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>> The point of all this is to ask: have they lowered what the standards of what is taught in college math classes or is College Algebra basically a review of Alg II?

My wife and I home school as well ... we both have degrees in mathematics and computer science, thus we stress math and science in our household. Personally I have done significant research in math curricula and I am currently developing one from scratch. The short answer to your question is many colleges have lowered the standards of what is taught in college math classes. They have also lowered the standards of what is expected of students entering science and engineering majors. This varies from college to college. MIT for instance requires students to take calculus or place out of calculus their first freshman term. However, most colleges have general math and algebra courses. Anyone with average intelligence, motivation, and a good teacher can master algebra by their early high school years.

My wife and I home school as well ... we both have degrees in mathematics and computer science, thus we stress math and science in our household.

I think home schooling is only good for those who would very likely make it anyhow. In this area of the country, a typical family often consists of one teenage mother middle school dropout who speaks no English, knows no math and has 2 or 3 kids by age 18. It's sad but her kids are not likely to do as well as your kids -- homeschooled or public schooled. The illegimacy and child poverty rate is growing.