The proposed 2022 California Mathematics Framework poses a major threat to public education in math, our future STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workforce, and equity for all students. By shifting the focus away from mathematics content and removing pathways that allow students to accelerate or remediate before 11^th grade, this proposed framework will harm California public school students and create more inequity.

We, the undersigned, parents, caregivers, educators, mathematicians, professionals, scientists, and community members, reject this proposed framework and ask you to consider the recommendations for what is needed for a framework that will best serve all of California’s students.


We believe the learning of mathematics is essential for students to understand and access the world they live in as well as to learn to reason, to develop logical thinking (important for making medical, legal, and financial decisions later in life), and to be able to pursue STEM careers.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework devotes less than 14% of its 800+ pages to discussing specific math content standards. Public schools are required to provide standards-based education, but this framework proposes that teachers “avoid the process of organizing around the detailed content standards” (Ch. 1, Line 617). Such strong aversion to coverage of specified math content will leave California public school children far less prepared to be competitive for college and career than students from other states or countries.

Instead, we propose that the framework, like its predecessor now in force, robustly explain the content standards and support teachers, parents, and publishers to be able to help students learn mathematics.

We believe mathematics has existed in every culture, and advances in math across different times, peoples, languages and nations have made (and continue to make) our modern society possible. We further believe mathematics is objective in nature and is (and should remain) a content area where students from all languages, nations, and socio-economic backgrounds can succeed.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework assumes math has only “developed in exclusive and elitist ways” and proposes to diminish the existing inequities by avoiding challenging math topics rather than providing all students with robust math education to overcome them. The proposed framework replaces a focus on math content standards with “experiences” and “other ways of knowing” that may or may not lead to important math ideas ( Ch. 8, Line 307; Ch. 1, Lines 304-5).

Instead, we propose the framework focus on mathematics, allocating most time on the math content and fostering the development of students’ ability to reason, to apply, to perform, to understand, and to justify the mathematics.

We believe all students who are prepared, motivated, and have the ability, should not be held back; students should be allowed to accelerate to a math level that challenges them in middle and/or high school. We believe accelerating these students allows them to continue to be challenged and to be prepared for successful careers.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework eliminates all opportunities to accelerate before 11^th grade. This includes the elimination of access to a full Algebra 1 or Integrated Math 1 course prior to 9th grade, which deprives the students who are ready for it and makes courses like Calculus nearly inaccessible to all California high school students (Ch. 1, Line 154; Ch. 8, Lines 246-248 & 339; Ch. 9, Lines 1035-1052).

Instead, we propose the framework continue to encourage districts to create and implement pathways that meet ALL their students’ needs, allowing multiple points to accelerate, beginning in middle school, and providing adequately individualized support options for those struggling.

We believe our most vulnerable students need strong math teachers, curriculum, and support.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework fails vulnerable students because it shifts the focus from standards-based instruction centered on math content to subjective experiences centered on tangential social science topics. The proposed framework does not help teachers understand the mathematics of the standards, and it specifically states that professional development (where teachers should be helped to improve their knowledge of the math and teaching of it) must focus primarily on equity (as opposed to mathematics) (Ch. 9, Lines 199-200).

Instead, we propose that the framework focus on specific strategies and professional development that help teachers deepen their math content understanding and convert this knowledge into ways to help their students access and understand math. Both the framework and the professional development of teachers need to focus on MATH so that all students can succeed.

We believe all students need equality of opportunity to learn mathematics, and struggling students need additional resources to access and succeed in grade level standards.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework sets the goal instead to “equal outcomes in mathematics.” This is not a goal or even possible, as some students can and will study more advanced mathematics while others do not have the interest to learn math to the same level or degree. (Ch. 1, Lines 931-932)

Instead, we propose that the framework focus on specific strategies and professional development that show teachers how to scaffold their students’ math understanding from where they are up to the standards level and beyond.

We believe learning mathematics involves a systematic study and practice that has a clear and consistent balance between understanding concepts, being proficient in facts and procedures, and being able to apply those to solve problems. We understand that one aspect of mathematics does involve rote memorization, for exactly the same reason that learning to spell, play the piano, or play sports require a lot of repetitive practice at certain stages.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework specifically asks teachers to “de-emphasize” rote memorization. This alteration will cause students to not reach general math fluency levels, for example the memorization of the multiplication tables, which hinders future learning (Ch. 3, Line 110).

Instead, we propose the framework require a balance between procedures, concepts, and problem-solving with the continued requirement of key essential fluencies that will allow students to be successful as they study more advanced mathematics.

