Parents and teachers press Utah board to reverse integrated math; higher-ed researchers defend integrated approach

Several public commenters urged the Utah State Board of Education’s Standards & Assessment Committee to require a return to a traditional algebra–geometry–algebra (AGA) secondary math sequence, arguing the current integrated approach leaves teachers to assemble materials and leaves students with weak foundations.

"We couldn't use textbooks because they did not follow the Utah core," said Sunny Irvley, a teacher who described having to photocopy lessons while noting that few textbooks align with Utah’s integrated secondary math standards. Judy Coburn, a parent, told the committee her children struggled to find reference materials under the integrated model and described moving to hybrid coursework so she could see lessons.

"Teachers are telling us something important," Irvley said, citing a local survey she described where most classroom teachers preferred returning to a more traditional sequence.

By contrast, a Utah State University associate professor who identified himself as an applied-statistics instructor urged the board to preserve the integrated framework. He said integrated courses better prepare students for modern, AI-driven, computational work and teach students to model messy, real-world problems rather than focus on by-hand calculations.

"The integrated standards give us our best shot for that," the professor said, offering to consult with board members and university colleagues on how higher education can support the integrated pathway.

Board members did not take a binding vote on math structure at the committee meeting. Instead, USBE math staff later presented a large stakeholder survey and national comparisons showing mixed preferences across districts and constituencies; the board’s next steps include review of the survey dataset and potential phased options for implementation if the board elects to change the model.

Next step: USBE staff offered district-level data and a link to the full dataset for board members to review; no immediate policy change was adopted at the meeting.