A pathway to begin college math
Transitional Math is a way for high school seniors to complete prerequisite math classes in preparation for college. While these classes do not officially count for college credit, they do meet prerequisite requirements. Upon completion of the class(es), students receive a "portability code" that can be used at public colleges or universities in Illinois they plan to attend.
Classes are held at the high school and in partnership with Black Hawk College, with the portability code available to other institutions for up to 18 months after graduation. BHC will also accept portability codes from other Illinois community college districts.
Information for Students & Guardians
Start with your high school counselor
Students entering 11th grade should discuss with their guidance counselor about determining their anticipated college-level readiness.
- Students projected ready will inform their counselor if they are interested in taking a fourth year of high school math. This fourth year can be Transitional Math or another 12th grade math course, such as dual credit or AP.
- Students not projected ready will inform their counselor if they choose to finish Transitional Math. Upon successful completion of Transitional Math, students will be placed into the appropriate pathway’s college-level math course at Black Hawk College (see FAQ for students). Students deciding against taking Transitional Math or students not successfully finishing the Transitional Math course will be subject to taking a placement test at Black Hawk College.
How the Pathways work
Students at the end of their first semester of 11th grade will be tentatively placed into one of the three pathways (described in FAQ for students) by their high school. Changes will be made on this placement at the end of the students’ 11th grade year, if necessary. Students with an undecided career program will be placed into the Quantitative Literacy & Statistics pathway. Students choosing to take Transitional Math in their 12th grade year will take the pathway in which they were placed.
Acquiring transcripts
The portability code will usually be located on a student’s transcript beside the course or down in an area for comments. A letter grade (not P/F) indicating a 70% or better must be reported on the transcript to be accepted. Seniors completing the entire course will be eligible for the portability code depending on which pathway was used. A summary below shows which courses qualify based on the Transitional Math portability code.
TM001 (STEM pathway)
- Math 108 Statistics for General Education
- Math 110 Math for General Education
- Math 112 College Algebra
TM002 (Quantitative Literacy & Statistics pathway)
- Math 108 Statistics for General Education
- Math 110 Math for General Education
TM003 (Technical Math pathway)
NOTE: No math offered at Black Hawk College under this pathway.
In addition to the grade and portability code, high schools must include the date that the course was completed to allow colleges to calculate an 18-month expiration date of placement.
Portability and transfer information
The lllinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) have put out requirements that high schools must apply for a portability code. Steps are outlined on this page in getting the portability code accepted. See Information for High Schools for how to begin a Transitional Math program.
Frequently Asked Questions from students
1. What is Transitional Math?
The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (PWR Act) includes TM, or Transitional Math. Transitional Math is designed around courses that increase college readiness for high school seniors. Transitional Math guarantees placement a student obtains upon successful completion at all Illinois community colleges and accepting Illinois universities. Community colleges and high schools participate in a partnership to generate courses that unite the required competencies and policies. These courses highlight reliable learning experiences aligned with student careers. The mission is to deliver high school seniors with an experience that is inspiring as well as valuable regarding the college placement achieved. Visit PWR Transitional Math for more information.
2. Who is eligible to take Transitional Math?
Transitional Math courses are intended for seniors who have met the high school math graduation requirements but who are not anticipated to be ready for college-level math by the end of their senior year.
3. How many pathways are there (and how do you know which one is best)?
There are three Transitional Math Pathways: STEM, Quantitative Literacy/Statistics (QL&Stats) and Technical Math.
- The STEM pathway is used to place students in College Algebra (Math 112), Math for General Education (Math 110), Statistics (Math 108) and Technical Math.
- The QL&Stats pathway is designed to place students into Math for General Education (Math 110), Statistics (Math 108) and Technical Math.
- The Technical Math pathway will place students only in Technical Math.
4. What does it mean to be college-ready in math?
A high school junior who has successfully completed state math graduation requirements and meets at least two of the following criteria is anticipated to be ready for college-level coursework in mathematics when incoming to a postsecondary institution in Illinois. This determination is conditional based on enrollment in a senior year of math.
- B or better in Algebra 2
- C or better in a course more advanced than Algebra 2
- GPA of at least 3.0
- Standardized assessment with the minimum required SAT or ACT score
- Placement test score (ALEKS) into college-level math at Black Hawk College
- Teacher and/or advisor recommendation of college-level math in the senior year
A high school junior who has successfully completed state math requirements but has not satisfied at least two of the criteria above will be anticipated as NOT ready for college-level math and will be given Transitional Math opportunities.
5. Are there time limits for placement in the college-level course?
Enrollment in the appropriate college-level math course must happen within 18 months of the Transitional Math course completion as specified on the high school transcript. Students who don’t enroll in a college-level math course within six months of high school graduation may be placed in a co-requisite course alongside their college-level math course.
