Mathematically Correct Update
Mar. 28, 1996

Warning: Fuzzy Math is Coming Next Year

It is possible that San Diego City Schools will adopt Reform mathematics materials for grades K-8 for next year, as well as for higher grades.

Primary Grades

SDCS conducted a pilot of 6 different math programs that together would cover the entire K-8 math program. All piloted materials are of the new-new variety. Each program was pilot tested for 5 weeks.

Mathematically Correct believes this action was unwise:

There is little or no research to support these programs - they are experimental
Research offered in support of these programs by district officials does not study these programs at all
A useful curriculum assessment has not been accomplished by this small pilot
The curriculum changes are extreme, like Whole Language, so more care should have been taken
Other new programs that are not "Framework" texts, including those approved by the state, were not offered to teachers
Teachers asked to vote on the adoption felt that all choices were poor
Teachers were not aware that the district could request a delay from the state
It is likely that children will learn substantially less math from these texts
The teachers will be asked to teach from these materials before their inservice training on the materials is complete

Mathematically Correct requested that the board delay this adoption on Feb. 27th, 1996. District adoption recommendations for mathematics will be finalized soon! These texts were recommended to the school board on March 28, 1996. The board will address these recommendations on April 9, 1996.

If you are concerned about the impending changes to math education in SDCS, you should take action now.

Find your school representative on the adoption committee and voice your concerns.
Sign the Petition to Block the Adoption
Go to the school board meeting on April 9th.

Here are the materials that have been recommended to the board:

    Harcourt Anytime Math 
    Addison-Wesley Quest 2000
    Glencoe Interactive Mathematics

Mathematically Correct Update
Mar. 28, 1996

CPM 2 REJECTED for High School Geometry

The adoption recommendations for high school geometry were introduced to the school board on March 28, 1996. The district has considered several programs. The recommendations selected for both geometry tracks contain new new math features. Fortunately, CMP 2 was rejected for both tracks.

The high-school advanced geometry track recommendation is:
UCSMP Scott Foresman - GEOMETRY, 2ND ED., Parts 1 & 2 - Zalman Usiskin, Daniel Hirschhorn, Arthur Coxford, Virginia Highstone, Hester Lewellen, Nicholas Oppong, Richard DiBianca, Merilee Maeir.
Mathematically Correct has located a Comparison of UCSMP and Saxon texts.

The standard geometry track recommendation is:
Discover Geometry, Key Curriculum Press