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Board adopts Illustrative Mathematics for middle schools and approves AP Precalculus materials
Summary
The board approved Illustrative Mathematics as the district’s middle-school high‑quality instructional materials (estimated first-year cost $115,000, five-year ~$275,000) and approved Mathematic AP Precalculus materials for high school AP precalculus; both adoptions include professional learning plans for teachers and administrators.
Harford County's board voted to adopt Illustrative Mathematics as the district’s high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) for middle school mathematics and to approve AP Precalculus materials recommended by the curriculum review committees.
The district described a three-stage materials-review process (prepare, study, decide) conducted with an MSDE-aligned rubric and educator review committees. Illustrative Mathematics received strong support from reviewers (the district reported 90% of committee members ranked it most viable), and staff cited targeted gaps and lower five-year cost estimates for Illustrative Mathematics ($115,000 initial year; roughly $40,000 annual thereafter; five-year total ~ $275,000) compared with other vendors whose five-year costs would exceed $1 million.
For AP Precalculus, the review committee considered College Board–aligned offerings and recommended a product the committee identified as 'Mathematic' (open educational resource) with lower projected costs (district cited examples around $114,000 for some add-on features). Supervisors said Illustrative Mathematics includes point-of-use access supports for students receiving special education services and multilingual learners and that the district has a professional learning plan to support teacher implementation. The board approved both adoptions by voice vote. Staff said the district will monitor implementation and return with data as needed.
Board members asked how the district will support struggling students amid shifts to integrated algebra and compressed sequences; staff pointed to advisory time for personalized math instruction and built-in access supports in the curricular materials.
