Challenges in Studying Opportunities to Learn Algebra and to Teach Algebra in Secondary Teacher Education Programs

For more than a century, algebra has served as both a foundation for higher mathematics and a gatekeeper for entrance to careers and college course work. The majority of states now require completion of Algebra I or Algebra II for high school graduation; many students now begin their study of algebra in Grade 8. In the past three decades, scholars and professional organizations have also made recommendations for changes in what algebra should be taught and how it should be taught. Mandates about who should take algebra and when, and debates about the algebra curriculum and instruction have raised questions about what algebra future teachers should know and how they should teach algebra. A natural question is “How and to what extent are pre-service teachers being prepared to teach algebra in this changing landscape?”