Thanks very much for adding this context! I have not read the full docs and based on what I've read so far I don't feel like I'm thoroughly qualified to answer "is California removing Algebra from middle school?"

Which, if they did, would I think be a mistake.

What I can see is:

(1) Chapter 7 of the first field review draft says that they intend to de-recommend "Algebra I" for people in grade, in favor of something called "CA CCSSM" which incorporates concepts of algebra. They seem to say that CA CCSSM is much more thorough and comprehensive than Algebra I and is a better choice for students who are showing particularly strong math skills.

"In grade eight, the CA CCSSM are significantly more rigorous than those from previous grade-eight content standards. They address the foundations of algebra by including content that was previously part of the Algebra I course—such as more in-depth study of linear relationships and equations, a more formal treatment of functions, and the exploration of irrational numbers. … The rigor of the CA CCSSM for grade eight means the course sequencing needs to be calibrated to ensure students are able to productively engage with the additional content. Specifically, students who previously may have been able to succeed in an Algebra I course in eighth grade may find the new CA CCSSM for grade-eight content significantly more difficult. The CA CCSSM provides for strengthened conceptual understanding by encouraging students—even strong mathematics students—to take the grade eight CA CCSSM course instead of skipping ahead to Algebra I or Mathematics I in grade eight."

(2) The FAQ and accompanying diagram say that they intend to recommend "Algebra I" as one of three options for a 9th grade curriculum -- with the other standard options being "Integrated I" and "MIC I". I think the idea this diagram presents is that 9th/10th grade carries Algebra I/Geometry or Integrated 1/Integrated 2 or MIC 1/MIC 2, and then you can spend 11th/12th grade studying other concepts in detail like statistics (great choice IMHO) or calculus.

That's the diagram here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/cf/images/mathfwfaqs.png

(3) Critics of this proposal (writing at https://bit.ly/cmfanalysis cited in the guest blog post linked here) argue that postponing Algebra I from 8th grade to 9th grade reduces the opportunity for students to study calculus in detail in high school.

I happen to agree that calculus concepts might not be the most important -- maybe it's more important to get a good grounding in statistical thinking as opposed to integral calculus? Maybe it's better to learn really strong proof skills and approach calculus directly via real analysis? I dunno.

I guess what would bug me would be if kids didn't get abstract thinking early. The core concept of algebraic thinking to me as a nonexpert is treating things as variables rather than concrete numbers, and being able to reason about changing a function or a family of functions rather than a specific line or curve.

But what confuses me overall here is -- why does the CA Math Framework still include Algebra I as a 9th grade program? If the new 8th grade CA CCSSM is indeed so rigorous that stronger math students should take it, and if it includes the essentials of Algebra I, then why waste another year on the concepts again? I don't understand.