Students who graduate with a college degree in a STEM field are well-positioned for careers where they will make high wages.

But community college students can’t get a STEM degree or even transfer to a university without first passing calculus. That’s been a huge hurdle for many students, especially Black, Latino and Pell Grant students.

Some studies have shown that students who start college with calculus, rather than preparatory courses, are more likely to pass the course. The California Community College system, spurred by AB 1705, a new law that takes effect in 2025, is pushing its 116 campuses to place more STEM students directly into Calculus.

Some community college students and math faculty are concerned that this push will leave students unprepared for the advanced math they need for their STEM majors. But other math professors who are early adopters say that they’re optimistic that this law is exactly what California students need to get on track for success in STEM fields.

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Education Beat is a weekly podcast. This episode is hosted by EdSource's Emma Gallegos and produced by Coby McDonald.