Wait to implement Big Ideas Math curriculum

An open letter to the school board

Please wait to implement the recommended controversial Big Ideas Math curriculum until our new superintendent, Dr. Steven Cook, can analyze and collaborate with those overseeing this program. Set Dr. Cook up for success in his first year so our students will benefit immensely.

Saddling our new superintendent with the controversial Big Ideas Math curriculum without him is not in the best interest of students nor the working relationship between his colleagues and the board. Dr. Cook is experienced in successful integrated math curriculums with a data-driven track record. Why wouldn’t we want his input?

According to US News & World Report High School Rankings, Coeur d’Alene High students last year received a college readiness score of just 26 percent with student math proficiency at 29 percent. Student college readiness out of Lake City High School received a readiness score of only 14.6 percent prepared with math proficiency of 30 percent. This is truly alarming. (See https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/idaho).

An integrated math program is a solid math format just as a traditionally formatted math programming. So what’s the key to success? Bingo! Fully support the curriculum you choose after thorough data-driven vetting is provided. Arm teachers with adequate materials that meet expectations. Provide training for 100 percent math staff. Make sure our students are mastering the material foundational to every career path, not just standardized tests. Hold our students accountable and support those who struggle.

Learning post-high school that you need remediation, even though you were an A student, is too late. Seven of 10 students have only a “Basic” or “Below Basic” designation in math on our Idaho Standard Achievement Test. Remediation has a true financial impact whether that student is in college or in the workforce. Math performance needs priority attention from every corner of the district.

Our teachers work hard and are underappreciated. This isn’t a union issue. Teachers are just as exasperated as parents on the state of our local curriculum and lack of full support on the classroom front lines. I believe this issue falls directly on upper administration and our school board tasked with adopting textbooks and supervising the implementation of a curriculum.

I recognize it would be disheartening and perhaps viewed as “losing ground” to wait, but it could be viewed differently. Essentially, we have a ‘jumpstart forward’ by having a curriculum ready for study by an outside professional educator with experience in this area. Concerns about morale need to be set aside when it involves controversial issues directly impacting ALL students. The primary duty for trustees morally and statutorily is educating our students. Student-focused leadership must be the driving force moving forward. Parents will appreciate the confidence that their 4.0 GPA student won’t need math remediation arriving at college or an employer, which happens much too often.

The stats are alarming but also make a strong argument that we must get it right. Independent reviews state this textbook even “when used as designed” doesn’t meet expectations. The plan presented uses the textbooks in a format they were not designed for, a self-created program that has not had an independent review. Additionally, at this time there is no data to share with the public since this is developed in-house. I believe the public will support waiting a little longer.

Who knows? It is entirely possible Dr. Cook says the recommended program is fabulous and truly innovative. At least we took the time to make sure we were implementing with student-focused deliberate care.

We have a strong school district with robust community support to ensure our students receive a quality education. You have partners in the community and a student body eager to learn. It seems like this is easy to navigate: give your new superintendent time to analyze. Our kids deserve every effort we can make to get it right and I believe we can.

*The independent review on the math books that will be used can be found here: https://www.edreports.org/math/big-ideas-traditional/high-school.html

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Christa Hazel is a former school board trustee in Coeur d’Alene.