The Boston Globe – Laura Krantz
“Nearly two-thirds of all community college students and nearly a quarter of those at state universities in Massachusetts test into remedial math classes, according to a 2013 study by the state Department of Higher Education. Of those who take remedial courses, according to the data, only 1 in 5 goes on to complete a college-level math class and many never earn degrees. State officials call this the Bermuda Triangle of remedial math — where students struggle to pass and often give up — and consider it one of the most pressing issues facing public higher education today. “If we don’t get this right, nothing else is going to really work. We’re just going to continue to lose students at an incredible pace,” said Carlos Santiago, who started Wednesday as commissioner of higher education, replacing retiring commissioner Richard Freeland. To reverse the trend, state education officials last fall launched a period of experimentation, giving colleges and universities latitude to try new approaches to help students succeed. Eighteen campuses are participating, and so far, results are promising. In the next two years they hope to find a solution to apply statewide.”(more)