When grades stop meaning anything
3 days ago
- #grade inflation
- #education
- #remedial math
- A significant portion of UCSD students in remedial math classes struggle with basic arithmetic, like solving 7 + 2 = [_] + 6, with 25% answering incorrectly.
- Grade inflation in high schools is masking students' lack of foundational math skills, with many earning high grades in advanced courses like calculus without mastering the material.
- The UC system's removal of SAT/ACT requirements has led to a surge in underprepared students, with UCSD's remedial math enrollment skyrocketing from 32 to nearly 1,000 students.
- Students needing remedial math often fail subsequent college-level math courses, with high withdrawal or failure rates in required calculus classes for majors like biology and psychology.
- The issue is systemic, involving high school grade inflation, the elimination of standardized testing, and a lack of accountability in preparing students for college-level work.
- The situation highlights a broader educational failure, where students are advanced without mastering prerequisites, leading to a cycle of underperformance and remediation in college.
- The report calls for a reevaluation of equity in education, emphasizing actual learning over superficial metrics like grades and advanced course enrollment.
- Parents and educators are urged to demand systemic change to ensure students receive a truthful and adequate education that prepares them for college and beyond.