AGENDA ITEM #34  INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION: SECONDARY MATHEMATICS – ALGEBRA 2/TRIGONOMETRY HONORS, GRADE 9-12

Board Agenda at page 1,355

Board Audio at 3:14:37

Moved by Trustee Jones

2nd by Trustee Holloway

Motion to adopt new Algebra II/Trig textbooks for Aliso Niguel High School and Dana Hills High School and NOT the other four high schools passed 7-0

Cost: $8,000 for two schools ($4,000 per school X 6 High Schools = $24,000)

CUSDWatch Comment

The Williams Act requires Equity in Public Education - all high schools should receive the new text books- not just two.

CUSDWatch Comment

Interesting Comments by Trustees Gila Jones and Martha McNicholas - "Math has not changed since 2005 so there is no need to buy everyone a new book". Common Core Math was implemented in 2012-13. This is going from the 7th edition to the 10th edition... nothing has changed?  

CUSDWatch Comment

Maybe CUSD should stop using text book money for raises so that all students can have the same text book. CUSD has given employees five consecutive years of across the board compensation increases totaling over $150 million dollars.

A Williams Complaint should be filed.

Background:

The District is currently using the adopted Algebra & Trigonometry ©2005 (seventh edition) textbook by Michael Sullivan, published by Pearson, for Honors Algebra 2/Trigonometry (Trig) students in grade 9-12.

Copies of this edition are no longer available through either Pearson or after-market outlets. In order to ensure that all students have access to the Algebra and Trig textbook in future years, the District must now purchase the tenth edition of this same book to ensure compliance with the Williams Act.

The author (Sullivan) and publisher (Pearson) remain the same for this newer edition. This tenth edition version is similar to the currently adopted seventh edition version; the curriculum for the Honors Algebra 2/Trig textbook will be essentially the same whether a student has the seventh edition or the tenth edition of this text.

Parents should file Williams Complaints on behalf of their student.

Source: California Department of Education

Williams Complaints

A Williams Complaint, another type of UCP complaint, regards instructional materials, emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of pupils, and teacher vacancy or misassignment and may be filed anonymously. Williams Complaints are filed with the principal, or their designee, of the school in which the complaint arises. Schools have complaint forms available for these types of complaints, but will not reject a complaint if the form is not used as long as the complaint is submitted in writing.

If a Williams Complaint requirement is allegedly not being met, a Williams Complaint form may be obtained at a school office, an agency/district office, or by clicking on the CDE web page to obtain a sample Williams Complaint form

How do I file a complaint?

See Complaints in the CDE FAQs.