Sacramento State hopes to keep freshmen from remedial classes with $1.28M grant

Sacramento State hopes to reduce the number of freshmen who need remedial math classes by using a new $1.28 million grant to collaborate with high school educators.

Caliornia State University, Sacramento, is one of five colleges statewide awarded a two-year California Mathematics Readiness Challenge Initiative grant. The state program is aimed at improving high school education by having colleges work closely with secondary level teachers and principals.

Most high school seniors in the Sacramento region do not have to take math, and less than 13 percent are prepared for college instruction, according to Sacramento State.

University leaders hope to improve the Sacramento State’s graduation rate by working with high schools to prepare students for college-level math. Only 5 percent of Sacramento State freshmen in need of remediation graduate in four years, according to CSUS. The school’s overall four-year graduation rate is 9 percent.

“Receiving this grant will allow us to invest in our partnership with local school districts and community colleges to better prepare our students for the demanding mathematics courses in college,” said Sacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen, who has focused on improving the graduation rate since arriving last year. “Together, we can increase math readiness and move toward the elimination of math remediation when students enter Sac State, thereby avoiding the costs and time required to take courses that do not count toward their degree. We owe it to our students.”

Sacramento State and the Sacramento City Unified School District are the primary partners in the Sacramento Mathematics Readiness Challenge Initiative. Additional partners include the San Juan Unified School District, UC Davis’ Mathematics Project, Sacramento County Office of Education, Placer County Office of Education, Sierra College and the Los Rios Community College District.

Grant funds come from the federal Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Program, Title II-A, No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

This story was originally published October 24, 2016 at 12:54 PM with the headline "Sacramento State hopes to keep freshmen from remedial classes with $1.28M grant."