MATH EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE FOR ALL
One of the School Board’s goals for the 2018-19 school year focuses on exploring educational equity within the math department at ConVal High School.
This focus involves analyzing the ways in which ConVal School District, ConVal High School, and the Math Department operate to “ensure that every learner–in whatever learning environment that learner is found–has the greatest opportunity to learn enhanced by the resources and supports necessary to achieve competence, excellence, independence, responsibility, and self-sufficiency for school and for life” (Scott, 2001, p.6).
As a result of the School Board’s commitment to educational equity, recent meetings of the Education Committee included discussions on patterns and trends that surfaced as a result of exploring educational equity within the math department (see meeting minutes for February, March, and April).
At the April 15, 2019 meeting of the Education Committee, discussion led to some initial recommendations for changes to Policy IKF – High School Graduation. Proposed changes include requiring all students to complete Algebra I and increasing the number of required math credits from three to four. These recommendations were sent to the Policy Committee to be reviewed and considered at their upcoming May 7, 2019 meeting. If Policy Committee supports the proposed changes, a revised version of Policy IKF will be brought to the full School Board for approval and adoption.
The Education Committee’s recommendations would increase ConVal High School’s expectations and requirements for graduation. The recommendations also align with current thinking by—and recommendations from—experts in the field of mathematics:
High schools should offer continuous four-year mathematics pathways with all students studying mathematics each year, including two to three years of mathematics in a common, shared pathway focusing on Essential Concepts, to ensure the highest-quality mathematics education for all students.
(National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 2018)
The Education Committee of the School Board typically meets on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 pm in the Boardroom at the SAU 1 Offices. These meetings are open to the public. Committee meeting agendas and minutes can be found on the ConVal School Board’s website.
References
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (2018). Catalyzing change in high school mathematics: Initiating critical conversations. Reston, VA: The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Inc.
Scott, B. (2001, March). Coming of age. IDRA Newsletter [On-line]. Retrieved April 17, 2019, from https://www.idra.org/resource-center/coming-of-age/