‘Focal Points’ Being Eyed in Math-Standards Revisions

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is promoting its new, much-publicized curriculum guidelines among state officials and textbook publishers, two crucial audiences for the organization as it seeks to refine how that subject is taught.

So far, NCTM officials say, they have been encouraged by the response. The organization has been in touch with at least 10 states that are either planning to make changes to their math standards to reflect principles in the document or are considering such revisions.

In addition, association officials met last week with about 20 representatives of the textbook-publishing industry to explain the content of the new guidelines, “Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten Through Grade 8 Mathematics,” NCTM President Francis...