6. What if a student wants to follow a different pathway once they get to college?
Students who adjust to a path requiring more algebra may take a placement test or be required to take the prerequisite course for the new pathway. They may also qualify to use a substitute option, such as co-requisite courses to quicken that adjustment.
7. What is the advantage to a student who effectively completes a Transitional Math course?
Students who earn a C or better in a Transitional Math course are eligible to enroll in the appropriate college-level math course (see FAQ #4) without any additional placement test or other prerequisite requirement, subject to time limits (see FAQ #5).
Information for High Schools
Transitional Math is part of the Postsecondary Workforce Readiness Act, or PWR Act, (Public Act 99-0674, HB 5729) in Illinois. There are three Transitional Math pathways, each designed for students who are in their junior year of high school and are not projected to be ready for college-level math. The courses are to be taken in a student’s senior year of high school after graduation requirements have been met and will guarantee placement in designated community college math courses. High schools will be required to develop and offer one or more of the three pathways in cooperation with the partner community college. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) must be signed, establishing expectations for all involved. Black Hawk College is ready to help high schools in this process.
Begin a Transitional Math program
- Reach out to Andrew Mansheim at mansheima@bhc.edu to inform him that you're prepared to begin work on your Transitional Math course.
- Select the Transitional Math pathway that best fits the needs of your students.
- Start a plan for developing the course curriculum to meet the competencies outlined by the state. You can choose to develop your own curriculum or use the sample curriculum provided by the state. You will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Black Hawk College.
- Submit your course documentation to the Local Advisory Panel in order to get approval for portability. Portability allows your students to receive placement at all community colleges across the state. Portability documents can be sent to Andrew Mansheim at mansheima@bhc.edu.
High school portability information
Community colleges may submit course partnerships to a state panel for portability. This allows students who finish a Transitional Math course with a C or better to use their guaranteed placement at any community college in the state. Black Hawk College has created a local portability panel to advise on local course policy and submissions for state portability. If you are interested in helping on the panel, please contact Connie McLean (Quad-Cities Campus) at mcleanc@bhc.edu or Andrew Mansheim (East Campus) at mansheima@bhc.edu.
Resources
- State of Illinois Transitional Math Website
- Placement Guidelines (PDF)
- Decision Chart for Transitional Math Eligibility
- Sample Syllabus - Technical Math Pathway (PDF)
- Sample Syllabus - STEM Pathway (PDF)
- Sample Syllabus - Quantitative Literacy/Statistics Pathway (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions from high schools
1. What is Transitional Math?
The Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Act (PWR Act) includes TM, or Transitional Math. Transitional Math is designed around courses that increase college readiness for high school seniors. Transitional Math guarantees placement a student obtains upon successful completion at all Illinois community colleges and accepting Illinois universities. Community colleges and high schools participate in a partnership to generate courses that unite the required competencies and policies. These courses highlight reliable learning experiences aligned with student careers. The mission is to deliver high school seniors with an experience that is inspiring as well as valuable regarding the college placement achieved. Visit PWR Transitional Math for more information.
2. What is a MOU?
A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a document created and signed by both the community college and the partnering high school that provides the framework for the Transitional Math agreement between the two parties. A MOU should contain information on standards, student eligibility, teacher credentials and placement opportunities for Transitional Math courses.
3. Who is eligible to take Transitional Math?
Transitional Math courses are intended for seniors who have met the high school math graduation requirements but who are not anticipated to be ready for college-level math by the end of their senior year.
4. How many pathways are there (and how do you know which one is best)?
There are three Transitional Math pathways: STEM, Quantitative Literacy/Statistics (QL&Stats) and Technical Math.
- The STEM pathway is used to place students in College Algebra (Math 112), Math for General Education (Math 110), Statistics (Math 108) and Technical Math.
- The QL&Stats pathway is designed to place students into Math for General Education (Math 110), Statistics (Math 108) and Technical Math.
- The Technical Math pathway will place students only into Technical Math.
5. Who can teach Transitional Math classes?
Transitional Math teachers must be certified to teach high school math.
6. What does it mean to be college-ready in math?
A high school junior who has successfully completed state math graduation requirements and meets at least two of the following criteria is anticipated to be ready for college-level coursework in mathematics when incoming to a postsecondary institution in Illinois. This determination is conditional based on enrollment in a senior year of math.
- B or better in Algebra 2
- C or better in a course more advanced than Algebra 2
- GPA of at least 3.0
- Standardized assessment with the minimum required SAT or ACT score
- Placement test score (ALEKS) into college-level math at Black Hawk College
- Teacher and/or advisor recommendation of college-level math in the senior year
A high school junior who has successfully completed state math requirements but has not satisfied at least two of the criteria above will be anticipated as NOT ready for college-level math and will be given Transitional Math opportunities.