It turns out that ninth graders who have trouble learning algebra benefit from sitting through two consecutive classses covering the subject. At least that is one conclusion coming out of work by researchers from the University of Chicago. “Double-dosing had an immediate impact on student performance in algebra, increasing the proportion of students earning at least a B by 9.4 percentage points, or more than 65%,” notes an article written by the two researchers in a journal called Education NextAbout ninth graders passed the double-dose course at the same rate as in ordinary algebra classes, but the mean scores of those who take the more intense version are higher, the researchers note.
One other good outcome: the double dose classes improved high school graduation and college enrollment rates for some of the students who didn't do well in algebra.