2-pronged approach to high school math clears Senate

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The North Carolina General Assembly is poised to offer high school math students two pathways to graduate in response to families who have complained the multistate Common Core standards are confusing and overly complicated.

The Senate passed a measure Thursday that would direct school districts to offer traditional math courses like algebra and geometry alongside the newer “integrated” pathway that the state adopted as part of Common Core in 2012.

Students and parents could choose between the two sequences. Northampton Democrat Sen. Erica Smith-Ingram added an amendment directing the State Board of Education to study new staffing and resources that educators at smaller schools might need to successfully teach both methods.

The Senate version now goes back to the House for approval.

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