Increased Enrollment of Latino and Black Students in Advanced Math Classes Sparks Interest: Is It a Model to Follow?
Image credit: Pexels In a state that has grappled with anti-diversity legislation and attempts to stifle discussions on systemic racism, a new law in Texas is making waves, potentially offering Latino and Black children new opportunities in advanced math courses. Only a few states have taken the bold step that Texas did this year. Under a law signed by Governor Greg Abbott in May, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools are now required to automatically enroll sixth graders who score in the top 40% of the math portion of the state standardized test, STAAR, in advanced math courses. This move is a significant departure from the previous practice of relying on teacher and counselor recommendations or the initiative of students and their families. In the Dallas school system, this policy shift has yielded encouraging results. The share of Latino sixth graders enrolled in honors math has surged from one-third to nearly 60%. Similarly, Black sixth graders' e...