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Teachers union joins algebra lawsuit(San Mateo County Times, San Mateo, Calif. Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Nov. 23--BURLINGAME -- California's largest teachers union will back a fight in court to overturn the state's new eighth-grade algebra requirement. The Burlingame-based California Teachers Association has joined the lawsuit by the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators against the state Board of Education's decision to require all middle school students to be tested in Algebra I by the end of eighth grade starting in 2011. The state board "acted abruptly, imprudently and without fully understanding the consequences of its actions on our schools, teachers and students," said David Sanchez, president of the 340,000-member association. "For our schools to begin now to prepare all eighth-graders to take the Algebra 1 exam, they must immediately hire about 3,000 more teachers and properly train about a thousand more who are either underprepared or teaching in another field." State board spokeswoman Regina Wilson declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Proponents such as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger believe the algebra mandate will raise student achievement. "I have always been a staunch supporter of high academic standards in California," Schwarzenegger said before the board voted for the new requirement in July. "I am asking the state board to do away with the below-grade-level General Mathematics test and chart California's course to lead the nation in eighth-grade math. I stand committed to ensuring schools have the resources needed to prepare every eighth-grader to take an Algebra I standardized test." But critics argue that the mandate is unworkable and unfunded. In August, state schools chief Jack O'Connell proposed a plan with an estimated cost of $3.1 billion a year to try to address the policy, but such funding is unlikely given the state's continuing fiscal problems. In late October, a Sacramento County Superior Court judge ordered the state board to hold off on the policy until it can be heard formally. The next court hearing on the requirement is scheduled for Dec. 19. Staff writer Neil Gonzales covers education. He can be reached at 650-348-4338 or [email protected]. To see more of the San Mateo County Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/. Copyright (c) 2008, San Mateo County Times, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |