Students go over their answers together during a summer geometry course at Galileo High in 2023. Algebra I will officially be back in San Francisco middle schools next fall, much to the relief of parents who’ve fought for a decade to bring it back, although they might not be as happy with how the course will be offered.
Amaya Edwards/S.F. Chronicle
Algebra I will officially be back in San Francisco middle schools next fall, much to the relief of parents who’ve fought for a decade to bring it back, although they might not be as happy with how the course will be offered.
District officials have narrowed down the possible ways it would be offered to three options, based on pilot programs in the schools last year.
The first would allow eighth-grade students to take the course as an elective, but they would still be required to take Math 8 at the same time.
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The second option is to offer Algebra I as an alternative to Math 8 for students who meet certain academic criteria.
The third is requiring Algebra I for all students, who would skip Math 8 and get extra help if needed.
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Yet, it appeared on Friday, Algebra I as an elective could be a strong contender based on information parents and students received at school sites.
A parent at Roosevelt Middle School told the Chronicle a seventh-grade math teacher told students this past week that appeared to be the plan, based on presentations by district staff.
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District officials, however, said they were still considering all three options and were continuing to get feedback from school administrators and educators.
In the meantime, the school board had yet to be briefed on any recommendations and had not seen the results of a Stanford University study on the success of each pilot program, including the three possibilities as well as a fourth online-only Algebra I course.
The topic has been heated for more than a decade, when the school board pushed Algebra I out of the middle schools, saying they wanted to keep all students on the same math track until high school.
The ensuing battle included a symbolic ballot initiative that overwhelmingly supported Algebra I in eighth grade and a lawsuit.
The school board decided in early 2024 to bring it back, but in a slow rollout, starting with the pilot programs.
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The Roosevelt parent questioned the elective option, saying middle schools would likely be eliminating seventh period next year given budget constraints. That would mean students who are in Mandarin immersion or English language learning programs, or have other required electives, would not be able to take Algebra I because there would be no room in their schedule.
“It completely eliminates their access to in-person algebra,” said the parent, who requested anonymity because of the volatility of the debate.
District spokesperson Laura Dudnick said the district is doing an analysis to address any impact that option would have and would share more details with school communities in the coming weeks.
“We are currently reviewing student academic growth data from Stanford and are considering a total of three options that were piloted through the research, including the option of offering Algebra I as an elective concurrent with Math 8,” Dudnick said. “We recognize that families may have questions about what this means in terms of their child’s course schedule and access to electives.”
The parent also noted that the elective option would require hiring more math teachers when there is already a shortage.
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“It’s a move that’s pennywise and pound foolish,” the parent said. “It will drive people to private schools or charter schools. It’s just nuts.”
For those who’ve advocated for the course to return to middle schools, arguably the most popular option is to offer Algebra I to students who are interested and ready to take it.
“This is how the rest of the country operates,” the Roosevelt parent said. “S.F. is the tech capital of the world and we’re actively fighting kids who have that drive.”
The district is expected to present its recommendation to the school board in February at the earliest.
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“I feel like this board has been consistently clear,” said board President Phil Kim. “We want greater access to algebra.”