student access to grade-level mathematics and, rather than helping students catch up, compound inequities when stretched across multiple instructional years leaving students even farther behind than their peers. The report also reveals that many math teachers cannot devote enough time to math instruction due to various factors, underscoring the need for increased systemic support to ensure high-quality math learning experiences for all students.
The RAND report outlined the path of students who are exposed to advanced math in middle school versus those who take grade-level math:
To assist states in implementing this vital policy, ExcelinEd has developed a new model policy that provides a clear framework for crafting legislation around guaranteed access to advanced mathematics courses.
The policy includes:
This model policy is designed to guide states in creating laws that ensure all students who demonstrate proficiency in math are automatically placed in a mathematics pathway that aligns with their abilities and aspirations. By following this model, states can help close the opportunity gap in mathematics education and empower more students to achieve at the highest levels.
The policy is available as part of our broader math policy toolkit, providing detailed recommendations for state leaders, educators, and policymakers. We encourage stakeholders to explore this resource and take the necessary steps to adopt and implement guaranteed access to advanced math policy in their own states.
Guaranteed access to advanced math policy is a straightforward yet powerful tool to ensure students are placed in courses that match their abilities and are appropriately challenging. By eliminating the need for additional registration paperwork or meetings, this policy ensures that every student ready for advanced math can pursue it without unnecessary hurdles.
At ExcelinEd, we are committed to creating educational policies that empower students and equip them with the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Our Guaranteed Access to Advanced Math policy is just one step in our broader effort to ensure that every student has access to a high-quality math education.
Please make sure to check out the additional components of our comprehensive K-8 math policy, all of which are designed to build a strong foundation in mathematics for students across the country.
