What does it mean for students to be "ready for algebra"?

Students with a strong track record in mathematics through seventh grade who exhibit understanding in key pre-algebra concepts may be considered by their teachers and schools to be prepared for the course. Some of those pre-algebra concepts are shown below, in a list of prerequisite skills for Class.com’s Algebra I course.

Student Readiness Indicators- Mathematics Prerequisites for Success in Algebra I:

• Works flexibly with fractions, decimals, and percents to solve problems 
• Compares and orders fractions, decimals, integers and percents efficiently and finds their approximate locations on a number line;
• Computes with integers, decimals, fractions, and mixed numbers, and has develop fluency in their use;
• Uses factors, multiples, prime factorization, and relatively prime numbers to solve problems;
• Works flexibly with ratios and proportions to solve problems;
• Finds length, area, volume, and angle measures;
• Has developed an initial conceptual understanding of different uses of variables; and
• Solves 1-step equations using the four basic operations.

These prerequisites are provided as a guideline to schools, and it is up to each participating school to decide which of their entering eighth graders are ready for algebra. That is, each school, not the study team, will decide which of their students is eligible for the Virtual Algebra course.The study team will work with each school to document the decision-making process but will not interfere with schools’ decisions about what is best for their students.