Stearns, Linda Lea Merenda (2010-05). Access for All. Master's Thesis. Thesis uri icon

abstract

  • This thesis reviews the enrollment policies and procedures for advanced and

    college prep classes in a central Texas school district to determine if there is fair and

    equitable access for all students. The paper contains two major components. The first is

    quantitative study of the four entrance requirements for 8th grade Algebra I Pre-AP at a

    central Texas middle school. The purpose of this study is to determine the necessity of

    these requirements by showing which if any of these prerequisites predicts the how the

    students will perform in Algebra I. The results have determined that only the students?

    scores from their 7th grade advanced mathematics course correlated well with the

    students? scores from their Algebra I class. The second component is a qualitative study

    to determine if the parents of the district?s secondary students in have sufficient

    knowledge of advanced courses and how to enroll their children into advanced classes

    when warranted or desired. The study determined that parents had insufficient

    knowledge of advanced courses and the districts strict enrollment policies. This paper

    ends with recommendations for the district on how to make advanced course more

    accessible for all students.

publication date

  • May 2010