The expectations in the area of Algebra are perhaps the most ambitious of those in any strand. This document calls for a substantial emphasis on algebra in the middle grades, and assumes a very strong foundation in number concepts and operations as the basis for that algebra emphasis. With most of the major conceptual and computational work in number well underway and nearly complete by the end of sixth grade, an emphasis on algebra is possible. The expectations included here are intended to enable all students to have a solid grounding in the fundamental areas of algebra, including functions and the use of algebraic symbols and tools, by the end of the eighth grade. As in all other strands, students will be proficient when they have not only procedural fluency with certain techniques, but also a strong conceptual base for understanding the key ideas of algebra. Early work in number, particularly understanding of number properties and the operations’ relationships with one another (in gray text), is central to understanding algebra in a more formal way. Likewise, emphasis on number patterns can provide a useful basis on which to build the concepts of function.