Math system change: two States, two approaches.

Changes are on the horizon for high school math in New York and Georgia. The Empire State is moving from its integrated approach to a more traditional single-focus course system; Peach State schools, meanwhile, will begin the switch from single-focus courses to a more integrated curriculum.

NEW YORK: Currently, it's all about Math A and Math B for high schoolers. Each a minimum of three semesters, the courses are part of a commencement level system of instruction leading up to the test for a Regents diploma (completion of Math A--algebra and some geometry) or a Regents diploma with advanced designation (completion of Math B--more geometry, algebra II and trigonometry). Under the new system, there are three courses--algebra, geometry, and algebra II and trigonometry. The order of courses hasn't yet been decided.

The changes are part of new grade-by-grade performance indicators that meet No Child Left Behind requirements and provide educators with more clarity and specificity, explains Anne Schiano, assistant director of curriculum, instruction and instructional technology at the New York State Education Department. Schiano says a plan is in place to ensure classroom teachers are supported during implementation; for example, they'll get to share lessons and practices from their schools with others in their districts and regionally.

GEORGIA: As part of an effort to raise student achievement, an advisory panel in this state recommended switching from separate math courses to an integrated curriculum. With a lean, rigorous Japanese format, the yearlong courses divide the state's new performance standards into four parts: a content standard, illustrative tasks, examples of student work and a commentary for teachers, explains Claire Pierce, mathematics program specialist at the Georgia Department of Education.

Algebra, geometry, statistics and other topics will be weaved into courses, available in three sequences, with a minimum mastery level equal to a strong algebra II course. "This is such a higher level of mastery than we've required of our students in the past," Pierce says. Eight days of state-provided teacher training will help along the process, which begins with current sixth graders.

As for textbooks, an internal study found that their titles "are not very good in terms of identifying how integrated materials are in the book," Pierce notes. While some have algebra or another specific math discipline in their name, a number of existing series fit the new system reasonably well--a plus for this non-adoption state.