We believe ALL students can learn mathematics.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework assumes historically marginalized communities are unable to access math as a result of the acceleration of others; thus, the framework proposes slowing down the content for everyone, to a rate that is well below any established prior standard. (Ch. 8, Lines 221-3, 253-4, 264-5, & 285-298).

Instead, we propose that resources be devoted to both teacher training and student support courses to help all students access and achieve in mathematics. We further propose that students of all backgrounds who are able to accelerate beyond the typical pace be allowed, encouraged, and supported to do so as early as middle school, as determined by each local district. We propose districts be encouraged to continue their practice of creating and supporting pathways to allow all students to achieve at their full potential.

We believe mathematics education can and should do a better job of engaging students in the study of math and increasing motivation, while still focusing on the mathematical content.

Unfortunately, the proposed framework relies heavily on social justice-themed discussions and investigations for which the setup occupies far more time and attention than the actual math content. The proposed framework inserts more reading, writing, and listening into the subject, putting students who are English Learners at a further disadvantage. It is detrimental to all students, costing them a loss of detailed focus on the math content standards (Ch. 1, Lines 968-973; Ch. 2, Lines 673-690; 915-988).

Instead, we propose that math learning should center around the math standards all students must master, with a focus on how engaging applications can make these standards more accessible. We strongly urge that creators of school materials consult with professionals who use math to populate the material with compelling and motivating contemporary contexts, which make genuine use of the relevant math across a wide range of applications. We further propose that the framework bring more direct attention to the nature and extent of the effort needed to be successful in mathematics.

We respectfully ask the State Board of Education to reject this version of the framework and not consider any new revision of the Mathematics Framework that does not resolve the above concerns to the general public’s satisfaction.

