School board OKs math curriculum changes

The Laguna Beach Unified School District board on Tuesday approved math curriculum changes that some parents suggested could hinder students who are ready to excel at an early age.

The changes include moving geometry from eighth to ninth grade. Intermediate algebra and statistics will replace geometry in eighth grade.

The board voted 4 to 1, with Trustee Dee Perry dissenting, for alterations that include eliminating pre-calculus as a separate course and instead embedding its principles in geometry and advanced algebra courses.

Also, students in ninth-grade algebra can take biology without taking geometry.

The moves are meant to prepare students for the new Common Core state testing standards, which place added emphasis on critical thinking and reasoning to explain answers.

District staff have spent the last two years with teachers developing the new curriculum, which will still allow students to tackle advanced concepts if they are ready, but without rushing others, primarily during middle school.

Trustee William Landsiedel said the decision to take an accelerated class should be well thought out.

“You can opt your kids in but be careful what you ask for,” Landsiedel said. “We’re talking today about the most exceptional children [in math], but the truth is we’re not spending a lot of time talking about the 90% who are not.

“It’s not always clear if a kid on the line should be accelerated. Some kids hit an explosion period later on.”

Under the new format, incoming sixth-grade students and Laguna Beach High School juniors can test up to a higher math level.

Juniors and seniors can still take Advanced Placement calculus and statistics, while statistics and probability concepts will be taught at all grade levels. Curriculum changes will not effect current eighth-grade and high school students.

“We are still providing rigor for students,” said Amy Kernan, the district’s assessment and accountability coordinator. “We’re making sure the foundational skills are there before we do it.”

Several parents questioned the changes.

“Mathematics abilities peak early,” said Arthur Lander, a professor of cell biology at UC Irvine and parent of a Thurston Middle School student. “The brain is most capable of absorbing math in the early years. We can’t wait until high school to interact more deeply.”

Parent Amy Hundhausen, an electrical engineer, said science and math should be closely aligned.

“Try teaching distance, acceleration and time without teaching derivatives,” said Hundhausen, one of a handful of speakers who asked the board to postpone voting on the new curriculum.

Teachers want students to understand the purpose of mathematical concepts, Laguna Beach High math instructor Steve Bogusiewicz said.

“It’s changing the old question from, ‘When am I going to use this?’ to ‘I am going to use this when,’” he said.

Board President Ketta Brown assured the audience that sufficient planning went into creating the new offerings, with students’ best interests in mind.

“Two years ago I said, ‘Hold on. We can’t have algebra in eighth grade,’” Brown said. “We have math and science, and they are married. Then we moved forward, and I sat through 20 meetings because I was incredibly concerned and anxious that this is done correctly. That being said, we have to take the first step, got to jump off the bridge.”

Perry said instructors could still face challenges in the classroom.

“If half the class does not get a concept, you have to come up with a project for the kids who get it,” Perry said. “I don’t know how we’re serving higher-achieving students by doing that.”