Math Teachers Strive to Bring Core to At-Risk Students

The Common Core State Standards for mathematics, now being introduced in schools across the country, set new grade-by-grade expectations for deepening students' understanding of math concepts, with an emphasis on algebraic thinking.

But while many accomplished math teachers are enthusiastic about the standards' emphasis on mathematical reasoning and strategic expertise over rote computation, some say the transition to the new framework poses daunting challenges for students who are already behind in math.

"Every time I talk to other teachers, this issue comes up," said Silvestre Arcos, the founding math teacher at KIPP Washington Heights Middle School, a charter school in New York City. "The big question is, how do we build up these advanced skills with kids...