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The Highline school board is scheduled to vote on the adoption of new high school texts. The math adoption study team, comprised of about 10 middle and high school math teachers, one principal and district curriculum advisers, voted unanimously to approve Discovering Math. The final step is the approval from the school board. This vote is on the agenda for Wednesday, June 24th. This is the same text book series that Seattle School district just voted on adopting and has since been in the news. See www.seattlepi.com (5/7) Controversial math textbooks adopted by Seattle schools. Some Seattle parents are also filing a law suit on the adoption of these texts. Jill Wunch, HCPTSA President, and myself, HCPTSA Vice President, expressed concern that the math text book debate is highly charged, and that we believed that parent input was insufficient for the vote to be held. We submitted this PTA legislative platform, priority #2, to the Highline school board members Strengthening Math and Science Curriculum and Education: The Washington State PTA shall initiate and/or support legislation and/or policies that strengthen math and science education by 1) providing students access to curricula that has clear examples and explanations, aligns with the new WA math and science standards and national math panel recommendations which include a focused, coherent progression that emphasizes key topics key topics to prepare students for success in authentic algebra and geometry and simultaneously develops conceptual understanding; computational fluency in basic number facts, standard algorithms, and fractions; and problem-solving skills. Parent involvement in all phases of math/science curriculum adoption is critical. 2) implementing initiatives to attract, train, and retain qualified math/science teachers 3) providing students who are able to excel in math/science opportunities to advance quickly. The board delayed the vote and the district arranged for two more parent/community meetings. At the board meeting June 10th, I addressed the board with continued concerns. Attached to this communication is my address. The Highline PTSA council just learned of the math adoption process late in the school year, and because of this, we were unable to meet and give this issue due justice. We are also in the middle of changing over officers. The HCPTSA has not been able organize an official recommendation to endorse or oppose these books. We continue to make sure the school board understands our frustration with the lack of parent involvement from the beginning of this process. Since my letter I found two more districts that have announced they are considering the Discovering Math series. Both Bellevue and Issaquah have exceptional web sites that clearly define the process they've undergone. Here are the links to the two districts. I also included a link to the Issaquah Council PTSA for more information. Bellevue School district - http://www.bsd405.org/Portals/0/curriculum/Documents/High%20School%20Math%20Adopt%20Q%20&%20A%20for%20the%20Web.pdf Issaquah school district - http://www.issaquah.wednet.edu/academics/adoption/discovering.aspx Issaquah Council PTSA - http://www.issaquahptsa.org/legislation/ One note in particular is the scheduled work study session in Issaquah, on June 24th, with an expert math panelist to discuss the proposed adoption. That would be an interesting event to attend. For those of you that are unfamiliar with these books, here is a link to chapter 3 in the Discovering Algebra series. http://www.keypress.com/documents/da2/Sampler%20PDFs/Chapters/DA2CS_SE.pdf Also, I have an interesting comparison of how two different text book series teach one math concept. This was provided to me from the Shoreline Math adoption team that parents served on and put together. I don't fully agree with the comments, but I find it of interest anyway. I'm sending it to you so you can get a sense of the difference in pedagogy. The Shoreline math adoption team is recommending the Prentice Hall series. Discovering Math was found acceptable by a study done by OSPI in 2008. To view the link go to However, a subsequent study done by the State Board of Education, using mathematicians as reviewers found "Discovering Math was the weakest with all three areas (A-G-A) considered inadequate." Mathematicians noted that Discovering Math was "mathematically unsound". To view the report click on this SBE link, and go to question #4. In my attempt to update you on this issue, I want to make it clear that I have no intention, whatsoever, in discrediting our math adoption team. I know several of the teachers on that team, some have had my children as students. They are exceptional teachers and would never endorse a text that does not serve our community well. They've worked very hard to find the right book for our students. But, with the reaction that we see out there, there is a disconnect. The disconnect seems to be with parents that have different expectations at home (as they have experienced with elementary school TERC and middle CMP), and university math, and applied math professors that are finding more and more students unprepared for the rigor of their studies. This is where the discussion needs to be. If you have anything to comment on about this adoption, please send your comments to the school board before the June 24th scheduled meeting. If you want to get on as a scheduled speaker, call board secretary, Jan May, at 433-2217, before noon on June 24th. Here is the school board contact information And, please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I've accumulated many resources from concerned parents within Highline, and in other districts. Thank you for your time to read this information and to act. Your school board will be allocating $300,000 toward this adoption. Is this what you want for your children? Meg Van Wyk
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