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San Mateo'Foster City district outlines K'8 math strategy and launches elementary curriculum review
Summary
District math leaders presented a K'8 program that emphasizes student agency, multiple representations and coaching support, cited gains in algebra access and CAASPP results, and announced a spring review of elementary curriculum with a teacher selection committee.
Kena Cook, executive director of curriculum and instruction, told the San Mateo'Foster City School District board at a study session that the district's K'8 math work is focused on "transforming teaching and learning" to center student experience and teacher practice. The presentation described classroom routines, coaching supports and data the district is using to track progress.
Cook and math coordinator Amy Burke said the program emphasizes low-floor/high-ceiling tasks, multiple representations (numeric, graphical and technical writing) and structured classroom discourse so students can "share their thinking, use multiple representations and build on the ideas of others." Teachers demonstrated an abridged activity (estimating height with stacked cups) to illustrate proportional reasoning, extension tasks and coaching cycles used in classrooms.
The district presented implementation supports that include math TOSAs (teachers on special assignment), scheduled release time for coaching, curriculum-embedded unit assessments and twice-yearly calibration of student work to align scoring across sites. Presenters said site placement for TOSAs has been informed by student-performance data and that Title I schools received priority for full-time TOSA support.
Leaders also reviewed pathway options in middle school: a recommended heterogeneous 6'7'8 sequence for all students, a double-period 8th-grade option for students who opt for more time on math, and a proficiency pathway that allows students to demonstrate readiness and move to an accelerated course. The presentation included historical enrollment figures for algebra access (the district reported about 172 students accessing algebra in 2021'22 and subsequent annual increases as double-math options were added) and sample CAASPP/CASP results for eighth grade (examples cited: 47% meeting/exceeding in 2021, a dip in 2022, and 52% in the most recent year), with district N moving roughly from 450 to about 520 in the latest year.
On elementary curriculum, presenters said their team has curated materials beyond the adopted digital component (referred to in the presentation as "Zern") and will begin a formal elementary curriculum review this spring. The review will convene a teacher selection committee and run over the next year to 18 months; district staff said they will seek alignment to the California Mathematics Framework and the district's strategic plan goals of achievement, wellness and equity.
Next steps: the district will return to the board with midyear and site-level data, stand up teacher committees for the elementary curriculum adoption process, and continue outreach to families on pathway options and proficiency opportunities.
