Time to write your legislator in Olympia or call.

April 13, 2009

Will We Throw the Math Race at the Finish?

After an overwhelming public cry of outrage over the pitiful state of math education in the state, the legislature two years ago formed a math advisory panel which together with the state board of education worked tirelessly to establish excellent and rigorous math standards, and identify good curriculum examples for teaching the new standards.

Now almost across the finish line, the legislature is about to throw it all away, and accept a watered down end-of-course assessment for algebra and geometry.

Reality is that schools “teach to the test”. Only a comprehensive rigorous assessment will assure the math standards we worked so hard to create, and the public demanded, will be taught to our children.

Our children’s futures depend upon solid preparation in math and science to be competitive in the future. It is important that we the taxpayer let our legislature know that we will not settle for a watered down substitute. We’ve already had that disaster and don’t want it again. Contact your legislators today to strengthen end-of-course testing in Senate Bill 5414.

Tim Christensen

SBE Math Advisory Panelist
Sr. R&D Engineer
Otis Orchards, WA 99027