We, as members of the Math Task Force and as parent representatives of those who felt our math curriculum needed immediate improvement, want to publicly thank and praise the teachers and administrators who came to the Task Force to tackle some challenging issues.

We believe this was a positive learning experience for all involved. This experience taught each of us the valid lesson that with mutual respect and an open mind we can learn about another's opposing viewpoint and together work cooperatively to find the right solution. We are indeed encouraged that if one comes forward to our schools' leadership and fairly represents a concern, one can have a positive impact on the quality of education for our children.

We are aware that there are other educational issues of concern for Fayette parents. We encourage parents to bring forth concerns to their teachers and school and county administrators. An open door policy and respectful communication will be key to fostering a supportive and productive relationship among parents, children and educators.

Amy Riley (ARiley3003@aol.com)

Ana DeMello

Meg Harris

Linda Sutton

Press Release from Dr. John DeCotis:

The Fayette County School System Math Task Force, comprised of parents, teachers, and school administrators, has been meeting since July, 1998 to study our present math program. The task force completed its work in December and has made several recommendations, some of which will go into effect during the current school year and others that will be considered for the 1999-2000 school year. In addition, the information provided by this task force will be considered by the math adoption committee that will begin meeting this spring for the purpose of developing and identifying our next math program.

It is appropriate to commend the task force for their time and efforts to provide an academically sound and appropriate math program for the students in Fayette County.

The recommendations of the administration based on the Task Force recommendations are attached:

The following is the full text of the Math Task Force proposal as presented to and accepted by the Board of Education on Monday, Jan. 25, 1999.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE MATH TASK FORCE

Public Education is a partnership of students, parents, and educators and each is recognized as a knowledgeable and effective contributor to the student's education. With that in mind, the Math Task Force completed its charge to look in to the concerns expressed and formulated recommendations. Listed below are the recommendations of the administration as based on the Task Force recommendations.

To Be Completed This School Year

1. The Math Task Force will prepare a press release informing parents of the general results generated by the teacher/parent surveys and course of actions being considered. This press release will be used to inform the public that the parents and educators are working together as partners.

2. Relevant Home Links, Study Links, Mad Minutes and other appropriate materials will be provided to all teachers. Each teacher and each school's administrators will be instructed in the appropriate use of these materials and how to integrate these seamlessly to provide a smooth implementation.

3. Teachers will utilize parental input with regard to the mathematical instructional needs of the students. In elementary school, teachers will conference with parents within the first two months of school to discuss the student's strengths and weaknesses and to formulate strategies to meet the student's needs.

4. Math skills will be practiced daily. Cumulative reviews will be implemented. Tests and assessments will be cumulative and ongoing, providing both the parent and teacher with information about student progress.

5. Specific guidelines will be given for acceptable calculator usage that discourages excessive dependence on calculators. Teachers will not allow calculator usage to undermine the acquisition of basic facts (with the possible exception of special needs students whose disabilities inhibit basic fact memorization). Middle and high school teachers will give sporadic calculator free tests.

6. Homework is to be thoroughly reviewed, checked either by the teacher or by the student him/herself (not graded by another student). Teachers will communicate how and with what materials parents can assist students at home. The Math Journal will be sent home daily with elementary students.

7. Administrators will reinforce with teachers that pacing and understanding are both critical to a student's success.

8. Communication between parents, teacher, students, and administrators will be encouraged through available technology such as the FCBOE website and e-mail.

9. In the spring of a student's fifth and eighth grade school years, a clear, written explanation of the math courses in each possible program of study through twelfth grade should be provided by the schools. This should be in addition to any nightly parent meeting to discuss the same thing.

10. Schools should utilize current technology available and the upper level students with aptitude to help design web pages and provide peer tutoring on-line for basic math help for students with Internet access. Students could also use web pages to post challenges and projects, homework assignments, and provide appropriate homework helper links.

11. Provide forums with parents that would allow public input into system-level decisions.

12. In Algebra and Advanced Algebra, in critical chapters such as factoring and solving equations, move at a pace to best accommodate the average student and to supplement with materials from other sources.

13. Consider expanding the course offerings for math at the high-school level to allow more options for the college prep students.

To Be Completed In The 1999-2000 School Year

1. Study adding honors level to the program of study in middle school and high schools.

2. Consider allowing parental request of Saxon or a similar program as a voluntary alternative to the current curriculum.

3. Provide funds for more comprehensive supplementation to the current programs to provide practice and repetition in basic skills (i.e. Mountain Math, Skills Link, workbooks, flash cards and/or the like) so all students would have access to such materials.

4. Consider a staffed Math Lab at each high school to be run at night several nights a week. This lab could be staffed by a teacher on extended day. It would be open to both high school and middle school students needing help.

5. Create an online math lab for students with Internet access.

6. Encourage math teams of teachers of various grade level/subjects at individual schools to provide informal mentoring for new and newly hired teachers, share ideas for supplementation, prepare for upcoming concepts regarding presentation, and so forth.

7. Each school should have grade level to grade level/subject level to subject level (i.e., Algebra I to Geometry) meetings to discuss areas of strengths and weaknesses of students.

8. Provide an opportunity for parents to purchase math handbooks and materials to help them at home with their children.

9. Require math training for new teachers, teachers new to the school system, and teachers changing grade levels/subject areas.

10. Implement county-wide grade level/subject area meetings to be held periodically to discuss effective implementation of the math curriculum and to share ideas.

11. Keep parents informed and involved. Utilize technology where possible and recognize that often communication through students is not always an effective method of information disbursement.

Items Referred Back To Administration As Beyond The Charge Of This Committee

1. Revise the current method of discussing parental concerns with a teacher and/or administrator to eliminate the group approach at least initially (at the middle school). The parent often feels intimidated when faced with a meeting of a team of five to seven teachers and administrators when discussing concerns about a student. Also consider allowing the student to attend these discussions and offer input as well.

2. Consider posting the School Board minutes on the FCBOE website.

3. Provide forums with parents to discuss issues with curriculum coordinators.

Timeline for Math Curriculum Update and Textbook Adoption Spring 1998-Summer 1999

* Develop philosophy for teaching mathematics

* Update math curriculum

* Take areas for further study, consideration under advisement by this committee taking any recommendations through the appropriate channels (ability grouping, acceleration/honors/gifted, consistency in offering between schools, parental choice of program). Integrate these into the curriculum/pacing/offerings as needed.

Fall 2000-Spring 2001

* Implement textbook adoption process

* Recommend text(s) for adoption through appropriate channels

* School Board adopts math text(s)

Fall 2001