The regularly scheduled February 2 School Committee meeting focused on the ongoing revisions to the Newton Public Schools (NPS) math curriculum.
Ahead of the curriculum presentation, the School Committee approved proposed fee increases for various ancillary NPS programs such as musical instrument education, early-morning and after-school programs, and athletics. Increases in NPS building-rental fees and NPS preschool tuition were included in the proposal. The NPS proposal, discussed and then approved unanimously by the Committee, increased total fees by $447,000 — or about 9%.
Following this, the majority of the three-hour meeting was focused on an update on the review of the NPS math curriculum review that had begun in the previous academic year. Dr. Nolin introduced the topic by noting that while a large percentage of NPS students score at levels meeting or exceeding math expectations on standardized tests, a far lower percentage are meeting state averages for year-over-year growth. Dr. Nolin stated this indicates the need for a more standardized curriculum, as well as resources for interventions.
Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning Gina Flanagan and Director of Mathematics Jennifer Shore presented a 50-page slide deck containing the curriculum review goals and status. Dr. Shore focused on changes to 8th grade student math assessments, which will begin in the next 2026-2027 academic year and which are illustrated on pages 34-46 in the deck. Dr. Nolin supplemented this presentation by informing the Committee that there will be fewer multilevel math classes next year.
A document of Committee members’ questions about the meeting materials had been submitted to the administration prior to the meeting. It contains seven pages of questions-and-responses about the math presentation. The presentation concluded with the administrators citing the need for more assessment and professional development resources.
The meeting replay is available on NewTV.
