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Curriculum
Topic

Math and Science

California is in the midst of major reforms in the way math is taught based on the Common Core standards. It is also implementing new approaches to teaching science as a result of the state’s adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards. At the same time, the state faces a shortage of teachers in both math and science. How well students do in each of these major areas of the curriculum have long-range implications for California’s future.
January 15, 2020

New push in California to increase diversity among math and science teachers

For years the need for trained and qualified teachers has been growing in schools across California, especially in math and science.

Sydney Johnson
December 11, 2019

California parents, preschool teachers learn to teach math through children’s books

A series of activities designed to teach math concepts inspired by children’s books is being piloted as part of a statewide early math initiative.

Zaidee Stavely
December 3, 2019

U.S. math scores remain flat on international test of 15-year-olds

U.S. math scores have not budged significantly since 2003 on the worldwide assessment.

Sydney Johnson
November 20, 2019

CSU leaders appear ready to move forward with requiring extra year of high school math despite concerns

Opponents include state leaders and activists, who reiterated fears that the change will harm black, Latino and low-income students.

Michael Burke
November 19, 2019

California must build the capacity of its public universities to admit more computer science majors

The state is promoting computer science in K-12 schools, but UC and CSU colleges lack bandwidth to meet the demand.

Trish Boyd Williams and Sathya Narayanan
November 18, 2019

Students talk through math in this California school. Now test scores are rising.

Math scores for Latino students have more than doubled at Robbins Elementary since 2014-15.

Sydney Johnson
November 1, 2019

As fires rage, pressure mounts to train California’s next generation of forest stewards

Similar to other STEM fields, employers in California’s natural resources industries are in need of a larger and more diverse pool of applicants.

Sydney Johnson
October 18, 2019

How one high school's dispute reflects the struggle to teach California’s science standards 

California’s new science standards emphasize an approach that combines scientific disciplines.

Sydney Johnson
October 15, 2019

Full-day kindergarten, STEM seal, Laotian history are among Gov. Newsom’s final vetoes

Here are a half-dozen K-12 and early education bills that the governor vetoed or signed on the last day crunch — and why.

John Fensterwald
October 11, 2019

For better insights into California's new test results, look at achievement over time

Analytical tools that are available but not used can help schools better understand how to improve student performance.

David Wakelyn
October 10, 2019

How did students at your child’s school do on Smarter Balanced tests?

Readers can access results for California’s Smarter Balanced tests taken by students in the spring in nearly 10,000 school statewide.

Diana Lambert
October 9, 2019

Slow growth, big disparities after 5 years of Smarter Balanced tests

Average scores have been rising in English language arts, but dropping in math as students progress through middle and high school — a cause for worry.

John Fensterwald And Daniel J. Willis
October 8, 2019

Teachers and students push for climate change education in California

Dozens of districts across the state have adopted policies and resolutions targeting climate change.

Sydney Johnson
September 26, 2019

More math adds up to more Long Beach high school students eligible for college

Some warn that it will be difficult for other districts to increase math graduation requirements due to budget and staffing constraints.

Sydney Johnson
September 25, 2019

Push to require more high school math in California would exempt some students

CSU has also pledged $10 million to train more math and science teachers, but skeptics question whether that investment will be sufficient.

Michael Burke