Alabamians knock rust off math skills

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The recession has caused many Alabamians to return to school, and many have rusty math skills.

A new report from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education says a record 9.7 percent of undergraduates at Alabama's colleges and universities took remedial math courses in the fall. That's up for 8.4 percent a year earlier.

Research director Diane Sherman told The Birmingham News that the increase is the result of older students returning to school and swelling the ranks of undergraduate students. The fastest growing age group in remedial classes is 40 to 49.