Entire school districts and individual school buildings are examining their efforts in helping students improve their achievement in mathematics throughout the United States. Leaders continue to be pressured to find solutions that will raise student achievement in the "short term"; all the while though, the problem has festered during the "long term". These "short term" fixes tend to illuminate testing practices, clue word identification, mnemonic devices, and a focus on exercises that resemble test-like situations.
For those leaders looking to the long term as well, the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) has authored an ongoing series of position papers that address improving student achievement in mathematics. These brief position papers outline "long term" adjustments that intend to sustain and grow further improvement of your mathematics program.
#1-Improving Student Achievement by Leading Effective Collaborative Teams of Mathematics Teachers (Fall 2007)
This paper provides direction for the elimination of inequities often caused by the privatization of teacher practice. The paper establishes the necessity for the use of high-performing grade level and course-level teacher teams.
Download the position paper (pdf)
#2-Improving Student Achievement by Leading Sustained Professional Learning for Mathematics Content and Pedagogical Knowledge Development (Fall 2007)
This paper provides direction for creating ongoing context-based adult learning (or professional development) for the express purpose of impacting student learning.
Download the position paper (pdf)
#3-Improving Student Achievement by Leading the Pursuit of a Vision for Equity (Spring 2008)
This paper provides direction for systematically addressing equity in student achievement by reframing the inequity perspective of "achievement gap" to an "opportunity gap" (Flores, 2007) and by promoting the effective use of professional learning communities to impact adult and student development in mathematics.
Download the position paper (pdf)
#4-Improving Student Achievement in Mathematics for Students with Special Needs (Winter 2008)
This paper provides direction for meeting the needs of students with special needs through strategic customization of instruction and assessment and through collaboration among those with content expertise and special education expertise.
Download the position paper (pdf)
