Mathematics Modeling and Reasoning Course Pilot

Information and Background

The Ohio Mathematics Initiative (OMI), a collaborative effort of mathematics faculty members from all of the state’s public colleges and universities, has as one of its core strategies “improving student success in college-level mathematics by aligning postsecondary expectations and high school practice.” Consistent with that goal, members of Subgroup 5 (Alignment Between Secondary and Postsecondary Content and Instruction) of the OMI have partnered with the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Department of Education to create a high school transition course with the purpose of preparing Ohio high school seniors who have not met the state’s remediation-free standards for a college entry-level mathematics course. Entry-level mathematics courses may include Quantitative Reasoning, Statistics and Probability, or College Algebra/STEM pathway courses. Together, they formed an advisory committee and planning group made up of higher education and K-12 faculty members and administrators to create a pilot for the course.

To help students transition to postsecondary mathematics, the advisory committee decided to create a quantitative reasoning course. The course, titled Mathematical Modeling and Reasoning, is designed to promote reasoning, problem-solving and modeling through thematic units focused on mathematical practices, while reinforcing and extending content in Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Statistics and Probability, and Geometry. It is a yearlong course taught using student-centered pedagogy. The planning group created the curriculum and resources for the course.

In 2018-2019, three teachers, who were members of the planning group, pre-piloted the course, refining materials to prepare for the full pilot in 2019-2020. Twenty-two schools across the state were selected to participate in the pilot for the 2019-2020 school year. The pilot will expand in the 2020-2021 school year to include more schools. Professional development is required for all teachers participating in the expansion of the pilot.
To strengthen the transition between high school and postsecondary math courses, each pilot teacher was assigned a higher education collaborator who taught quantitative reasoning at a local college or university.

The following districts and postsecondary institutions participated in the pilot during the 2019-2020 school year:

High Schools

  • Akron Public Schools
  • Alexander Local Schools
  • Allen East Local Schools
  • Austintown Local Schools
  • Bedford City Schools
  • Bishop Ready High School
  • Buckeye Local Schools
  • Cincinnati Public Schools
  • Edison Local Schools
  • Fremont City Schools
  • Hillsdale Local Schools
  • Lancaster City Schools
  • Mason City Schools
  • Mid-East Career and Technology Centers
  • Milford Exempted Village Schools
  • Mississinawa Valley Local Schools
  • Morgan Local Schools
  • North Central Local Schools
  • Northeastern Local Schools
  • Orange City Schools
  • Symmes Valley Local Schools
  • Willard City Schools
 
Postsecondary Institutions
  • Columbus State Community College
  • Cuyahoga Community College
  • Northwest State Community College
  • Ohio State University
  • Ohio University
  • Rhodes State College
  • Sinclair Community College
  • University of Cincinnati
  • University of Toledo
  • Youngstown State University
  

Participating in the Pilot

The Ohio Department of Education is seeking schools from across the state to participate in Phase 1 of the expansion of the Mathematics Modeling and Reasoning Course Pilot for the 2020-2021 school year. 

To participate in the Mathematics Modeling and Reasoning Course Pilot, requests must include the completed application form and a permission form with the following signatures: 

  • The signature of the local school board president or district treasurer;
  • The signature of the local superintendent/building administrator; and
  • The signature of the professional staff bargaining unit leader.

Applications must be submitted by Dec. 13, 2019.  Submit applications online via SurveyMonkey.
 
For questions, email Anna Cannelongo at anna.cannelongo@education.ohio.gov.

Timeline

  • Applications must be submitted by Dec. 13, 2019.
  • Schools will be notified of their acceptance in January 2020.
  • Upon acceptance, in early 2020, schools create a class in EMIS for the 2020/2021 school year.
  • Piloting teachers and administrators attend a multi-day professional learning opportunity in summer 2020.
  • Piloting teachers will be assigned a higher education collaborator in the summer of 2020.
  • Begin pilot in the 2020-2021 school year.

Resources

Last Modified: 1/17/2020 3:20:27 PM