Chandler school board OKs ‘quantitative reasoning’ pilot math course
Independent Newsmedia/Jason W. Brooks
Chandler Unified Assistant Superintendent Jessica Edgar presented a grant-funded pilot high school math course Jan. 14 called “integrated statistics and quantitative reasoning” that will make its CUSD debut at two sites in the 2026-27 school year.
After the Chandler Unified Governing Board spent hours sorting out potential layoffs during its long Jan. 14 meeting, there were still a few action items on the agenda that were resolved afterward.
One of those items was an agreement with a nonprofit organization for a new type of math course at two high schools.
The board unanimously approved an agreement with WestEd for a pilot 2026-27 math course called “integrated statistics and quantitative reasoning.”
A staff report states the course, known in the 2026-27 high school course catalog as MAT410, was approved by the board when it OK’d new grades 7-12 classes in November.
It’s billed as a “hands-on, integrative curriculum that weaves together quantitative, statistical, and data literacy concepts to solve complex, real-world problems.”
The staff report states ISQR was developed as a fourth-year math course option that offers a project-based learning math instructional model integrating statistics and data analysis.
The pilot program will feature WestEd bringing the course only to Hamilton Casteel high school students. The development of the curriculum and the pilot are funded through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
WestEd is a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and service agency with a significant presence and impact in Arizona, its website states. Its programs in the state include school improvement, STEM initiatives and addressing dropout rates.
No dollar amounts are mentioned in the agreement. Assistant Superintendent Jessica Edgar said CUSD staff will attend virtual training on this course. The agreement states teachers participating in the pilot will attend four to seven hours online training this school year and should plan to attend the ISQR Summer Convening, which is three of four days in summer 2026, to prepare. Travel costs will be paid by WestEd.
“They went to this conference previously,” Edgar said of CUSD teachers’ general familiarity with WestEd training.
Edgar explained the course helps move toward what many administrators around the state believe will be a new set of Arizona Department of Education math standards.
“We believe those changes are coming in the following year (2027-28),” Edgar said. “Knowing that, we’re looking at course options that have the statistical or quantitative piece and data literacy concepts. As you’ll see, it’s part of the movement toward engagement and project-based learning.”
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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