Arizona rated as unacceptable for math education policies in new study

PHOENIX — Arizona’s performance when it comes to state policies for improving math education is unacceptable, according to a study released Tuesday.

The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) analyzed math performance in each state based on five policy levers and rated their overall performances as strong, moderate, weak or unacceptable.

Arizona was one of seven states tagged with an unacceptable rating, along with Hawaii, Maine, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska and New Hampshire.

Alabama was the only state to earn a strong rating.

NCTQ also issued state ratings for each of its five policy levers, which are the group’s recommendations to make sure teachers can effectively implement standards-aligned math education.

Arizona’s performance was rated as unacceptable on four of the five policy levers:

• Setting specific, detailed math standards for teacher preparation programs.
• Adopting a strong elementary math licensure test.
• Requiring districts to select high-quality math curricula and supports skillful implementation.
• Providing professional learning and ongoing support for teachers to sustain effective math instruction.

Meanwhile, the state was ranked as weak, the second-lowest level, for one policy lever: reviewing teacher preparation programs to ensure they are providing strong math instruction.

Improving Arizona’s math education starts with college programs

NCTQ President Heather Peske explained that raising Arizona’s ranking begins before teachers become teachers.

“Given that 30% of fourth graders are lacking basic math knowledge in Arizona, we’re really urging the state to focus on really trying to improve math outcomes for students and starting with improving teachers’ capacity to be effective,” she said.

Peske said the way to boost Arizona’s rating comes down to the Legislature, suggesting the state set standards for curriculum preparation with content approvals and stricter licensing tests for math teachers to ensure they have a strong knowledge of the subject.

The NCTQ study also looked at how Arizona colleges prepare teachers, based on how much time is set aside to study numbers and operations, geometry, data analysis and how to teach math.

“The state can review teacher preparation programs against those standards. And then … they can really support teachers to have access to high-quality instructional materials and support them with professional learning,” Peske said.

Rio Salado College was the only post-secondary option in Arizona to receive an A grade. The state’s four graduate-level education programs — Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Ottawa University-Surprise and University of Phoenix — each received F grades.

Peske said students with strong math skills are more likely to attend and complete college than other students.

“And we know that the fastest-growing careers across the nation, including in Arizona, are in science, technology, engineering and math,” the NCTQ president said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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