Judge blocks algebra mandate

A Superior Court judge Tuesday blocked the state’s new eighth-grade algebra mandate. The temporary restraining order puts the policy on hold until at least mid-December, when Judge Shellyanne W.L. Chang will hear arguments from both sides.

The suit, filed by the California Schools Boards Assn. and the Assn. of California School Administrators, argued that the state Board of Education adopted the mandate in an illegal manner. The plaintiffs have also insisted that the algebra strategy is misguided and underfunded.

The state board approved the algebra policy in July under pressure from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose office said he remained confident that it would survive the court challenge.

-- Howard Blume