School Board Approves Pre-K – 2 Math Curriculum, No New Texts for Now

Elementary math will take a "patchwork" approach to instruction for now, as the Board of Education voted Tuesday to approve a preK - 2 curriculum without a new text.

Instead, teachers will write curriculum based on existing texts and other instructional resources to align with Connecticut's Common Core State Standards -- for now. The vote does not preclude taking on a new book if one is published that suits Fairfield's needs, administrators said Tuesday.

The District Textbook Review Committee recommended in March the approach approved by the Board of Education and suggested the district should postpone the purchase and implementation of a new textbook for early elementary math.

Members of the committee explained at the March 12 meeting that after extensive analysis of four popular text-book-based math programs — Singapore Math, TERC Investigations, Stepping Stones and Math in Focus — it was determined that none perfectly meets the Fairfield school district's needs.

The months of review ran in juxtaposition to parent advocates who wanted to see the adoption of a new textbook in the early elementary math classes, particularly the Singapore Math or Math in Focus texts.

At Tuesday's meeting, some parents voiced their concern that the "patchwork" curriculum would be based on outdated texts.

"The Foresman text [used currently by the district] is outdated and needs to be replaced," Anthony Abbazia of Juniper Lane said. "I can't imagine using this text any further."

He added that he doesn't "have a lot of confidence in teachers writing a text when we have people who already spent years doing that."

Teachers will be paid to write the text  -- which includes a parent guide -- during their non-school hours, primarily over the summer, Director of Elementary Education Anna Cutaia-Leonard said. The $80,000 originally allocated for new textbooks will instead go toward compensating the curriculum writers and necessary resources and supplies.

Board member Perry Liu said that the district "isn't using our money very well."

"We're not using our money to buy books but instead we'll pay our teachers to write curriculum, and we might buy books next year? It's something we as a board really need to consider."

While parents and some board members remained uneasy about the adoption of a curriculum without a new text, several teachers spoke in support of the curriculum brought before the board Tuesday.

Martha Murphy, a second grade teacher at Riverfield School, said that she's noticed "kids come away with a much stronger number sense than in the past" when using the proposed curriculum.

"This new, balanced approach to math is the best way to teach math."

Mill Hill Principal Kevin Chase told the board that when he walks into a classroom during math class, "I see excitement, I see engagement. I see children doing math in ways I never thought of as a kid."

For board member John Convertito, who said he has spent "an enormous amount of time" researching the curriculum, "it comes down to -- I trust our professionals."

So did six of his fellow board members -- the curriculum was approved in a 7-2 vote, with Liu and Sue Brand opposing.