Math program deleted

Alpine District dumps controversial approach

AMERICAN FORK — The Alpine School District's controversial math program — Investigations in Number, Data and Space — will soon be history.

The 56,000-student school district will purchase new textbooks at its 46 elementary schools for next fall, and so-called "Investigations math" is not on the list of possibilities because its newest publish date did not make the state's list of "recommended materials" of books that may be used for primary instruction.

"We're not going to ignore the state on this matter," said Barry Graff, the district's administrator of K-12 educational services. "The state has said, 'Here's what we think is to be the appropriate primary curricular materials.' We will go with whatever (they) have on (their) adoption list."

A committee of principals and teachers met in the fall and studied books on the Utah State Office of Education list with publish dates of 2005, 2006 and 2007 — newer editions so the district does not have to purchase subsequent editions for several years, Graff said.

The textbook list will be narrowed down to two by the end of February, Graff said.

The committee will chose one book that teaches math with traditional methods and one that uses "standards-based" methods.

Standards-based math refers to a handful of concepts identified as necessary for students to learn by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in 1989. It advocates nontraditional teaching methods such as arriving at answers through group work, reflection and drawing pictures to produce deeper levels of understanding and a love for math.

Investigations math is a standards-based curriculum.

Parents, teachers and principals at each school will choose which textbook program they want in March, and the district will order materials for the fall.

Graff estimates the new books will cost the district $2.5 million to $3 million.

All but 10 of the district's elementary schools had implemented Investigations math in classrooms by 2001.

The program drew criticism from parents because students did not have textbooks, which made it difficult for parents to help students with homework, which consisted of worksheets.

Throughout the years, the Board of Education released statements advocating traditional math taught alongside Investigations math, and by last year, Graff estimated about half of students' math work was traditional.

In November 2005, state lawmakers ordered a study of the math curriculum. A statewide committee of professors, teachers and administrators will make recommendations for changes in the math curriculum to the Utah State Board of Education in June.

Carolyn Hamilton, an Orem mother who is also chairwoman of the math department at Utah Valley State College, said she worked with her children at home because she did not think they were learning much with Investigations math.

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