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Nonprofit Excel and Ed urges automatic enrollment and policy changes to expand access to advanced math
Summary
Excel and Ed presented a 50‑state policy scan (MathMatters), argued for guaranteed access to advanced math via automatic enrollment, and noted Tennessee currently allows districts to opt out, limiting uniform access.
Tim Flatley, policy director for math at Excel and Ed, presented findings from a 50‑state scan (mathmatters.org) and emphasized that improving early math has outsized long‑term benefits. He highlighted national NAEP data showing many students below proficiency and said Tennessee, while above national averages, still leaves large shares of students behind.
Flatley recommended policies to guarantee access to advanced math—such as automatic enrollment in 8th‑grade Algebra I based on state assessment scores—and cited Texas data showing increased access for historically underrepresented students after automatic enrollment policies. He told the committee Tennessee’s scan rated guaranteed access as ‘yellow’ because districts may opt out. "This policy uses summative exams that are already in place with little to no cost to enact and implement," Flatley said. Department staff confirmed that if a district does not offer an advanced course, it cannot enroll students in that course.
