State education official discusses new plan for teaching math

CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Officials with the West Virginia Department of Education announced new math teaching standards for all state high school and middle school students starting in fall of 2024.

The standard will be extended to students in lower grades according to Clinton Burch, Senior Officer of Adult and Technical Education for the West Virginia Department of Education.

State education officials have said the courses aim to teach students math by showing them how it relates to their day-to-day lives. The new standard fills a gap for students in career and technical education according to state education officials.

Burch said that nationally math scores among high school students are lower than educators want. He said that all students will benefit from the new teaching method in West Virginia – including those headed to college.

“When a student is walking out of our high schools, I want them to go into the world prepared to be a productive citizen and [to be ready for] the path they choose,” said Burch. “I want them to be prepared to enter any of those paths at any point.”

Burch said the goal is to meet the needs of students headed to college, to the military, and to the workforce.

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