> Our work on education goes back to the foundation’s earliest days, and our focus on improving math skills goes back almost as far. Although there are many factors that affect a student’s trajectory, the evidence shows that it’s extremely important for them to succeed in math. For example, those who pass Algebra I by ninth grade are twice as likely to graduate from high school and more likely to go on to college, get a bachelor’s degree, and go on to a high-paying career. And those who don’t complete Algebra I have just a one-in-five chance of graduating from high school.
This looks a lot like correlation/causation confusion. Inability to understand basic algebra seems like it would be strongly correlated with learning disabilities or significantly below average IQ. Getting more students to squeak by with a barely passing grade won't fix those underlying issues.