K-12 Mathematics Task Force

The Task Force will ground its work in the following principles:

• Support student confidence, belonging, future opportunity, and well-being in mathematics.
• Affirm that students experiencing success in their current mathematics classes is a core measure of success.
• Promote a healthy system that provides access to a rigorous math experience for each and every student.
• Honor multiple postsecondary trajectories, including four-year college, community college, technical education, apprenticeships, and the trades.
• Ensure mathematics trajectories are understandable, transparent, and aligned to Washington State standards, including clear explanations of acceleration, intervention, and course sequencing options.
• Provide thoughtful placement and support for every student, including highly capable students, students seeking acceleration, and students who need additional time or intervention.
• Reduce unintended consequences for students, including loss of elective access, unnecessary course repetition, and unclear messaging to families.
• Ensure compliance with school board policy and state and federal requirements.
• Support teachers with collaboration, professional learning, useful data, common assessments where appropriate, and implementation resources connected to curriculum and intervention needs.

The Task Force will review the following to develop its recommendations:

• Student learning data to evaluate successful completion of math by the end of 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade.
• K-12 attainment of habits for post-secondary success.
• Access to advanced-level course work in high school STEM courses.
• Outcome and opportunity gaps disaggregated by student demographics.
• Stakeholder feedback from teachers, counselors, students, families, principals, and district leaders.
• Current K-12 mathematics trajectories, including alignment to Washington State standards and district course sequencing.

The Task Force will provide the following:

• Benchmarks for successful completion of mathematics at the end of 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade.
• A summary of stakeholder feedback from teachers, counselors, students, families, principals, and district leaders.
• Solutions to eliminate identified outcome gaps based on systemic barriers.
• Recommendations for intervention, enrichment, and acceleration supports that preserve student access to electives and broader K-12 experiences.
• Professional learning and collaboration recommendations for mathematics teachers, counselors, and administrators.
• Clear, consistent communication for students and their families about options in math, access to STEM courses, and post-high-school options.
• An implementation plan that identifies decisions, timelines, data monitoring, communication to all stakeholders, and potential impacts on staffing, scheduling, curriculum, and student support.
• Interim Advisory Update to the Superintendent — January 2027
• Final Advisory Report — Spring 2027

Membership should include a balanced group of stakeholders with current and relevant expertise across the K-12 experience, and may be supplemented by additional community engagement.

The Task Force may be supplemented by additional community engagement including, but not limited to: student focus groups, language-based community meetings, broad community surveys, school staff and leader conversations, and public forums or study sessions with the Northshore School Board.

Meetings will be held from 5:00–7:00 PM in the Admin Center Board Room on the following dates:

• The Task Force will deliver an interim advisory update to the Superintendent by January 2027 and a final advisory report by Spring 2027.
• The final report will include findings, recommended mathematics pathway changes, implementation considerations, communication needs, professional learning implications, and any areas requiring further study before districtwide implementation.
• The Task Force will submit its final recommendations to the Superintendent and/or School Board for approval.
• Meeting minutes will be shared with the School Board in the Friday Brief following each meeting.