Facts about QCSD Integrated Math:
Even at 64% proficient & above PSSA, QCSD is still failing 1 of every 3 students in our high school.
The recent "audit” of the district math curriculum was not fair and impartial. Both the professors on the audit team, Styer and Mauerer, have vested interests in promoting the IM/Core Plus curriculum. Mauerer was a consultant on discrete mathematics to Core Plus, and is directly involved with National Science Foundation, who funded IM. Styer is affiliated with Joseph Merlino’s IM MSPGP grants. Merlino works with the NSF on the integrated math program, was responsible for offering Quakertown part of a $12.5 million grant to implement IM in the first place, & includes Quakertown as part of his study about IM. There is a fairly updated list that shows Quakertown on the list for more grant money. Our children are literally the guinea pigs. The grants could be why this district have dug in their heels. But they must consider if it's really worth the money to sacrifice our kids futures.
A three page list of comments from graduates/srs. was presented to the Board saying that IM did not prepare them. Basically all teachers from K-12 said in the recent teacher's survey that there is basic math missing in the present curriculum. These are facts and real results, not studies by people with a vested interest in making it look good. Our Board is not listening, preferring to rely on the "experts" like Merlino's group.
On the SATs, researching 20 top performing high schools in Pennsylvania, use traditional maths in middle & high school, except 3 which offer a choice of traditional or reform. One middle school uses reform math. Many of these schools are the same or more economically disadvantaged than our school.
In 2004, QCSD placed #229 out of 501 on average math SAT scores. 57% of those higher performers also have higher % economically disadvantaged.
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