What has been called the NASA Math Initiative has now been finalized and assigned a number (SB159). Please read this bill and check out the many features we have been able to pull together in the bill. It's going to be a bit of an uphill struggle still to get it passed but there are some strong supporters of the bill.One of the best features of this bill is that schools that do not get grant money can still adopt the plan and implement it without being required to also follow the Utah standards. They will still take the UPASS test as required by state law, but they won't be viewed on the same playing field as schools on the Utah core. The standards being adopted in the bill are the 2001 Singapore Math Standards!!! Please go read the full text which includes many other features including tests for teachers to ensure they are competent to teach the math they teach.(starting at line144) (b) A school district or charter school may deliver instruction to students who do not participate in the Math Education Initiative in accordance with the math curriculum standards adopted under this section in lieu of other math curriculum standards prescribed by the board.
Link to the bill:
Here's the section on teacher competency testing (starting at line 149):
53A-13-407. Math competency tests for Singapore math teachers.
The board shall make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, that require a teacher who teaches Singapore math in a school district or charter school that participates in the Math Education Initiative to demonstrate math competency by passing a test as follows:
(1) a teacher who teaches Singapore math in grades kindergarten through three shall pass a grade level six Singapore math test; and
(2) a teacher who teaches Singapore math in grades four through eight shall pass a grade level eight Singapore math test.
Have at it with the placement tests here:
6th grade Primary Math 6b placement test.
8th grade New Elementary Math 2 placement test.
Are they adopting the entire Singapore curriculum, or are they going to try to retrofit their current curriculum into Singapore standards?
ReplyDeleteAt this point the legislation provides schools with grant money if they will adopt the Singapore program and provide teacher development based on Singapore math content and pedagogy. I recommend you read the bill for more details. It's a pretty good piece of legislation, though we lost the move for Singapore standards at the last minute.
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