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Proposed math courses draw concern

Posted on March 8, 2012March 7, 2012 by Staff

By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
As the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools prepare to switch to the new Common Core Curriculum for fall 2012, many are concerned with how the curriculum’s math standards will impact both struggling and excelling students.

At their Thursday meeting, members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education heard from 30 parents whose children excel at math and are worried the new standards will inhibit their ability to learn at an advanced pace.

Parents shared stories about how their children were apathetic at a young age and “bored to tears” because they easily grasped concepts in their grade-level math classes, but were then moved up to a harder class and became fully engaged in learning.

“There are 500 kids currently benefiting from accelerated math,” parent Jay Brenman told the board. “The best series of classes my eighth-grader has taken is the accelerated math series.”

Superintendent Tom Forcella, while acknowledging parents’ concerns, reminded the board that the new common core is at a more rigorous level then the district’s current curriculum.

“The common core is something that is, nationwide, increasing the rigor – and even more so in the state of North Carolina,” Forcella said.

Forcella also admitted that the middle school math curriculum is weak because classes are spending too much time reviewing concepts learned in elementary school. He added, though, that compared to other districts in North Carolina, the CHCCS math curriculum is advanced.

Math and science coordinator Priscilla Dennison shared a presentation with the board on how CHCCS will be implementing the new math curriculum, saying, “For the first time, we are weaving a much more intricate web for mathematic proficiency.”

While Dennison’s presentation included options for both traditional students and those in LEAP, a self-contained accelerated program, there were no options for accelerated students outside the LEAP program.

Board Chair Mia Burroughs said she was confused as to why a third option for accelerated students outside of LEAP could not be created.

“If something has to be created for the LEAP kids anyway, then we should use it for these [gifted] students as well,” Burroughs said.

Board members also brought up concerns with how the new math curriculum will negatively impact students who are performing below average in math.

The board decided to table the issue until their next meeting on March 15.

A resolution was also made by Vice Chair Michelle Brownstein to send a letter to the state asking if the curriculum could be implemented more slowly. The resolution passed 7-0.

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