Data Science Foundations Course
The Need for Data Science
Contemporary mathematics education has not been keeping up with the rapid emergence of data and computing. Looking at the world’s job market, many fields deal with big data sets. According to research, a vast majority of faster-growing job categories include data-centered, well-paid, exciting and challenging jobs. To help students thrive in data-related fields of education or careers, students should be exposed not only to Statistics and Probability but also be well-equipped with a basic understanding of data science. It is evident that students who develop data fluency are better prepared for 21
st century careers.
What is Data Science?
Data science is a blend of quantitative reasoning, statistics and computer science to gain meaningful insights from data. The difference between data science and statistics is that where statistics focuses on explaining the data, data science focuses on using data to make predictions and decisions. Students will reason with and think critically about data in all forms. They will develop their understanding of data analysis, sampling, correlation/causation, bias and uncertainty, probability, modeling with data, making and evaluating data-based arguments, the power of data in society and more.
Data Science
Description of Data Science Foundations Course
The Data Science Foundations course teaches students to reason with and think critically about data in all forms. Ohio’s Learning Standards for Mathematics relevant to data science are taught along with the data demands of good citizenship in the 21st century. The course addresses Ohio’s High School Statistics and Probability and Practice for Modeling standards as well as Computer Science Standards. Additionally, the course fuses mathematics with computer science using online data analysis tools such as Google Spreadsheets and the Common Online Data Analysis Platform (CODAP). The students will also be introduced to data analysis using the programming language of Python and R.
Background
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is partnering with the Ohio Department of Higher Education and Ohio Math Initiative to create courses that will satisfy the credit requirement for Algebra 2. Several groups were formed: (1) An advisory council, made up of representatives from a variety of education organizations; (2) Math Pathways Architects, made up of higher education and high school math faculty; and (3) course-specific workgroups.
The advisory council focused on communication and supports surrounding systems and structures. The Math Pathways Architects group is focusing on aligning the math pathways between high school and college and career. These groups proposed a Data Science Foundations course as an Algebra 2-equivalent course.
Target Students
The Data Science Foundations course is beneficial for students who needs a third or fourth credit in mathematics and is not intending to pursue a career that requires calculus. It is appropriate for students with limited or no prior programming, statistics, and data analytics knowledge. The Data Science Foundations course is ideal for absolute beginners, who want to acquire a basic working knowledge of data science. It is designed to be a hands-on course that promotes reasoning and the standards for mathematical practice.
This course would be especially appropriate for a student with the following characteristics:
- Anticipating a career in behavioral sciences;
- Anticipating a career in the emerging fields of Computer Science, Computational Data Analysis or/and Statistics;
- Is interested in applied fields of study which use mathematics;
- Enjoys exploring engaging, real-world issues involving data;
- Desires to become a better-informed citizen;
- Pursuing a pathway that does not require calculus; and/or
- Pursuing computer technology or STEM fields in a postsecondary institution.
Students who succeed in this course may take an Algebra 2 (or other equivalent) course, College Credit Plus (CCP) course or Advanced Placement (AP) math course for their fourth unit of mathematics credit. Although students who take this course have flexibility in which follow-up math courses they take, this course pairs especially well with AP Statistics and Probability, AP Computer Science, a CCP Introductory Statistics course, a CCP Quantitative Reasoning course, or a CCP Data Science course. Although, there are many careers in data science that do not require Calculus, if students become interested in an advanced degree in data science, they may want to consider pursuing the Calculus pathway and take an Algebra 2 course or CCP College Algebra course.
Registration Process
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, in partnership with the Ohio Educational Service Center Association (OESCA), is providing opportunities to expand the High School Mathematics Pathways Initiative to support districts for the 2025-2026 school year.
COMPLETE ONE REGISTRATION FORM FOR EACH SCHOOL IF:
- The school is offering this Algebra 2 equivalent course for the first time in 2025-26.
- The school offered this Algebra 2 equivalent course for the first time in 2024-25*.
- The school has offered this Algebra 2 equivalent course previously, but the course will be taught by a teacher new to the course who has not completed training.
Before applying, you may choose to review the Algebra 2 Equivalent Course Readiness Checklist. The checklist is to encourage your school and community to consider a broad range of factors when considering adding an Algebra 2 equivalent course.
You will be asked for the following information [view a read-only PDF registration form for reference only]:
- LEA (school building) information
- Contact information for building principal/assistant principal
- Contact information of teachers/specialists who will participate in teaching or supporting the course (including e-mail)
- Contact information for LEA authorized representative
- Plan for participation in the 2025-26 school year (first-time applicant, returning, new teacher)
To help support a more successful implementation, professional development will be required for all teachers participating in the course. Teachers will be expected to attend a summer workshop and ongoing professional development throughout the school year.
For questions, email Yelena Palayeva at Mathematics@education.ohio.gov.
Registration Information and Materials
Resources
Last Modified: 10/17/2025 11:20:48 AM