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Originally Posted by reuben_tate

At my high school, Algebra is typically taught in the 9th grade. If a student is more mathematically inclined they may take Algebra in the 8th grade. Students that end up taking Algebra in the 9th grade still have the capability of leaving with an education up to trigonometry and some pre-calculus knowledge

This actually *is* better than the standards in some states, but what's important is that it's far below the standards in other states, and also far below the standards in other countries that we are supposed to be competing with on an intellectual level. How are we going to keep up with China when we are assuming our own kids can't even handle division until 6th grade? And since the plan is to give federal funding, nationwide, to public schools that follow this curriculum, anyone with a better system can't just follow the better one instead. It would literally cost them money they don't have.

Originally Posted by reuben_tate

So for students who don't plan to get a career in a heavy math-oriented field, it's not really necessary to possess the knowledge from Calculus.

It's not about being in a "heavy math-oriented field". Basic calculus knowledge actually is very useful for almost every field involving abstract calculations (e.g. engineering, architecture, any hard science...). Because of that, for college you simply need a certain amount of math, and not even starting it in high school means that colleges have to waste time getting people up to a basic level they should already be at.