Wauwatosa board to vote Oct. 27 on major math curriculum overhaul and new high‑school courses

The Wauwatosa School Board heard a multi‑hour presentation on Monday about a sweeping set of recommended curriculum changes that would affect elementary through high‑school classrooms if the board approves the package at its Oct. 27 meeting.

District curriculum staff recommended Amplify Desmos as the elementary math resource and Illustrative Mathematics for secondary classrooms. Staff said both choices emerged from a multi‑step review that used a research rubric (described during the presentation as a ‘‘hexagon’’ evaluation tool) and included teachers, special‑education and multilingual educators. The package the district shared with the board includes materials, seven years of student consumables and digital licenses, teacher manuals, manipulatives and professional learning.

At the secondary level, staff outlined a set of pathway changes: a heterogeneous Math 6 course that combines current Math 6 and accelerated Math 6 with in‑class differentiation; an integrated‑math approach for grades 9–10; and options to expand access to pre‑calculus and AP Calculus in grades 11–12. Staff said acceleration would still be available, but that some topics (for example, certain work on quadratic functions) would be shifted later to permit more depth and repeated exposure. The director of curriculum and instructional coaches emphasized monitoring plans that include common assessments, diagnostic checks and dedicated coaching time.

The board also heard proposals for new high‑school course offerings, including a Data Science course; an English 11 course using CommonLit 360 to ensure alignment with 11th‑ and 12th‑grade standards; a consolidated Multicultural Literature elective (combining several single‑semester offerings) and a Media Message course that blends journalism and digital communication for juniors and seniors. District staff described the electives and dual‑enrollment Latin options as part of a three‑year plan that seeks to balance standards alignment, staffing and students’ access to rigorous coursework.

Trustees pressed staff on details. Several asked how families and teachers will be supported with the systemic shift to heterogeneous middle‑school math and whether gifted students will still have acceleration routes; staff replied that acceleration remains available and that instructional coaches and diagnostic tools will provide layered supports. Board members expressed concern about consolidating a previously offered Black Literature course into a broader multicultural course and asked that staff expand community engagement so impacted families and community members can weigh in before the board votes.

Staff told the board that the proposed purchases are planned to be funded primarily from the district’s operational referendum revenue and explained that the curriculum cost line includes multi‑year materials and training. Materials will be posted online for community review; copyrighted items will be available at the district office for inspection through Oct. 27.

If the board approves the recommendations on Oct. 27, staff said implementation will include professional learning, continued teacher coaching, monitoring of student outcomes and periodic review to refine the rollout.

The presentation and board discussion concluded with staff committing to additional outreach and to providing more detailed documentation ahead of the vote.