IntroductionHouse Bill 5 is a dense legislative bill that outlines new graduation requirements for Texas High Schools. The bill specifically addresses four focus areas, including: curriculum, assessment, accountability, and higher education (Texas Association of School Administrators). One of the bill's most controversial proposals is eliminating the Algebra II requirement for students to graduate. Algebra II is still a course required by most colleges for admission. This means that students who choose not to take Algebra II are students who do not intend to attend college immediately after high school. Many opponents believe the bill negatively impacts at-risk students, who fear they will not be able to take higher-level math courses because of the new requirements. In fact, the bill offers alternative higher-level mathematics courses such as statistics and reasoning that will better prepare students planning to enter the workforce after graduation (Glennie, Bonneau, Vandellen, Dodge, 2013). The fairly recent idea of ​​“college for all” is not practical for every student, and the rigor and push toward college has led to an irrelevant curriculum for many young people. As a result, in recent years we have seen an increase in at-risk student dropout rates (“Completion, Graduation and Dropouts”). HB5 is fundamental in the field of social welfare. She pushes us to give all students the opportunity to graduate from high school and recognizes that each student is unique, with different learning styles and has different goals in life. It sends the message that all professions are valued in our society, not just careers that require college degrees. Historical Context Lyndon B. Johnson launched h...... middle of paper ...... Glennie, E. K., Bonneau, K., Vandellen, M., & Dodge, K. Addition by subtraction: the relationship between rates of school dropout and academic achievement at the school level, PubMedCommons, 114, 1-26. Hammond, B. (Editor). (2013). Ed publishes: Testimony of HB5 Bill Hammonds in the United States of America: Youtube.com.Robelen, E.W. (2013). Algebra II questions arise for all students. EducationWeek, 32(35), 1-30. Smith, M., & Ura, A. (2014, January 31). SBOE votes to repeal Algebra II as graduation requirement. Texas Tribune Summary.TASA HB5. (2013, January 1). . Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.tasanet.org/cms/lib07/TX01923126/Centricity/Domain/4/hb5-summary.pdf Texas Education Agency -. Retrieved March 16, 2014, from http://www.tea.state.tx.us/index2.aspx?id=25769806149 Texas HB5 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature (LegiScan)http://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB5/2013