CV parents want choice in math instruction

The temperature hovered at 104 degrees in the Central Valley School District’s parking lot before Monday’s board meeting. But for the 60 parents and students gathered there, the topic wasn’t the weather – it was the district’s math curriculum.

The group met to discuss what they see as inadequacies in the district’s Core-Plus Mathematics curriculum.

“The district’s mission statement says they meet the needs of all students. They’re not doing that,” said parent Jon Keeve.

During the meeting, several people from the group asked the board members to give students the option of traditional math classes as well as the Core-Plus curriculum.

In 2002, the Central Valley district replaced its algebra, geometry and calculus classes with Core-Plus, an inquiry-based program where students use critical thinking to find answers to problems.

Currently, East Valley High School and Lakeside High School in the Nine Mile School District are the only Spokane County schools offering a choice of Core-Plus or traditional math courses.

In February, Spokane Public Schools entered the “math wars” when it adopted Core-Plus Mathematics for grades nine through 12.

These math wars develop as districts all over the country work to bring students up to federally mandated standards and provisions under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Integrated math, or new math, seems to be favored by many math educators. On the other side are mathematicians, parent groups and technical professionals, who tend to prefer traditional math.

Marla Lucas, a parent in the district, told the board that 280 people have signed a petition asking for the option of a traditional math curriculum. “Students deserve a choice,” said Lucas, who went on to say that the current curriculum doesn’t meet the needs of students who want to pursue careers that need an in-depth mathematics background.

Shannon Overbay, a mathematics professor at Gonzaga University, told the board that even “A students” who enroll in engineering often aren’t able to pass calculus and physics because they lack basic math skills, so they switch to non-technical majors. “These (career) decisions are made for them before they arrive,” said Overbay.

“We’re constantly evaluating our instructional practices, making sure we’re providing the best curriculum for our kids,” said Terrie VanderWegen, executive director of learning and teaching for the CV district.

The district is looking at the College Readiness Mathematics Standards, a new study put together by school district and college representatives from across the state. “We’re making sure that our curriculum is matched up with these standards,” said VanderWegen.

Mike Pearson, district superintendent, said they have met with representatives from the parents’ group, math teachers from Central Valley and University high schools and math professors from both private and public universities.

They’ve also been working with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Marty Daybell, assistant superintendent of information technology services for OSPI, will come here and meet with the district in the near future.

Central Valley plans to invite other districts making math curriculum decisions and those using Core-Plus to participate in the forum. Following these meetings, Daybell will meet with parent groups.

“He (Daybell) has looked at a lot of the different programs and feels that Core-Plus really meets the needs of students. He has agreed to meet with us to help us determine how to meet the needs of that 10 percent of kids who want to be mathematicians,” said VanderWegen.

Shaun Brown, of Parents for Math Matters, said she attended most of the meetings Pearson talked about, and it’s always the same message: They’re going to talk about it further. The parents want some action taken.

David Crump told the board that their group wants pre-calculus and eighth-grade algebra offered this fall with a full suite of courses no later than fall 2007. They also want to be able to get math credits for alternative online classes that students are taking to supplement their current curriculum.

Brown said they want the board to look at the middle and high schools and find a way to add these traditional courses to their schedules.

“We did not hear that at the meeting, and I don’t know how we will hear that unless one of the board members feels strongly enough about it that they say to the rest of the board ‘Let’s not talk about it further. The data is here, the information is here, and let’s take action,’ ” said Brown.