Superintendent hopes new curriculum will help solve Philly’s math problem: Just 15% of students meet state standards

By Mike DeNardo

On July 6, 2023

To make room for new textbooks and materials, the district is giving away thousands of old math books 

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first phase of Superintendent Tony Watlington’s $70 million curriculum overhaul will start in September, when the school district begins using new math textbooks and materials for kindergarten through grade 12.

Many of the old books were sent home with students last month, said Emily Faxon, a School District of Philadelphia project manager.

“We did an initial push for schools to give textbooks and workbooks directly to students and families in the last days of school.  So students just took them home with them,” she said.

That left about 50,000 books, so the district is offering them free to parents and community groups. Even if they don’t precisely align with the incoming materials, the old books still have educational value, says Karen Kolsky, a special assistant in the district’s Office of Academic Services.

“I’m super excited to always solve mathematical problems in a variety of ways. There’s no set way to solve [mathematical problems], so I think any kind of reinforcement is really helpful for our students,” she said.

That’s especially true in a district where only 15% of students met state standards for math last year.

Aside from the educational value there are practical reasons for giving away the old texts, Kolsky said: The district needs to make room at every school for the new materials, which will be arriving at the end of July or beginning of August.

Teachers will have their first look at the new materials, from Imagine Learning, as soon as next week.

Parents or organizations interested in receiving the old math materials can direct their inquiries to the school district via email.

This piece was republished from the Audacy.com.