This article addressed California's proposed math curriculum framework which has ignited a ferocious debate, touching off a revival of the 1990s math wars and attracting national media attention. Early drafts of the new framework faced a firestorm of criticism, with opponents charging that the guidelines sacrificed accelerated learning for high…

What would it look like to engage in more humanizing assessment practices, practices that support the positive development of students' identity, agency, and belonging? In a Southern California school district, a group of teachers have been working toward doing exactly that. One of the first things the teachers did was to recognize that the…

This report provides the perspectives of multiple respondent groups -- districts, principals, and math teachers -- on math-focused professional learning (PL) for teachers. The authors explore the factors that district and school leaders consider when selecting math-focused PL. These factors include principal autonomy to select PL; teachers'…

The overall aim of the Effective Implementation Cohort (EIC) investment is to increase district capacity to implement a high-quality middle years math curriculum as part of a Coherent Instructional System (CIS) to accelerate learning for students who are experiencing poverty, Black, Latino/a, and/or English Learner (EL)-Designated ("priority…

California's school system is under tremendous long-run fiscal pressure; allocating resources efficiently is therefore paramount. Economic analysis--making sure districts and schools are spending their budgets wisely--is the method used to identify effectiveness and efficiency. This method responds to the question educational professionals face:…

A capstone project is required for every graduating student from California State University, Monterey Bay. Due to dramatic growth in the number of senior math majors as well as the extreme workload required of faculty advisers, our department developed a new model for the capstone which not only addressed workload issues but also improved the…

In this paper, the authors investigate the consequences of curricular intensification by examining changes in the social organization of schooling and student achievement in one California school district. The authors' analyses consider the following three research questions: (1) What effect did 8th grade curricular intensification have on…

This study utilizes a mixed methods exploratory design to examine the nature of math faculty engagement in the student learning outcomes assessment cycle. The focus of the study is on the types of changes that math faculty are implementing as a result of assessment outcomes and the institutional environmental factors that impact faculty engagement…

For the past decade, students at California State University (CSU) campuses increasingly lack basic mathematics skills. To address this concern, Executive Order No. 665 (1998) called for CSU campuses to bring students to proficiency in mathematics. School districts have struggled to modify their mathematics curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment in…

To explore the effects of educational reform legislation, curricular changes in California comprehensive high schools from 1982-83 to 1984-85 are investigated. Results mirrored statewide curricular changes documented in California Basic Education Data System data. The changes involved increased offerings in math, science, and advanced placement.…

THE OBJECTIVES, PROCEDURES, AND USE OF RESOURCES THAT CHARACTERIZE THE MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT AT THE GARBER HIGH SCHOOL AT ESSEXVILLE, MICHIGAN, WERE DESCRIBED IN THE SECOND OF A SERIES OF THREE REPORTS. THE MAJOR OBJECTIVES WERE (1) TO PROVIDE ALTERNATE VERSIONS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL SUBSTANTIVE AREAS TO ACCOMMODATE SEVERAL LEVELS OF STUDENT…

Analyzed survey-based information on state policies and school practices together to explore the impact of content-driven state education reform on instruction in middle-grades mathematics. Found that content-driven state policies have great influence on instruction at the school level, and are associated with desired instructional practices at…