U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-39) led a letter with her California Republican colleagues to the California State Board of Education President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond in strong opposition to their proposed math equity framework that phases out advanced math opportunities for students.
The proposed framework advises California schools to phase out the option for students to enter advanced or accelerated math classes and requires all students to study math at the same level through the high school sophomore level. This one-size-fits-all model hurts students of all backgrounds and America’s global competitiveness, especially as students have fallen behind in school proficiency.
The letter was sent yesterday evening ahead of the deadline to submit public comment. Rep. Kim also led an effort opposing the framework last year when it was first proposed.
Rep. Kim was joined by Reps. Darrell Issa (CA-50), Jay Obernolte (CA-8), Michelle Steel (CA-48), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Mike Garcia (CA-25), David G. Valadao (CA-21) and Tom McClintock (CA-04) in sending this letter.
Rep. Kim serves on the Conference Committee for U.S.-China competitiveness bills in addition to her roles on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, House Foreign Affairs Committee and as Ranking Member of the House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Development.
Read the letter below or HERE.
We write to you today regarding the recently released and updated mathematics framework proposal currently under review by the California State Board of Education. You may remember that on July 16, 2021, our congressional delegation sent you a letter discussing our concerns with the previous proposed mathematics framework that advised California schools to phase out the option for students to enter advanced or accelerated mathematics classes and require all students to study mathematics at the same level through the high school sophomore level in order to promote equity in mathematics.
Not only did you fail to respond to our previous letter, but the updated framework doubles down on concerning guidelines that prevent students from reaching their full academic potential and limits the ability of our youth to address the generational challenges our nation faces.
As we’ve said previously, advancing STEM education is a first order concern for our nation to build the foundations of future technological advancement and innovation. If we want to maintain our competitive edge in this field, we must allow and encourage students to learn at an accelerated pace if they have the capability to do so. These are the students that will design our nation’s future infrastructure, launch rockets to new planets, and innovate the next frontier of computing technology. If California ceases to foster the next generation of scientists and engineers, then California students may not have the requisite skills or knowledge to obtain STEM-related higher education contribute to future technological advances.
