Maryland education leaders set to approve new math policy that would affect all grades

ROCKVILLE, Md. (7News) — The Maryland State Board of Education meets Tuesday in Annapolis at 9 a.m. to consider adopting the Prek-12 Comprehensive Mathematics Policy.

The goal is to prepare students to apply math skills in the real world and enhance their college and career readiness.

7News took a closer look at the 24-page document and learned it aligns with some of the goals of The Blueprint for Maryland's Future.

The policy emphasizes “equitable access to rigorous, relevant, and high-quality math for all students.”

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7News reached out to the Director of Mathematics for the Maryland State Department of Education, Lyndsey Brightful, who explained for the first time the proposal provides a statewide policy for math instruction.

Other changes include accelerated learning which would advance high-performing students to work above grade level starting in the third grade.

High school students would be able to access instruction integration -- That means core content in subjects like algebra, geometry and statistics would be combined.

Maryland State Education Association President Paul Lemle told us the policy also calls for a minimum of 60 minutes of math instruction per day for kindergarten through eighth grade students.

He said his main concern now is implementation.

“One thing that that's important is we want to see educators learn this stuff to plan and to work with each other on it and we want to see students have adequate time,” Lemle stated.

He added that teachers support the plan but he believes the community should have received more time to review the most recent version of the policy.

Lemle told 7News that MSDE released it on March 19.

“They should have introduced their final version of the policy that they're proposing to the State Board of Education. They should [have] let the public see that sooner,” he said.

If approved, the new math policy will be implemented over five years.

MSDE said this spring and summer district leaders will receive training and teachers will be trained next spring.

If you have questions or concerns about the policy contact Lyndsey Brightful of MSDE at lyndsey.brightful@maryland.gov.