California's 'Woke' Math Curriculum Threatens to Worsen Student Proficiency

By admin

Published 2 years ago on

September 3, 2023

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Gov. Gavin Newsom and other political figures like to brag about California’s role as a national or even international leader in all things wonderful.

Dan Walters

CalMatters

Opinion

They tend, however, to gloss over or ignore indications that California is falling short in some very important indices of societal achievement, such as public education.

When measured against other states, much less other nations, California’s nearly 6 million public school students rank among the lowest in national education testing for mathematics and language skills.

The latest round of National Assessment of Educational Progress test results, released last fall, revealed that California’s fourth- and eighth-graders were once again in the bottom tier of states in reading and math.

Moreover, California’s unusually long school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic reduced achievement even more, as a recent report from the Public Policy Institute of California revealed.

Before the pandemic, 51% of students met standards in English language arts, or ELA, and it had dropped to 47%. In mathematics, proficiency declined from 40% to 33%.

“Only 35% of low-income students met state standards in ELA and 21% were proficient in math,” PPIC reported, “compared to 65% of higher-income students in ELA and 51% in math.”

California Consistently Lags Behind

Furthermore, PPIC noted, the nationwide tests of reading and math proficiency “shows that California has consistently lagged behind most other states … 38th in math and 33rd in reading.”

We may not need more evidence that Californians lack competence in basic skills, but last week we got another data dose from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies, a global program of testing supported by the U.S. Department of Education.

A new analysis of its data reveals that in “numeracy” – the ability of adults to use mathematics in daily lives – California ranks near the bottom of states, virtually identical to Georgia and other states in the second lowest tier. Within California, just one of its 58 counties – Marin – scored in the highest tier.

By happenstance, the numeracy report was issued just a few weeks after the state Board of Education adopted a new framework for math instruction that advocates claim will increase the computational acumen of California students by making it more culturally relevant.

Board member Gabriela Orozco-Gonzalez, an elementary school teacher in Montebello, said, “The framework’s focus on fundamental concepts, open-ended tasks, justice, student inquiry, reasoning and justification aligns with effective mathematics teaching practices. I am encouraged by the incorporation of strategies to support diverse learners, such as promoting multilingualism, facilitating group work, employing visual aids, and establishing cultural connections.”

Tom Loveless, a former senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who wrote a book on the Common Core standards, was one of many critics during a three-hour hearing prior to adoption, saying the framework sends a “message that math facts can be treated lightly.”

The climactic board meeting reflected years of often bitter debate, dubbed the “math wars,” over how best to raise math skills, not unlike a similar conflict over language skills dubbed the “reading wars.”

Traditionalist supporters of phonics finally emerged triumphant in the battle over reading but traditionalists lost on math. Ultimately, the board made a few tweaks aimed at placating critics but left the original concept of downplaying rote skills and early introduction to algebra largely intact.

Obviously California has a math skills problem. Too many of our students and adults are “innumerate” – the mathematical equivalent of illiterate – and that has vast societal impacts, from lessening Californians’ ability to manage personal finances to depriving the economy of workers with critical skills.

We’ll see if California’s new woke math curriculum improves its standing, or drives us even lower.

About the Author

Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers. He began his professional career in 1960, at age 16, at the Humboldt Times. CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how California’s state Capitol works and why it matters. For more columns by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary.

Make Your Voice Heard

GV Wire encourages vigorous debate from people and organizations on local, state, and national issues. Submit your op-ed to rreed@gvwire.com for consideration.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

DON'T MISS

Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push

DON'T MISS

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Says Fall of Iran’s Leadership Not a Goal but Could Be a Result

DON'T MISS

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

DON'T MISS

Sen. Alex Padilla: This Is How an Administration Acts When It’s Afraid

DON'T MISS

Justice Dept. to Cut Two-Thirds of Inspectors Monitoring Gun Sales

DON'T MISS

Landlords Say They’re Struggling. Rents Keep Going Up. What Gives?

DON'T MISS

CA Prison Union Strikes $600 Million Contract With Newsom That Includes Furloughs

DON'T MISS

Bay Area Transit Systems Want More Money. But Their Payrolls Soared as Ridership Declined

UP NEXT

Justice Dept. to Cut Two-Thirds of Inspectors Monitoring Gun Sales

UP NEXT

CA Prison Union Strikes $600 Million Contract With Newsom That Includes Furloughs

UP NEXT

Bay Area Transit Systems Want More Money. But Their Payrolls Soared as Ridership Declined

UP NEXT

Trump to Decide on US Action in Israel-Iran Conflict Within 2 Weeks, White House Says

UP NEXT

Whatever Happened to the New Northwest Fresno Costco?

