The Board of Education approved three proposed math courses and textbooks for the seventh grade Monday night, which will alter the district’s math sequence from that grade up until students graduate from high school.
“Current seniors have 10 options in math,” said superintendent Deborah Low. “Under the new sequence, they will have seven options, and six of them will be more advanced.
“The topics lost at the senior level will be taught earlier,” she said. “The goal is to provide kids with a better experience and a stronger foundation.”
Assistant Superintendent Kimberly Beck presented the proposal on March 24 and told the board that one of the goals for the new programs would be to create a “track,” or sequence, that ensures that calculus and statistics can be attainable, and available, for every student before high school graduation.
Some board members thought that would set an unachievable goal and wanted a satisfactory scale to measure the program’s success.
On Monday, Ms. Low settled that debate and said the initial goal for the new math sequence would be to make the advanced courses attainable for 85% to 90% of all high school seniors.
“Of course there’s room for growth,” she said.
The proposed textbook switch will cost the district $35,000.
The book Ms. Beck selected from four options is Math in Focus from Singapore Math — the same textbook series the board approved to implement in the sixth grade this year.