District approves new mathematics textbooks that align with Common Core standards for use this fall

New mathematics textbooks aligned with Common Core curriculum standards will be purchased for kindergarten through 12^th grade students in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District this fall. Approval came on a 5-0 vote at this month's trustee meeting.

Up to $4.4 million will be spent on the texts from publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt after a pilot program that involved books from three publishers used by more than 140 teachers, as overseen by Joey Davis, Cary Johnson and Dorie Staack, directors for educational services.

In a report to trustees, the directors noted that pilot teachers received training from the publishers, and articulation meetings by and across grade levels were held during the semester-long pilot period.

“In January, the pilot teachers were surveyed to determine their preference and concerns with materials from each publisher. At a follow-up meeting, these results were reviewed and each group was able to reach consensus,” selecting Houghton Mifflin for all grade levels, the directors reported.

The text series “California Math Expressions” for K-5 and “Big Ideas Math” for 6-12 also were approved by the district's Math Steering Committee and Curriculum Council before a state-required 30-day public display period.

Superintendent Doug Domene told me training will be provided throughout spring and summer to acquaint teachers with the new textbooks. He added, “We are in the second year of implementing the new standards.”

Also approved was a 30-day public display of a new pre-calculus text before adoption. “The current book is from 1988, and the course has been revised significantly from Trigonometry /Math Analysis to Pre-Calculus,” and “it is impossible to purchase additional copies” of the present text, noted Davis, student assessment and accountability director.

Two other interesting school-related items:

--”Carefully screened” and supervised nursing students will be placed on district campuses under agreements approved with California State University, Fullerton, and Biola University.

The former is a three-year pact for a clinical training program for future school nurses, while the latter is a five-year accord providing future nurses knowledge of children's health issues, both at no cost to the district.

--Advanced Placement testing begins at high schools May 4. Students earning a 3 or higher on a 5-point scale earn college credit for coursework at many universities.

Last year 3,527 tests were administered with a district pass rate of 84 percent. Individual school results: 82 percent on 607 tests at El Dorado, 80 percent on 516 tests at Esperanza, 86 percent on 1,016 tests at Yorba Linda and 87 percent on 1,388 tests at Valencia.

Also on tap is International Baccalaureate testing at Valencia. Last year's pass rate (4 or higher on a 7-point scale to earn university credit) was 93 percent on 305 tests administered.