Timeline of Mathematics Education Developments in WA State, 1989 - Present
| 1989 | NCTM publishes Standards (Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics), which encourage calculators down to kindergarten level and de-emphasize paper-and-pencil computational proficiency, catalyzing the current iteration of reform math. NCTM Standards (1989): The NCTM no longer supports internet access to the (original) NCTM Standards. For information on the original NCTM Standards, see Understanding the Original NCTM Standards They're Not Genuine Math Standards by Bill Quirk |
| 1993 | Legislature passes Education Reform Act (HB1209) which results in development of academic standards (EALRs) and WASL. |
| 1995 | WA adopts EALRS (standards) written by OSPI and aligned to NCTM standards. Statewide movement toward adoption of NCTM standards-based programs (TERC Investigations, Everyday Math, Connected Math, other NSF-funded "reform" programs) begins. |
| February 26, 1997 | The Essential Academic Learning Requirements in Mathematics approved WASHINGTON STATE COMMISSION ON STUDENT LEARNING Reformatted June 1998 |
| 2000 |  NCTM pubishes Principles and Standards for School Mathematics |
| March 2000 | Using Research to Shift From the “Yesterday” Mind to the “Tomorrow” Mind Teaching and Learning Mathematics OSPI publication |
| 2001 | No Child Left Behind enacted by US Congress. In order to satisfy NCLB, OSPI repurposes WASL (which was never designed to test individual student performance, but rather schools and school districts) to not only test individual students but to serve as a graduation requirement. |
| 2004 |  Mathematics K–10 Grade Level Expectations: A New Level of Specificity Washington State’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements for Mathematics |
| 2005 |  Thomas B. Fordham Foundation publishes The State of State Math Standards 2005, which rates WA math standards "F" (same “F” rating previously given in 1998 and 2000); WTM organizes to advocate for internationally competitive math in WA. |
| 2006 |  NCTM publishes Curriculum Focal Points for K-8, which call for computational fluency using standard algorithms. Despite public and press perception, NCTM denies any reversal of its stance on computation. |
| February 2006 | Rep. Glenn Anderson introduces a bill to adopt the math standards of Singapore as the WA State standards. HB 2506 |
| September 8, 2006 | Mathematics (Edition 2) K–12 Grade Level Expectations:A New Level of Specificity Working Draft pdf download 12MB Washington State’s Essential Academic Learning Requirements (this set of standards was used in many classrooms) Still available on OSPI website 2006 Mathematics Standards and Grade Level Expectations also available to download here 2006 Math EARLS Draft |
| April 2007 | Legislature passes 2SHB 1906 - Improving Mathematics and Science Education, mandating OSPI revision of WA math standards (with State Board of Education oversight) using Singapore (among others) as exemplar. |
| April 2007 | Legislature passes SB 6023 - Math and Science WASL amendments: delays passing math WASL as graduation requirement until 2013, provides for use of alternative assessments for math. |
| June 30, 2007 | Teaching Math in Washington’s High Schools: Insights from a Survey of Teachers in High Performing or Improving Schools Conducted by: University of Washington, College of Education for The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Download from OSPI. Alternate download. |
| August 2007 | Strategic Teaching publishes Washington State Mathematics Standards Review and Recommendations, which gives WA math standards lowest possible marks in Depth, Grade-to-Grade Coherence, Measurability, Accessibility and Balance. |
| Sept-Dec 2007 | Dana Center, University of Texas (highest bidder) contracted by OSPI for Mathematics Standards Revision. Preliminary Draft revisions widely criticized for failure to meet Strategic Teaching's report recommendations. |
| January 2008 |  Where's the Math? releases Washington Exemplary Mathematics Standards: 2008 (v1) to OSPI and legislature, providing its vision of math standards for WA comparable to high math achieving states and nations. |
| March 2008 | Legislature passes SB 6534 in response to OSPI's failure to produce acceptable math standards, Directs SBE to retain a national consultant to analyze the February August 2008 version of revised mathematics standards from SPI and make specific recommendations for changes needed to finalize the standards. |
| March 2008 | Legislature passes 2SHB 2598 Directing the office of the superintendent of public instruction to issue a request for proposals for development of an online mathematics curriculum.OSPI must conduct a survey of the mathematics curricula used by school districts, and the districts' curricula purchasing cycles, and report the results to the Legislature by November 15, 2008. |
| March 13 2008 |  National Mathematics Advisory Panel (NMAP) publishes its final report, Foundations for Success, which calls for "automatic recall" of basic math facts and computational "fluency with the standard algorithms" along with instruction leading to and supporting a true Algebra 1 proficiency. |
| July 2008 | Washington State Guidance for Selection of Instructional Materials To Meet District and State Standards OSPI publication |
