MUSD approves million-dollar math curriculum

By Michelle Chance

After more than a decade of using outdated math textbooks, Maricopa Unified School district students will begin learning from brand new curriculum next school year.

The MUSD Governing Board approved, Wednesday, the million-dollar math curriculum that administrators, teachers and board members have said was badly needed.

“We’re going to have some extremely happy teachers,” Board President Patti Coutré said immediately after the board unanimously approved the contract.

Displayed in front of the board during the meeting were the glossy, gleaming textbooks.

The words “Make Something Big Happen” sprawled across each display case – perhaps a coincidental testament to the district’s hopes for improved test scores, and perhaps also to the price tag.

According to district documents, MUSD ended up shelling out a little over its estimated cost for the books – as well as for the software and teacher training associated with it. In fact, the district approved the contract with Pearson Education and McGraw-Hill textbook vendors for $1,033,606.63, which will be paid for out of its reserve funds.

Galileo testing results show district students struggle with math, and many hope the updated curriculum will improve scores.

During a presentation by Santa Rosa Elementary School Principal Eva Safranek, Board Member Torri Anderson pointed out the school’s poor test results in sixth-grade mathematics.

Safranek said sixth-graders often struggle because the grade level requires an introduction into difficult math subjects like algebra. However, she said the inconsistent math curriculum between grade levels has likely encouraged students less than satisfactory scores.

“Hopefully over time we will have a cohesive and consistent curriculum so it goes from year-to-year-to-year, and our kids don’t have those holes in, let’s say, fractions or multiplication or division,” Safranek said.

She later added that over time she hopes students will be prepared for the content when entering the next grade because the new curriculum builds on each grade level.

Board Member Joshua Judd clarified that math scores are low across the district, and not just at Santa Rosa.

Curriculum Director Wade Watson said grades K-8 will use curriculum by Pearson Education. Secondary schools will also adopt a majority of Pearson’s curriculum sans one textbook on financial literacy.

Watson said teachers preferred McGraw-Hill’s take on financial lit. However, it is the only math textbook grades 9-12 will adopt from the vendor.

The Math Textbook Committee approved the curriculums after evaluating responses from teachers who recently piloted them in their classrooms. Additionally, district documents stated the programs “are the most advantageous for award in accordance with school procurement rules.”

Elementary and middle schools will receive a textbook for each student and teachers will receive teaching materials for the math course they teach, documents state.

According to another document, “Maricopa High School will receive a classroom set and online subscription for each student” as well as training for teachers.