Bill Allows Students To Choose Math Curricula | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's note: This post, by Bob Luebke, was originally published in the Academic Standards Review Commission section of Civitas's online edition.

    A bill that allows students to choose between the current or traditional math curricula passed the Senate Education Committee today. Senator Jerry Tillman (R- Moore) and Senator Chad Barefoot (R-Wake) the proposals main advocates said the plan is an attempt to forge a compromise between those opposed to last week's plan to scuttle altogether the new math standards - called Math 1, 2 and 3 - and parents, teachers and students frustrated with the current math standards who want a return to the pre-Common Core math standards sequence (Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra II).

    The bill offers opponents of the current standards a way around them. On the downside, the bill also keeps in place the current Common Core math standards while the State Board of Education studies the issue regarding sequencing of topics and assessment.

    Had the Academic Standards Review Commission done their job, this would not have happened, but that's another story. The legislation reflects is an attempt to resolve a difficult practical problem; a problem that many on the right believe cannot be resolved through compromise. Full story be told, the legislation also attests to the power of the Department of Public Instruction and its PR machine which I'm told was in overdrive asking teachers to share their views on the bill.

    Where this all goes is yet to be seen. The bill still needs to be voted on by the full Senate and the House.