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High‑school teachers recommend Desmos for pre‑algebra and Thinking Mathematically after pilot showing diagnostic gains
Summary
District staff presented pilot results and recommended Desmos-based curricula for high-school pre‑algebra and Thinking Mathematically courses; seven‑year licensing costs were estimated at about $149,178 including professional development.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Holly Putnam Jackson presented teacher feedback and pilot results for recommended high‑school materials for pre‑algebra and Thinking Mathematically.
Teachers piloted multiple programs for each course: for pre‑algebra they piloted Rebuild Math (aligned with district algebra adoption) and Desmos (Amplify); for Thinking Mathematically they piloted Agile Mind and Desmos Thinking Math. After classroom pilots and rubric scoring, teachers recommended Desmos for both courses because it identifies standards at the section level, provides immediate student feedback, supports blended paper‑and‑pencil practice and supplies diagnostic tools teachers said helped target reteaching.
Dr. Putnam Jackson said Desmos produced evidence of student learning during the short pilot window and provided diagnostic reports that teachers found helpful to identify skill gaps. The district presented estimated seven‑year costs: Desmos pre‑algebra licensing $76,164 and Thinking Mathematically $73,014, for a combined total of $149,178; the estimate includes annual teacher training days.
The recommendation will return to the board as an action item for formal adoption after this discussion. Trustees asked questions about consistency across the high‑school math sequence, fees for course supplies and NCAA approval for courses; staff said NCAA‑eligible courses are noted in the course catalog and course fees are used to cover class‑specific supplies.
No adoption vote occurred on March 24; staff will bring a formal recommendation and purchase request at a later meeting.
