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What is Transitional Math?
What is Transitional Math?
Transitional Math courses are designed to increase college readiness for high school seniors. TM courses are one of three major elements of the Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Act, which calls for these courses to be designed and maintained in collaboration between community colleges and the high schools within their districts.
Transitional math courses use problem-based instructional design to allow students to revisit and master previously taught math
The Transitional Mathematics courses in Community College District 509 were developed with the following partners:
Elgin Community College
CUSD 300
CUSD 301
CUSD 303
SD U-46
You can find a great deal of additional information about PWR and Transitional Math at the PWR Transitional Math website
Each TM instructor will attend a TM Orientation session the first year that they teach TM.
See recent training materials here
Contact your TM Liaison if you need this training session
Who Should Take Transitional Math?
Who Should Take Transitional Math?
Students should be advised to take the Transitional Math course that is appropriate for their intended college major and/or career pathway. While Transition to College Algebra (TCA) provides students with the broadest range of career options, not all students meet Illinois's eligibility requirements for TCA. Therefore, high schools must consider both a student's skill level as well as aptitude in advising the appropriate TM course.
Information for Faculty to Share with Parents and Students
Please review these student-facing documents and share with your TM students as appropriate:
Share with students who are not planning to attend a community college: Which 4-year universities accept TM courses for math placement?
Share with 11th graders BEFORE they register for 12th grade TM courses: Which TM course best aligns to students' career path?
Share with TM students at the beginning of the year: Why Your Transitional Course Matters
Share with TM students near the end of the course if they are planning to enroll at ECC: Instructions for Registering at ECC while enrolled in a TM course
Transitional Math Student Feedback Survey. Please have students complete this survey before the end of the course.
How Does Transitional Math Benefit Students?
How Does Transitional Math Benefit Students?
Students who have not demonstrated readiness for college math will likely be required to take math placement tests when they start their college coursework and may need to take two or more developmental math courses before beginning their college math process. However, students who successfully complete Transitional Math with a C or better will earn automatic placement into appropriate college-level math courses at any Illinois community college and at some 4-year institutions.
The PWR Act identifies three MATH PATHWAYS for students to choose based on their career interests. The chart below summarizes the potential career fields relevant to each TM course as well as the Elgin Community College math courses to which successful TM students gain access
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