Committee on Education and the Workforce/Subcommittees
on Early Childhood, Youth, and Families and Postsecondary
Education, Training, and Life-Long Learning, Federal
Role in K-12 Mathematics Reform
February 2, 2000
The House Education and Workforce Committee listened
to testimony on the role that federal agencies play
in developing mathematics curricula. At issue is the
recommendations recently made by the Department of
Education and the procedures used by expert panels
in selecting recommended curricula.
Dr. Judith Sunley, Interim Director for Education and
Human Resources at the National Science Foundation,
testified on the history of the development of mathematics
standards and NSF's role in encouraging the use of
standards-based mathematics curricula. The Statewide
Systemic Initiatives served as an important NSF program
to encourage the widespread adoption of standards-based
curricula within a state.
Dr. Kent McGuire noted that a provision in the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1994 required the Department
of Education to establish expert panels to advise
school districts on quality curricula. Although the
time and work required of expert panels was underestimated,
but they have performed a valuable service in identifying
a variety of curricula that integrate math into life
experiences.
The opponents of those selected by the expert panels
criticized their rigor as well as the perceived pressure
at the state and local to adopt curricula that had
been "endorsed" by a federal agency. Proponents of
the process noted that these curricula had been field
tested and found promising and that they were recommended,
not endorsed.
A number of Members pointed out that the traditional
methods of teaching mathematics have not met the nation's
educational needs, there was also concern over using
students as guinea pigs.
Most witnesses agreed that a major concern in adopting
any new curriculum is the need to ensure that there
is a link between content and pedagogy - that teachers
are well prepared to teach and that there is ongoing
evaluation of the effectiveness of the curriculum
over time.
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