Meetings may add up to decision on math textbook
La Cañada Unified School District’s discussion in a May 10 meeting about potential adoption of the Common Core K-5 math textbook “Everyday Math” was a heated one, with parents weighing in against the book and questioning the openness of LCUSD’s textbook selection process.
Now, as an online petition to ditch the book gains new signatures, a series of meetings planned for Thursday attempts to demystify the debate behind “Everyday Math” and how texts are selected for use in schools.
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The evening begins at 5 p.m. with a parent-initiated information session in the Fellowship Hall of Lutheran Church in the Foothills, 1700 Foothill Blvd. Participants will hear a presentation by Stanford University Professor James Milgram, a member of the Common Core State Standards Mathematics validation committee. Milgram will share his experiences and assessment of “Everyday Mathematics” and answer questions about the text.
Then, at 7 p.m., the La Cañada Unified School District hosts a board workshop on math textbook adoption in its Governing Board Room, 4490 Cornishon Ave. Teachers, administrators and a representative from textbook publisher McGraw-Hill will field questions and explain LCUSD’s selection of “Everyday Mathematics” as part of the textbook selection process.
Following the public workshop, members of the district governing board will hold a special meeting to potentially make a final decision on the textbook series recommendation. In their petitioning of LCUSD Board President David Sagal against “Everyday Mathematics,” parents decried the district’s lack of research into other districts’ complaints of the textbook and said they were not adequately informed of their role in the selection process.
More information on the parent-led initiative can be found online at lcfmathparents.wordpress.com.
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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com
Twitter: @SaraCardine
