'Common Core' High-School Math Curriculum Offered

By Peter West

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has published a document designed to help high schools make the transition from existing math curricula that distinguish between the college-bound and other students to a "common core'' of learning that engages all students.

"This [approach] stands in contrast to the multi-tracked system in this country,'' said Christian R. Hirsch, a professor of mathematics and math education at Western Michigan University who edited the guide. "Currently, there is virtually no commonality between the sequences.''

The document, "A Core Curriculum: Making Mathematics Count for Everyone,'' which was released last week, is one in a series of reports making up an "addenda series'' of papers designed to amplify themes contained in the N.C.T.M.'s "Curriculum and Evaluation...