UP NEXT

Democrats Want New Leaders, Focus on Pocketbook Issues, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

UP NEXT

Trump Says He Signed Executive Order Extending Deadline for TikTok Closing

UP NEXT

Trump Faces Uproar From MAGA Base Over Possible Iran Strike

UP NEXT

‘Any Illegal Immigrants?’ Trump Quizzes Workers at the White House

UP NEXT

US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say

Fresno Police Seek Help Identifying 7-Eleven Robbery Suspects

Local /

2 hours ago

Fresno Council Scraps Cannabis Advisory Group, Extends Advance Peace Funding

Politics 101 /

3 hours ago

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

LA Lakers /

3 hours ago

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

Tech /

3 hours ago

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

Immigration /

3 hours ago

Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push

Legislation /

4 hours ago

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

Immigration /

4 hours ago

Netanyahu Says Fall of Iran’s Leadership Not a Goal but Could Be a Result

World /

4 hours ago

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

California /

5 hours ago

Sen. Alex Padilla: This Is How an Administration Acts When It’s Afraid

Opinion /

5 hours ago

Muslim NY Mayoral Candidate Reports Threats, Jewish Ohio Lawmaker Threatened Separately

WASHINGTON – The New York City Police Department said on Thursday its hate crime unit was probing anti-Muslim threats against mayoral ...

Politics /

1 hour ago

Muslim NY Mayoral Candidate Reports Threats, Jewish Ohio Lawmaker Threatened Separately

Local /

1 hour ago

It’s Final. No Live Horse Racing at Big Fresno Fair in 2025

Animals /

2 hours ago

Clover Is Eager to Bring You Good Luck and Great Joy

Local /

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Seek Help Identifying 7-Eleven Robbery Suspects

Politics 101 /

3 hours ago

Fresno Council Scraps Cannabis Advisory Group, Extends Advance Peace Funding

LA Lakers /

3 hours ago

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

Tech /

3 hours ago

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

Immigration /

3 hours ago

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

MORE LATEST →

World /

8 hours ago

As Death Toll Rises, Gazans Make Life-Risking Journeys to Seek Food

Tech /

9 hours ago

SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes in Setback to Musk’s Mars Mission

World /

9 hours ago

Israel Hits Nuclear Sites, Iran Strikes Hospital as War Escalates

Video /

11 hours ago

50 Future Soldiers Sworn in During Army’s 250th Birthday Ceremony in Clovis

Politics /

1 day ago

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

Democrats Want New Leaders, Focus on Pocketbook Issues, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes in Setback to Musk’s Mars Mission

Israel Hits Nuclear Sites, Iran Strikes Hospital as War Escalates

US Strike on Iran Would Bring Risks at Every Turn

A Little Coffee With Your Whiskey? Downtown Fresno Gets New Craft Cocktail Lounge

What Is Juneteenth and When Did It Become a US Federal Holiday?

US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say

Tucker Carlson Berates Ted Cruz Over Bellicose Stance on Iran

Share

About the Author

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

DON'T MISS

Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push

DON'T MISS

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

DON'T MISS

Netanyahu Says Fall of Iran’s Leadership Not a Goal but Could Be a Result

DON'T MISS

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

DON'T MISS

Sen. Alex Padilla: This Is How an Administration Acts When It’s Afraid

DON'T MISS

Justice Dept. to Cut Two-Thirds of Inspectors Monitoring Gun Sales

DON'T MISS

Landlords Say They’re Struggling. Rents Keep Going Up. What Gives?

DON'T MISS

CA Prison Union Strikes $600 Million Contract With Newsom That Includes Furloughs

DON'T MISS

Bay Area Transit Systems Want More Money. But Their Payrolls Soared as Ridership Declined

UP NEXT

Justice Dept. to Cut Two-Thirds of Inspectors Monitoring Gun Sales

UP NEXT

CA Prison Union Strikes $600 Million Contract With Newsom That Includes Furloughs

UP NEXT

Bay Area Transit Systems Want More Money. But Their Payrolls Soared as Ridership Declined

UP NEXT

Trump to Decide on US Action in Israel-Iran Conflict Within 2 Weeks, White House Says

UP NEXT

Whatever Happened to the New Northwest Fresno Costco?

UP NEXT

Democrats Want New Leaders, Focus on Pocketbook Issues, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

UP NEXT

Trump Says He Signed Executive Order Extending Deadline for TikTok Closing

UP NEXT

Trump Faces Uproar From MAGA Base Over Possible Iran Strike

UP NEXT

‘Any Illegal Immigrants?’ Trump Quizzes Workers at the White House

UP NEXT

US Social Security, Medicare to Run Short of Funds in 2033, Trustees Say

Fresno Police Seek Help Identifying 7-Eleven Robbery Suspects

2 hours ago

Fresno Council Scraps Cannabis Advisory Group, Extends Advance Peace Funding

3 hours ago

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

3 hours ago

Massive Security Breach: 16 Billion Passwords Leaked From Apple, Google, Facebook Accounts

3 hours ago

‘I’m an American, Bro!’: Latinos Report Raids in Which US Citizenship Is Questioned

3 hours ago

Florida Congresswoman to Revive Bipartisan Immigration Bill. Valley Leaders Join the Push

4 hours ago

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

4 hours ago

Netanyahu Says Fall of Iran’s Leadership Not a Goal but Could Be a Result

4 hours ago

Hunger Strike Begins as California Prisons Hand Down Biggest Restrictions Since COVID

5 hours ago

Sen. Alex Padilla: This Is How an Administration Acts When It’s Afraid

5 hours ago

1 hour ago

Categories

Muslim NY Mayoral Candidate Reports Threats, Jewish Ohio Lawmaker Threatened Separately

It’s Final. No Live Horse Racing at Big Fresno Fair in 2025