Ready or not, the state is shifting to a new math program for grades 9-12, with this year's ninth-graders to be the first to take the new Integrated Algebra exam in June.

The new math sequence was approved by the Regents in 2005, along with a new pre-kindergarten-through-grade-8 math curriculum. The new exams are being phased in, beginning with the class of students entering ninth grade this week.

In June 2008, schools will be able to offer either the Math A exam or the first administration of the Integrated Algebra. Math A will be given for the last time in January 2009. The last Math B exam will be given in June 2010.

Unlike other Regents Exams that are prepared by the State Education Department, the first two years of the Integrated Algebra and the Geometry Regents are being developed by an outside vendor.

Test samplers are not expected until late October, at the earliest.

The delay has been frustrating for many math teachers. "It would have been so great for teachers to have sample tests this summer," said Sharon Cichocki, math coordinator for Hamburg schools in western New York and a member of NYSUT's Subject Area Committee for Mathematics. "Many teachers make up their test before they teach the curriculum to students. It's solid pedagogy, yet we're starting the school year without knowing what the sample test will look like."

General specifications for the Regents Examination in Integrated Algebra are posted on the SED Web site, including a requirement that schools make a graphing calculator available for each student for classwork, homework and during the exam. However, test specifications include only the number of overall questions, the number of multiple-choice questions, along with the percentage of the test devoted to each content strand (such as measurement or statistics). You can access this information via http://www.nysut.org/ under the pre-K-12 resources section or on the SED site at www.emsc.nysed.gov/osa/hsmath.html.

SED has also posted an extensive 80-page glossary of terms for high school math teachers, as well as suggested mathematical language to be used for pre-K through grade 12.

Throughout the summer, NYSUT has been carefully monitoring the transition. Aside from pushing for test samplers to be available as soon as possible, members of the NYSUT math committee have raised concerns about proposed scoring of the new exam.

Responding to concerns voiced by NYSUT and Regent Roger Tilles of Long Island, State Ed is looking for ways to speed up scoring of Integrated Algebra after SED announced that June's exam results would not be available until late August or early September — too late for students who fail the exam to attend summer school.

NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira acknowledged that the first administration of an exam usually causes concerns for students and teachers.

"We should have test samplers in the hands of teachers as soon as possible so they can align their instruction to the new state assessments. This is not a game of 'gotcha.' Students and teachers should not be surprised by the questions on an exam that has such importance."

Neira is also concerned that a number of districts may not have realigned their curriculum or offered professional development to help teachers adjust to the revised math standards and performance indicators, which have been available since March 2005.

State education officials have stressed the new math sequence is NOT a return to the three-year sequence many teachers and parents grew up with. SED has posted a "crosswalk," detailing changes from the Math A/B program to the new approach.

The new math requirements were developed by a teacher-led state committee that found the Math A/B sequence problematic for students and teachers.

— Sylvia Saunders