NCTM Welcomes National Math Panel’s Focus on Strengthening Math Education

Reston, Va., March 13, 2008 -The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) welcomes the release today of the National Mathematics Advisory Panel report and the unprecedented focus it brings to the mathematics education of America's students. The report addresses many of the actions needed to provide a strong mathematics education for all students and to keep America prosperous and secure in the 21st century.

Created in 2006 by an executive order of President Bush, the Panel was charged to examine and summarize the scientific evidence related to the teaching and learning of mathematics, with a specific focus on preparation for and success in learning algebra. Students who successfully complete algebra, long considered a gatekeeper to future academic and career success, are better prepared for college and have greater opportunities after high school graduation. The Panel also analyzed what must be developed in pre-K through grade 8 and identified a set of Critical Foundations and accompanying Benchmarks as essential prerequisites for algebra.

"We applaud the Panel's recommendation that the mathematics curriculum for Pre-K to grade 8 should be streamlined to emphasize the most critical topics in those early grades," said Jim Rubillo, Executive Director of NCTM. "This reinforces the Council's identification of the most important mathematical topics for each grade level in the release of its Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics in 2006."

Providing a solid grounding in mathematics should begin with each child's introduction to schooling and continue as children learn important mathematical concepts, develop proficiency, and solve problems. To reach this goal, NCTM concurs with the Panel's emphasis on preparing and retaining highly qualified and effective classroom teachers. The Council also supports increased research in instruction, learning, improving teacher effectiveness, including preservice teacher education and professional development, and also in assessment.

While many of the recommendations in the Panel's report are supported by high-quality research, others extend beyond the report's definition of research. The use of calculators, student preparedness for algebra, and effective approaches for teacher retention will require extensive and ongoing research in order to identify approaches that can be broadly applied.

The report also highlights the differences between the American public's view of the importance and utility of learning mathematics and those of other countries. Ensuring America's stature as the world's leader hinges on our ability to educate all students as we move into an era with increased technical demands.

The Panel's recommendations are only a first step in preparing America's students to not only excel in mathematics, but to become leaders in the fields of science, engineering, and research. The Council urges the administration to provide the funding to put the Panel's recommendations into action and to identify and develop expanded, rigorous research needed to guide future actions.

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics is a public voice of mathematics education, providing vision, leadership, and professional development to support teachers in ensuring mathematics learning of the highest quality for all students. With more than 100,000 members and 230 Affiliates, NCTM is the world's largest organization dedicated to improving mathematics education in prekindergarten through grade 12. The Council's Principles and Standards for School Mathematics includes guidelines for excellence in mathematics education. Its Curriculum Focal Points for Prekindergarten through Grade 8 Mathematics: A Quest for Coherence , released in 2006, identifies the most important mathematical topics for each grade level.

Media contact: Gay Dillin, Media Relations Manager, (703) 620-9840, ext. 2189.