Wake schools to continue using controversial math program, but with 'changes and improvements'
Wake County public school leaders say they plan to continue using a controversial math curriculum that has drawn complaints from some parents. However, they are making "changes and improvements to the curriculum" to help students who are struggling.
Posted — UpdatedThe committee – comprising district staff, principals and teachers – reviewed parents' complaints about the program to determine whether the district should continue using MVP or replace it with a new curriculum. They consulted parents, students and members of the business and higher education communities.
However, McFarland added, "every member recommended at least some changes and improvements to the curriculum."
Beginning with the 2019-20 school year, Wake schools will:
- Engage a third party to independently evaluate the implementation of MVP in the school system and support the process of continuous improvement
- Create a robust website on each school webpage to include unit overviews, video demonstrations, extra practice and additional resources to support students with homework
- Continue to work with school administrators to monitor and support math curriculum implementation in schools
- Monitor and adjust the math curriculum implementation plan by:
- Ongoing review and analysis of student performance data in Math 1, 2 and 3
- Delaying district-wide implementation of MVP in Math 3. Implementation will be optional in 2019-20
- Working with teachers and district staff to develop curriculum resources to enhance MVP materials to support stakeholders (i.e. video support with examples and models of lessons, extra practice, etc.)
- Examining and, as needed, editing MVP materials for any alignment, typographical and grammatical errors
- Supports for all students and learning styles
- Implementing MVP lessons with a balance of direct instruction, conceptual understanding and procedural skill and fluency
- Chamber of Commerce
- Wake Education Partnership
- Community Information Sessions
So far, 16 parents have filed formal complaints with the district about MVP math, according to Wake schools' spokeswoman Sara Clark. Several parents spoke at this week's Wake County Board of Education meeting to share how MVP has affected their children and to ask board members to drop the program.
The district has invested more than $1.4 million since the program launched last year. In a previous statement, Utah-based MVP said its materials "have received top marks in unbiased curriculum reviews, have been selected by numerous school districts and schools for classroom use and have been deployed with great success in the United States and internationally."
The committee plans to share its findings and recommendations with the Wake school board and the public on June 18 during the regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
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