Mathematics plays a central role in winnowing opportunities for students to enter and succeed in college. In California, students can graduate from high school with just two years of math, including a ...

But my editor has asked me to spend some time looking inside them, where the biggest policy changes involve math and English placement tests that new students must take when they enroll.

Regardless of placement, ELL newcomers scored significantly lower than the district average on standardized tests: at the 33rd percentile in math and the 20th percentile in reading. So did grade ...

I have annually surprised my 6th graders with a “7th grade math placement test” with extremely hard questions. But don’t worry, I don’t let my students panic for too long!

The district is proposing changes aimed at allowing more students to become eligible to skip a grade or take accelerated math or reading.