California has made a deal with the Feds: we’ll take your money in exchange for lowered educational standards. That’s why it has just announced that it’s lowering math requirements, adopting Common Core standards  As a result, California–and other states–will now cease requiring algebra for 8th graders.

From the Daily Caller:

California will no longer require eighth-graders to take algebra — a move that is line with the Common Core standards being adopted by most states, but that may leave students unprepared for college. 

Last month, California formally shifted to the Common Core mathematics standards, which recommend that students delay taking algebra if they aren’t ready for it. Previously, algebra class was a requirement for all eighth-graders in the state.

Oregon is well on the path to fully adopting these “Common Core” standards. See the video below to discover why some people oppose these federal standards.

The money to come up with these “Common Core” standards came originally from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The video below explains why the federal Education Department’s consultants decided to start with math instead of more politically sensitive programs.