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Norwalk subcommittee adopts K–12 math ‘vision,’ narrows high-school curriculum options for 2026–27 pilot
Summary
Norwalk Public Schools’ curriculum subcommittee on April 28 reviewed a draft K–12 math vision and core beliefs, described criteria used to evaluate high-school curricula, and said it has narrowed candidate materials for a 2026–27 pilot that will inform a later recommendation to the full board.
NORWALK, Conn. — The Norwalk Public Schools curriculum subcommittee on April 28 reviewed a new district math vision and core beliefs and outlined plans to pilot two candidate high‑school instructional programs in 2026–27 before recommending a final curriculum to the full school board.
The subcommittee meeting featured presentations from district staff and partners at TNTP, who said the effort is driven by data showing persistent gaps in math proficiency among low‑income students, students of color, girls, English‑language learners and students with disabilities. Dion Walton of TNTP said the district’s work aims to create a single “North Star” that aligns K–12 instruction and expectations.
Why it matters: District leaders said consistent, grade‑level rigor across K–12 classrooms is central to helping students access higher‑level opportunities. Rob Pennington and assistant administrators described the initiative as a continuation of last year’s literacy vision, with the same emphasis on shared language, professional learning and coherence.
“Because our students are not performing at the level we want them to, and we have such a diverse group of learners in Norwalk, they all deserve the opportunity to be successful in math,” said George Albano, instructional coach and instructional lead at Norwalk High School, citing committee findings and research they reviewed.
What the district presented - Core beliefs and vision: Staff said the committee developed a set of research‑grounded core beliefs—emphasizing grade‑level rigor, student discourse, depth (conceptual understanding plus procedural fluency), coherence across grades, belonging, and language that enables access for multilingual learners. - Evaluation tool and standards: The district used the Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool (IMET) from Achieve the Core, aligned to the Common Core standards, to apply objective criteria and nonnegotiables in evaluating materials. - Candidate curricula: Staff listed five packages they reviewed for algebra, geometry and algebra II: Pearson Envision (standard sequence), Reveal (integrated and standard sequences), Illustrative Mathematics (as packaged by different vendors), and an Imagine Learning/Illustrative Mathematics option. Misty Hofer, education administrator for STEM, said the committee eliminated one option in early April and is now down to four, with further narrowing happening at recent meetings.
On piloting: Misty Hofer said the district has chosen materials to pilot but has not yet selected specific units. She described a pilot structure the committee is refining: teachers would teach the same topic using one curriculum across teams and later compare to the other curriculum on a different topic so that professional learning and teacher collaboration remain aligned. “We have now chosen the materials for piloting, but we have not yet chosen the units that will be piloted,” Hofer said.
Staff emphasized that K–8 materials will not change this year; they noted K–8 resources have produced year‑over‑year gains and have been supplemented where needed. The pilot will focus on the high‑school sequence and is planned for the 2026–27 school year, with broader stakeholder feedback and professional learning built into rollout plans.
Next steps: The team plans continued stakeholder input (including families and students), professional learning for staff, refinement of pilot units and learning walks next year. The subcommittee expects to return with a curriculum recommendation for the high school, which would then be forwarded to the full Norwalk board for approval.
Speakers and attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article come from participants who spoke at the April 28 curriculum subcommittee meeting, including Rob Pennington (district staff), Dion Walton and Meredith Burdick (TNTP partners), George Albano (instructional coach, Norwalk High School), Misty Hofer (education administrator for STEM) and Kadir (assistant principal, P TECH). The meeting recording and materials were cited during the presentation; no formal motions or votes were recorded at this session.
The subcommittee adjourned after the presentations; staff said absent members could review the meeting recording.
