Committee hears bill to set statewide math teacher competencies, screening and $1.2M for training

Senators and education officials described Senate Bill 2,213 as a statewide effort to strengthen math instruction during a House Education Committee hearing; the bill would add new mathematics-instruction competencies to teacher licensure, require screening and targeted interventions for students with math deficiencies, set administrative rulemaking and reporting requirements, and provide $1,200,000 for professional development and coaching.

Senator Don Schaible, who introduced the bill, told the committee the measure was modeled on North Dakota’s recent “science of reading” work and is intended to mirror that approach for mathematics. “Senate bill 2,213 attempts to make the same improvements to the implementation of our math instruction,” Schaible said, summarizing the bill’s scope and the areas it would change in licensure and classroom practice.

The bill would add math-competency language to teacher licensing (separate sections addressing grades 6–12 and grades 1–8), define foundational skills and assessment expectations, require screening for students with mathematics deficiencies and parent notification during that…