RESOURCE AVAILABLE

Every Child Mathematically Proficient: An Action Plan of the Learning First Alliance, November 1998.

OVERVIEW OF THE RESOURCE

Every Child Mathematically Proficient is an action plan that summarizes current conditions in mathematics education, sets forth a straightforward goal for improvement, and supports this goal with four objectives and a series of action steps. “Together,” the report notes, “we have a major challenge to raise achievement throughout our nation. The Learning First Alliance, therefore, advances this Action Plan to bring American students to world-class levels in mathematics” (p. 2). The Learning First Alliance, formed in January 1997, is a collaboration of 12 national organizations ¹ working to improve student learning in America's public elementary and secondary schools. None of these organizations are directly connected to mathematics education and, as a consequence, this document arises outside of the mathematics education community. The statements, however, are supportive of and consistent with the findings of other, more specific, reports that are summarized in Improving Mathematics Education. The document was developed through consultation with diverse cross-sections of the mathematics education community. It has served as a focal point for efforts by members of the Learning First Alliance in their efforts to improve mathematics education and others have used its recommendations, for example, the Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences in developing the Mathematical Education of Teachers.

The proposed action plan is predicated on the following:

Our goal is for virtually all students to successfully complete a challenging K–12 mathematics curriculum that includes mastery of the content included in the two one-year Algebra I and Geometry courses by the end of grade nine. (p. 7)

¹American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Council of Chief State School Officers, Education Commission of the States, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National School Boards Association, National Parent Teacher Association, National Education Association.