Bold action is needed now for middle school math

El Cerrito Patch provides an interesting window into general perceptions of local public schools. Patch commenters brought to light many of WCCUSD's perceived deficiencies. It must look terribly discouraging to the concerned parent, and should cause them to search for options. Flee to Albany or Lamorinda? Pay massively for private school? Exclude our most troubled students?

The path with the least cost and most benefit is to improve WCCUSD for all its students. El Cerrito parents have an emergent opportunity to push for a potent initiative. With a focused effort, we can deeply address one need while forming problem-solving template to resolve our many issues. Implore our board to use a one-time surplus to intensively improve middle school math instruction.

West Contra Costa USD, by way of fiscal prudence, finds itself with a pleasant surprise. Money was taken from programming and set aside against State “trigger” cuts, which didn't come. It is now a small surplus that needs a purpose. We now have an opportunity to comprehensively address a core academic issue in a sweeping, bold manner: This Saturday, Jan. 7, the WCCUSD Board will assign the funds at their annual retreat.

Our moment creates many competing needs, and legitimate cases can be made for many expenditures. Our most vital priority, however, is middle and high school student achievement, especially in math. The board must hear parent and taxpayer voices advocating this position, offsetting pressures to spend on our other myriad needs.

Why middle school math? Two reasons. First, it's sound policy. In a sweeping study of California middle grade math performance, the education research organization EdSource found that seventh grade math proficiency was pivotal to later grade performance. Unless students were proficient or above by this stage, they were likely struggle through the remainder of high school , WCCUSD's seventh grade students were only 35 percent proficient or advanced last year, a terrible harbinger.

Edsource showed only those seventh graders proficient or higher were likely to succeed in eighth grade algebra. Urban school policy holds that demanding ever higher expectations will translate into student success. High expectations alone, without the means to support them, isn't working. Not only do districts serving poor and minority students have much lower math proficiency rates, they are far more likely to place eighth graders in algebra than more affluent districts. Ninety percent of WCCUSD eighth graders take algebra, although only 35 percent tested proficient or above by the end of grade 7, resulting in eighth grade algebra proficiencies of 17 percent.

Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, on his visit to an Oakland charter school noted that algebra students were struggling with math facts. His unvarnished opinion,” you can't do algebra until you can do fractions.” Sink or swim isn't made more effective by deepening the pool.

My second reason in speaking for math is experience. In 15 years and countless hours working with and for our kids, I've tutored hundreds of kids in subjects from reading to chemistry. I brought the WriterCoach Connection to WCCUSD, and created the Portola Math Club. I've talked with numerous parents, teachers and administrators. Among people who know our kids' needs well, a near consensus exists on the need to improve middle school math achievement in WCCUSD schools.

The move will be a game changer. Of all core subjects, math is the least dependent on a student's cultural background and home language, a huge plus in our diverse schools. Some of our highest scoring math achievers are immigrant students with little English. Math is the gateway subject, providing strong foundations for other STEM areas. Once a student grasps the reasoning behind the practice, a veil is lifted and success builds upon itself. Careers that require math will be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

WCCUSD recognizes that middle school math success is vital for our stidents' futures. Athe district is responding with some strong efforts. WCCUSD has a respected new math team with innovative instruction. This year, the district is placing math coaches in middle school with to enhance teacher effectiveness. These are promising improvements, but we can... must, do more. By using our surplus to solidify math learning in middle grades, WCCUSD will set the stage for much greater high school success.

The trigger funds were taken from money for improved student learning, our area of greatest need. The board now has the opportunity to return those funds in a very focused, pivotal effort to transform student outcomes. Serendipitously, the financial crisis provided an incredible opportunity to do something powerful for student learning. Let's not waste it.

Next Saturday morning at 9 a.m., I will speak at LaVonya DeJean for public comment advocating the position above. If my voice is solitary, our community will send it's usual message and the board can justifiably dismiss my grousing. Our complacent status quo will once again work against students. Our kids fail only when, as a community, we allow it.