| August 2008 | Final K-12 Mathematics Standards approved after SBE/Strategic Teaching oversight. |
| August 2008 | OSPI/Relevant Strategies 2008 Mathematics Instructional Materials Review & Recommendations Preliminary Draft Report: Grades K-8 ranks Singapore Math dead last among 12 elementary programs reviewed. Ranks the four top elementary math curricula (in descending order) Math Connects, Bridges in Math, Investigations in Math (TERC) & Math Expressions. Ranks the three top middle school math curricula Holt Math, Math Connects & Prentice Hall Math. |
| August 2008 | Guidelines for accelerating students into high school mathematics in grade 8 OSPI document for accelerating using the 2008 math standards Click here for alternate download location. |
| Sept 24, 2008 | Bergeson makes a premature recommendation to SBE on curriculum programs for K-8, including Bridges for K-5. SBE had contracted with ST for a review of the top four books and their review was not complete. |
| Oct 2008 Nov. 2008 | Strategic Teaching releases 1) Independent Study of Washington State K-8 Curriculum Review Nov. 2008 Final Report, 2) Review of Mathematical Soundness W. Stephen Wilson, Ph.D., 3) Copy of 2008-10-9 OSPI and ST DATA. Report #2 finds Bridges and Investigations deficient in preparing students to advance further in mathematics. |
| Nov 2008 | School District Mathematics Curricula Adoption and Usage Report to the Legislature OSPI |
| Updated December 5, 2008 | OSPI/Relevant Strategies 2008 Mathematics Core Comprehensive Materials Review & Recommendations Report Final Version Grades K-8 |
| April 2009 | SB 5414 - 2009-10 Implementing recommendations of the WASL legislative work group.Revised for 1st Substitute: Regarding statewide assessments and curricula. |
| April 9, 2009 | High School Mathematics Curriculum Review Update memo from Alan Burke, Deputy Superintendent, K-12 Education, OSPI and Greta Bornemann, Mathematics Director, Teaching and Learning, OSPI to School District Leaders, Mathematics Educators Links to many of the reports mentioned in this memo can be found here. |
| May 5, 2009 | MEMORANDUM NO. 028-09M K-12 Education Randy I. Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction RE: High School Mathematics Core/Comprehensive Instructional Materials final recommendations, pursuant to 2007 House Bill 1906 The final recommendation for high school is: Holt Mathematics. |
| Updated June 15, 2009 | OSPI/Relevant Strategies 2008 High School Mathematics Core Comprehensive Materials Review & Recommendations Report Final Recommendations |
| October 1, 2009 | OSPI released Measurements of Student Progress Test and Item Specifications Grades 3-5 Mathematics (PDF) Test and Item Specifications Grades 6-8 Mathematics (PDF) |
| October 2009 | Washington’s “Race to the Top” Proposal pdf October 2009 Overview document |
| November 2009 | Mathematics Assessment Changes for 2010 and Beyond Measurements of Student Progress (Grades 3-8) High School Proficiency Exam |
| December 11, 2009 | OSPI released revised versions of Test and Item Specifications Grades 3-5 Mathematics (PDF) Test and Item Specifications Grades 6-8 Mathematics (PDF) |
| April 2010 | OSPI clearly states the high school math recommendation in two documents posted on their website. Superintendent's Recommendation The two documents can be downloaded there or at the following links. K-12 Mathematics Instructional Materials Recommendations Background on High School Math Curricula Recommendation – Holt Mathematics April 8, 20010 |
| June 23, 2010 | Washington State submits Race to the Top Assessment Program Application for New Grants on Behlaf of the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium. Signatures on application are Gov. Gregoire, Supt. Dorn, and the president of the State Board of Education. |
| August 27, 2010 | Test and Item Specifications revised Test and Item Specifications Grades 3-5 Test and Item Specifications Grades 6-8 High School End of Course (EOC) Test Item Specs released Test and item Specifications Algebra 1 Test and item Specifications Geometry Test and Item Specifications Mathematics 1 Test and Item Specifications Mathematics 2 These can be found and downloaded at the OSPI Mathematics Test and Item Specifications web page. If for some reason the page changes or these documents are moved, these documents can be downloaded by clicking the linked document titles above. |
Washington State Standards and Curriculum
selected reports from Strategic Teaching
- Washington State Standards Review August 30, 2007
- Washington State Second Benchmark Report April 11, 2008
- Washington State K - 8 Mathematics Standards April 28, 2008
- Washington State Standards for High School July 2008
- Review of K-8 Mathematics Texts for Soundness by W. Stephen Wilson
- Study of OSPI's K-8 Curriculum Review November 5, 2008
- Washington State High School Math Text Review by W. Stephen Wilson March2009
- A Review of Four High School Programs by Guershon Harel
- Summary Report on Mathematical Soundness by Linda Plattner March 11, 2009
OSPI Publications Downloads See listing of OSPI publications and download those you want or need.
OSPI Data Files for Downloading
Textbook Alignment With Washington State Learning Standards: Summary of OSPI’s Review—Revised
Washington State Institute for Public Policy January 2007