Board Agenda - February 05, 2008

i. Elementary Mathematics Textbook Adoption

Presenter: Jim Hirsch

Purpose: A - Request decision - closure required

Time: No time limit

Description:

The district math textbook committee held their final meeting on January 24, 2008 and recommended unanimously to adopt the enVision basal math series from Scott Foresman Addison-Wesley to be supported by the supplemental resource Investigations in Number, Data and Space from Pearson Scott Foresman for our elementary mathematics program. This recommendation was originally brought forward to the district committee by the 45 member textbook review committee composed of teachers from all grade levels and campuses.

Our reviewers kept in mind the needs of all our learners throughout the process and made site visits to schools using various materials and strategies to understand the best practices in place for instruction and the materials that support those strategies best. All recommended materials are provided in English and Spanish.

The committee found that no single textbook offered a comprehensive enough math program to satisfy the identified needs for our diverse student learners. The basal textbook offerings provided strong TEKS correlation but limited rigor, depth, vocabulary, problem solving and communications opportunities. The standards-based offerings provided a rich mathematics learning environment fully encompassing the limitations of the basal program, while not providing the same distinct TEKS correlations. The committee is unanimous in their recommendation that these deeper and more comprehensive math activities are a necessary experience for all learners to be more successful in our recently adopted Grades 5-8 math program prior to their entering the now required 4-year high school math sequence. The joint usage recommendation of the committee provides for the desired mathematics learning needs.

A significant training program for approximately 1,100 general education teachers, 400 special education and ESL teachers plus 43 principals is necessary to adequately support the implementation of new mathematics textbooks and resource materials. The elementary curriculum department is finalizing details on the training program requirements to be accomplished during Summer 2008 and throughout the 2008-09 school year.

Recommendation:

The administration and district textbook committee recommend approval of the recommended textbooks using Option 2. See attached list.

Business Impact:

enVision and Investigations textbooks - state supported
Investigations student activities - up to $170,000 yearly printing cost
Staff training - up to $650,000 for implementation in 2008-09

Summary:

Appendix:

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