Next Steps Nevada

This blog was authored by members of the Launch Years Initiative in Nevada. Through the Launch Years Initiative, states learn with and from each other as they work to align mathematics pathways from high school into postsecondary education.

Why Nevada Needs Better Math Pathways

For too long, traditional college math has served as a barrier rather than a bridge—especially for students whose degree goals don’t require calculus. 

In Nevada, data from 2016 revealed that 67% of Nevada students at two-year colleges and 27% at four-year colleges were placed into remedial math. Students who did not take math in their first year were also much less likely to graduate. It was clear that the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) needed to shift toward pathways that meet students where they are and help them succeed.

Fifteen Years of Math Reform in Nevada

2010 – 2018: A Focus on Remedial Reform

• Nevada began reforming math education in 2010 with the launch of a statewide Remedial Transformation Project. By 2012, a report was published and the Board approved policies for standardized placement scores and multiple measures. During this period, all NSHE institutions worked to redesign courses, shorten remedial pathways, and explore early corequisite models to improve student outcomes.

2019 – Present: A Statewide Corequisite and College-Ready Gateway Policy

• The move toward a statewide corequisite policy began in 2019. This policy eliminated stand-alone remediation and required all students to enroll in a college-level math course during their first year. NSHE achieved full-scale, systemwide corequisite implementation in Fall 2021—despite the added challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Data has shown substantial improvements in course completion rates. Encouraging results from the first three years of implementation indicate an increase in students earning a C or better in their gateway math course within their first two semesters—across all institutions and student populations, including when disaggregated by Pell recipient status, age, sex, and race/ethnicity. For an analysis of early outcomes and a more detailed timeline of task force activities, see Corequisite Implementation and Early Results in Nevada. For current data, visit NSHE’s Gateway Course Enrollment and Completions dashboard.

Coming Together for the Next Phase

Despite improvements in gateway course student success under the corequisite model, it is important to acknowledge that for some NSHE students, additional support is still needed to ensure their success. With a commitment to continuous improvement and the goal of helping even more students succeed, NSHE joined the Charles A. Dana Center’s Launch Years Initiative in September 2023. A diverse and task force was created, bringing together representatives from:

• College of Southern Nevada
• Great Basin College
• Nevada State University
• Truckee Meadows Community College
• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Western Nevada College
• Nevada System of Higher Education
• Nevada Department of Education

Over 16 months, this task force collaborated to rethink the state's approach to gateway math, and four recommendations were proposed to ensure students are placed in pathways that match their career goals. 

The Four Key Recommendations

#1. Shift the Mindset

Recommendation: Promote the idea that math is for everyone.
Math should feel like a “productive, enjoyable, and collaborative struggle,” not a gatekeeper. Nevada leaders and educators are working to change how students see math—by training advisors to have better conversations with students, sharing real stories from math faculty and state leaders, and collaborating with K–12 educators to build excitement about math from the start.

Benefits:   

• ✅ Students see math as less daunting   
• ✅ More students complete their math courses on time   
• ✅ Cross-institutional collaboration makes math relevant for every discipline

#2. Launch a Statewide Statistics/Data Science Pathway

Recommendation: Create a dedicated statistics and data science pathway for students whose fields rely on data and analysis, not traditional calculus.

Nevada is working to make this pathway clearer and more accessible—by refining existing courses, aligning curriculum with other disciplines, and ensuring students can succeed without algebra or precalculus as a barrier.

Benefits:

• ✅ More relevant content for a wider range of majors
• ✅ Greater confidence and engagement for students
• ✅ Opportunities for dual enrollment and credit for AP Statistics

#3. Standardize Math Placement Across Institutions

Recommendation: Develop a systemwide, standardized approach for gateway math placement using multiple measures.

Currently, each institution uses different placement methods—creating confusion, especially for students who transfer. By forming a statewide task force of math faculty and academic leaders, Nevada will design a placement system that combines ACT/SAT scores, high school GPA, placement exams like ALEKS, and other proven measures to more accurately place students into math courses.

Benefits:  

• ✅ Consistent placement and messaging for students, families, and advisors  
• ✅ Placement at one institution carries over to others, making transfer simpler  
• ✅ Better alignment with common course numbering already used across the system

#4. Strengthen and Modernize the STEM Math Pathway

Recommendation: Refine the STEM pathway to better prepare students for advanced studies and careers in fields like biology, chemistry, and engineering.

This includes revising curriculum to integrate statistical and real-world applications, reducing class sizes for more effective learning, providing structured advising, and expanding support like tutoring and math aides. It also means using active learning and technology to make math more engaging and relevant.

Benefits:  

• ✅ Courses are more practical, engaging, and aligned with students’ future careers  
• ✅ Students understand the math requirements tied to different majors before switching paths  
• ✅ Faculty can deliver deeper, higher-quality instruction, with students better prepared for real-world problem-solving. 

Dig Deeper into the Recommendations

Further explore the Next Steps Nevada recommendations. Math pathways that meet students where they are —and take them where they want to go.