Education Commissioner Tom Gallagher pointed out that many of the state's education reforms have not yet had a chance to affect these college readiness rates. The rates released Monday are from students entering college last year. Most of those students graduated from high school in June 1997. The algebra requirement is just now coming, the FCAT is coming, the new graduation requirements are coming. The commissioner was referring to a state requirement that students take algebra before graduation.
Most students have trouble with the math, so the algebra requirement ought to help.
Still, Furlong said, students should take algebra I and II, along with geometry, to be fully prepared for the college readiness test. Gallagher, Fleeger and other educators are quick to point to shortcomings and quirks of the college readiness numbers. And there are many. First of all, it is really two reports in one. This year, the University of Florida reported a 99 percent readiness rate.