$Georgia lawmakers have crafted bills that will expand opportunities for students to take advanced math classes and pursue meaningful careers.$

Unleashing Students’ Potential: Georgia Legislators Champion Advanced Math Opportunities

by Marie Ladino | Blog stories, Education | 0 comments

Key Points

The Georgia General Assembly has passed a bill that will create opportunities for students to take advanced math classes earlier in their academic development.
Among other measures, the bill will require automatic enrollment for qualified students to make sure all children have equitable access to the advanced classes. This will help close racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic achievement gaps among young Georgians.
Research shows that students who pass Algebra I by ninth grade are more likely to graduate from high school. They’re also more likely to succeed in college, accept meaningful jobs, and become financially stable.

Legislators in the Georgia General Assembly have unanimously passed the Math Matters Act (HB 1030), a bill that will transform the way math is taught in the state. It will open doors for students to receive a high-quality math education and ultimately shape the direction of their lives.

The Act brings significant updates to Georgia schools, including the adoption of new math standards, increases in the amount of time spent on math during the elementary school day, an advanced (compressed and accelerated) math track for qualifying students, and new requirements for teacher certifications.

The changes will prepare students to take high school-level math classes like Algebra I in middle school and, if desired, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The legislation is based in part on recommendations from the Georgia Center for Opportunity (GCO), with additional support from ExcelinEd and GeorgiaCAN. The opportunities it creates will pave the way to fulfilling jobs, economic opportunity, and brighter futures for participating students, and especially for young African Americans, Latinos, and girls, who haven’t traditionally received significant STEM education.

“GCO has helped lead the charge in crafting this bill to bring more opportunity to all of Georgia’s students. A strong math education will empower young Georgians to reach their full potential and flourish in their careers and lives.”

Buzz Brockway

Vice President of Policy, Georgia Center for Opportunity

What Are the Key Elements of This Bill?

The Math Matters Act establishes several important measures to help students become proficient in math earlier in their academic development.

School Requirements

In elementary schools, fourth and fifth graders will receive at least 60 minutes of core math instruction every day.
School districts will design advanced math classes for students in grades 6-10.

Automatic Enrollment
School districts will automatically enroll students in the advanced math courses if they meet the qualifications.

Parents or guardians will have the option to withdraw their child from the classes if they think the standard math track is a better fit.
Parents of students who don’t qualify for the advanced math classes will still be able to enroll their child if the student’s score on the previous year’s math assessment is above a certain level.

Revised Teacher Certification Requirements
The bill updates teacher certification requirements to make sure that all teachers are trained in developmentally appropriate, evidence-based math curriculums.

Supportive Student Services
The bill grants school systems the ability to offer tutoring or bridge programs to support students in the faster-paced courses.

Annual Reporting
Georgia’s Department of Education will publish annual reports on student demographics, enrollment, and test scores to make sure the advanced math curriculum is meeting its equity and achievement goals.

How Will Students Qualify for the Advanced Math Classes?

Students who receive high scores on statewide end-of-grade math assessments will be eligible for the advanced classes during the following school year.

What Types of Classes Will Students Take as Part of the New Curriculum?

Students on the advanced math track will be able to complete high school-level math classes—usually Algebra I—by the time they finish eighth grade. They’ll then be ready to tackle subjects like calculus in high school.

When Will the Advanced Math Courses Be Available?

The changes to math curriculums will go into effect for the 2027-2028 school year.

What Impact Will Automatic Enrollment Have?

Automatic enrollment supports equitable access to the advanced math track by removing barriers like possible teacher bias, a student’s lack of confidence, or participation fees. In the past, obstacles like these have sometimes prevented qualified but traditionally underserved students from setting foot on advanced academic pathways.

Barriers to early educational opportunity are still being reflected in the composition of our nation’s workforce. For example, a recent report from the National Science Foundation revealed that the nation’s STEM workers were:

62.9% white
14.8% Hispanic
9.5% Asian American
8.2% Black
4.3% multi-racial
0.3% American Indian or Alaska Native

And just 18% of working women in the United States held a STEM job, per the report.

Opening doors to all students and exposing them to challenging math coursework early in their academic development can help close racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic achievement gaps and pave the way for young people’s future success and upward mobility.

How Can Advanced Math Classes Build Bridges to Opportunity?

Research indicates that students who pass Algebra I by ninth grade are twice as likely to graduate from high school. They’re also more likely to succeed in college and then accept meaningful jobs in STEM fields, which are critical to the nation’s economic success. And outside of work, the essential skills math teaches—analytical, logical, and problem-solving skills—will empower young people to serve as engaged members of their communities.

The advanced math track will give young Georgians the chance to experience the sense of dignity and purpose that comes from rewarding work—both academic and professional. And for students who are part of vulnerable families, this opportunity sets the stage for them to break out of generational cycles of poverty and to achieve their full potential. Their success will then ripple out, transforming their future families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.