Places like Massachusetts and California were making this move in the name of equity. These districts were observing that advanced courses tended to be dominated by white and Asian students

that’s like legalizing crime so there’s no more crime? 

 I think it's more because it's too hard to teach today's youth algebra and there's also a shortage of qualified teachers who can teach it. But equity is as good a reason as any to deny a whole generation a plethora of science based careers.