Texas to offer 2 new algebra II alternatives

Texas will develop two new math courses high school students can take in lieu of algebra II as it implements a major overhaul in academic curriculum.

The State Board of Education on Thursday voted 13-2 to create algebraic reasoning and statistics classes for school districts statewide.

A law passed overwhelmingly by the state Legislature in May eliminated algebra II as a graduation requirement for many high school students.

But young Texans are still required to take advanced math, and many districts around the state offered few alternatives to algebra II – making the course a de-facto requirement. The new classes are designed to give them more options.

Some board members said they bitterly oppose scrapping the algebra II mandate, but were forced to implement what lawmakers had previously approved.