By Stephen Luckey ‘15

Recently, the State of Maryland has implemented a new policy that requires high school students to take four years of math to be admitted into state universities. This rule will be initially effective for the Class of 2015. Additionally, starting with the Class of 2018, all Maryland high school students must complete four years of math to graduate high school, no matter what college they’d like to go to.

The policy was developed in order to increase rigor for students and help them adapt academically to college after high school. Across the nation, there have been complaints that incoming freshman frequently need remedial math before enrolling. Universities worry that preparation has dropped and will be inadequate to succeed at the college level. “There’s not the opt-out option anymore for anyone in Maryland,” said Jack R. Smith, chief academic officer for the Maryland State Department of Education, in an article in the Washington Post.