Tom Kasmirka, district math lead, told the Worthington Schools Board of Education that the district will transition its secondary mathematics sequence from the integrated Math 1/2/3 pathway to a traditional Algebra 1 → Geometry → Algebra 2 pathway. Kasmirka said standards and instruction expectations are identical between the two pathways, but the district is shifting because of implementation challenges and limited vendor and statewide support for the integrated path.

"While the standards and instruction expectations for each pathway are identical," Kasmirka told the board, "the reason for this change at this point is that ultimately it's an incongruence of implementation." He told members the district began implementing the integrated pathway in 2012–13 and started the transition this year with Algebra 1; Geometry implementation is planned for the 2026–27 school year so current students in Math 1 can complete their pathway with staggered sequencing.

Kasmirka cited operational reasons for the change: fewer vendors provide integrated-pathway resources, credit-recovery providers typically offer traditional Algebra 1 courses, and state testing pools for the integrated assessments have shrunk (he said Worthington represented roughly 6% of a 20,000-person pool in an earlier period but later represented 28% of a much smaller 5,000-person pool). He said the district has provided professional learning sessions over the summer and will continue collaborative workdays to align scope and sequence and create common formative assessments.

Board members asked whether families and students had raised concerns; Kasmirka said the district had not heard substantive pushback and that the transition is intended to better align the district with statewide assessment and resource availability. Several members thanked staff for the work and noted the change will be a heavy lift for teachers, which the district is attempting to mitigate with training.

Discussion vs. decision: the presentation was informational. Direction: the district is implementing Algebra 1 this year, will continue professional learning for teachers and plans a staggered rollout so students can finish existing sequences. No board vote was taken at the meeting.

Why it matters: the pathway change affects curriculum, course resources, teacher training and students who will take these courses and related assessments in coming years.