Jill Newton

Common Mathematics Standards in the United States: A Comparison of K-8 State and Common Core Standards.

This article reports the findings from a comparative analysis that examined several mathematical content strands, reasoning processes, and emphasis on technology in prior K–8 state mathematics standards and the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM). Various methodological tools were utilized to compare and contrast CCSSM with prior state standards. Results suggest four primary types of shifts in CCSSM when compared to prior state standards: (1) changes in grade level(s) at which some mathematical content is taught, (2) changes in the number of grade levels in which particular mathematical topics appear, (3) changes in emphasis (increased/decreased) on particular mathematical topics, and (4) changes in the nature and level of reasoning expectations.

Statistics Education in the United States: Statistical Reasoning and the Statistical Process

Two important components of statistical literacy are statistical reasoning and the statistical process. This chapter summarises a study that analysed 41 mathematics state standards documents as they existed in 2006 to surmise the extent to which learning these components is expected of students in the United States. Most prominent among the findings were the overrepresentation of isolated statistical procedures and the corresponding scarcity of expectations addressing statistical reasoning and the statistical process.