David Margulies, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Edith Cohen, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner
Barry Garelick, K-12 Educator
Marisa Soto-Harrison, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Deede Liu, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Daniel Aires, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Ming-Chien Tang, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Aaron Aubrecht, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
heather miles, Parent
Elizabeth Berberian, Parent , K-12 Educator, STEM Practitioner
Lisa Lewis, Parent
Jennifer Moxey, Parent , K-12 Educator
Erin Block, California Resident, Parent
Ashlee Burnside, Parent
Lynn Linchangco, California Resident
Allyson Rosen, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner
Melissa Tosczak, California Resident, Parent
Steinke Christine, Parent
Xf Z, California Resident, Parent
Fabrice Cabirol, California Resident, Parent
Wayne Bishop, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator
Stephen Miller, California Resident, Parent
Minjeong Kim, Parent
Justin Horner, California Resident, Parent
Linda Mathews, California Resident, Parent
Helene Le Person, California Resident, Parent
Shirley Agam, California Resident, Parent
Tannaz Separzadeh, Parent
Yevgeniya Shteyn, California Resident, STEM Practitioner
Shiva Ahdoot, California Resident, Parent
NATALIE LAHIJI, California Resident, Parent
Kim Green, Parent
Shirley Chan, Parent
Lisa Sanders, Parent
Ola May, California Resident, Parent
Janice Brenman, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator
Kate Taylor, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator
Amy Crofoot, Parent
Marissa Leitner, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Iris Sooferi, California Resident, Parent
Lisa Cobey Lopez, Parent
Neda Kalhor, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Dzhamilya Bozhkova, California Resident, Parent
corrine kohlmeyer-hyman, California Resident, Parent
Amy Bentz, California Resident, Parent
Marjan Youabian, Parent
Cathy Solomon, California Resident
Marisa Foran, Parent
Lusine Varjabetyan, California Resident, Parent
Mia Marano, California Resident, Parent
Christie Pesicka, Parent
Pejman Lahiji, California Resident, Parent
Jennifer Schreter, California Resident, Parent
Yevgeniy Tovbin, California Resident, Parent
Jean-Claude Moos, Parent
Danna Wilson, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Monica Weston, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Sara Cohen, Parent
Raymond Chan, California Resident, Parent
Rosa Wachs, Parent
Regina Karpman, California Resident, Parent
Fereshteh Yousefzadeh, California Resident, Parent
Sara H, California Resident, Parent
Anna Vaisfeld, Parent
Eliza Imandel, California Resident
Anastasia Namsaraeva, California Resident, Parent
Monica Shemtoub, Parent
Neda Elie, California Resident, Parent
Christine Higgins, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Frances Yang, California Resident, Parent
Arash Elie, California Resident, Parent
Silvia Lee, California Resident, Parent
Betty Gabbaie, California Resident, Parent
Marina Foox, California Resident, Parent
Farinaz Cohen, California Resident, Parent
Sally Mog, California Resident, Parent
Sean Shidmand, California Resident, Parent
Mingkwan Chotikulthanachai, Parent
Marina Ginzburg, Parent
Alexander Ginzburg, Parent
Laurie Ahart, Parent
carrie kangro, California Resident, Parent
Sheryl Kutner, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Nelson Owyang, STEM Practitioner
Viktoriya Daneshrad, California Resident, Parent
Shirin Farahmand, Parent
Romy Chan, California Resident, Parent
Tannaz Shashaani, Parent
mark siegmund, California Resident
Alexandra Dean, California Resident, Parent
K Kong, California Resident, Parent
Heidi Lee, Parent
Dana Haver, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Valerie Li, California Resident, Parent
Collins Zhao, Parent
Zach Kraft, California Resident, Parent
Naheed Soomar, California Resident, Parent
Muhammad Soomar, California Resident, Parent
Russell Conte, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator
Stanley Conte, California Resident, Parent
Meghan Fowler, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Stephanie Carroll, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Jenni Donovan, California Resident, Parent
Sharrone Michel, California Resident, Parent
Brittany Christenson, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Audra Gosvener, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Kim Stoll, California Resident, Parent
Laurie Mascia, California Resident, Parent
Sharon Sadoian, Parent
Kathrine Miyakawa, California Resident, Parent
Kristina Moss, Parent
Paul Belt, California Resident
Rebecca Brown, California Resident, Parent
Adena Alati, California Resident
Marianne Grosner, California Resident, Parent
Crystal Amundson, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Christine Low, STEM Practitioner
Eleace Zachary, Parent
John Montierth, STEM Practitioner
Shauna Wion, California Resident, Parent
Carissa Morgan, California Resident, Parent
Kimberly Skoglund, Parent
Joanna Cook, California Resident, Parent
Laura Cobabe, K-12 Educator
Lara Estabrook, California Resident, Parent
Danielle Garrison, California Resident, K-12 Educator
Jenny Stewart, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Michael Christenson, K-12 Educator, Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner
Ashley Christenson, California Resident, Parent
Deidra Bernal, Parent
Victoria Pearce, California Resident, Parent
Donna Bell, Parent
Ellen Woitalla, California Resident
Christy Himstreet, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Marci Hawkins, Parent
Jacqueline Boock, California Resident, Parent
Jonelle Murphy, California Resident, Parent
Amy Steinhoff, California Resident, Parent
Kristin Bluth, California Resident, Parent
Marcie Galley, Parent
Cathy Rogowski, California Resident, Parent
Kerily McEvoy, California Resident, Parent
Theresa Harned, California Resident, Parent
Sheryl Wood, California Resident, Parent
Danielle Griffiths, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Brad Lucas, California Resident, Parent
Rashelle Nelson, Parent
Scott Nelson, California Resident, Parent
Rashelle Nelson, California Resident, Parent
Kayleen Orr, California Resident, Parent
Joan Colvin, California Resident, Parent
Julie Law-Cheeseman, California Resident, Parent
Anne Theders, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Elizabeth Mackenzie, Parent
Isabel Fairon, California Resident, Parent
Melissa Catanzaro, California Resident, Parent
Scott McRoberts, California Resident, Parent
Claire Perry, California Resident, Parent
Anne Bragg, California Resident, Parent
Natalia Ishizaki, Parent
M B, Parent
Anna Kaya, California Resident, Parent
Margarita Hoehn, California Resident, Parent
Bart Haverkorn, California Resident
Karlyn Bornholdt, Parent
Joanne Couvrette, Parent
Melissa Brown, California Resident, Parent
Betsy Robb, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Janice Humphrey, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Kari Fields, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Sara Boattini, California Resident, Parent
Anna Fertel, Parent
Maria Hinojosa, California Resident, Parent
Kirsten Dummer, California Resident, Parent
Gallina Iryna, California Resident, Parent
Lisa Zeleny, California Resident, Parent
celine lefeuvre, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Jane Davidson, California Resident, Parent
Douglas Kasunich, California Resident
Rebecca Puckett, Parent
Bemini Peiris, California Resident
Priya Srinivasan, Parent
Ginger Colletto, California Resident, Parent
Supriya Nayak, Parent
Ketan Kulkarni, Parent
Karri Smith, Parent
Ed Winter, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Natalie Wald, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Natalie LAHIJI, California Resident, Parent
Julia Nikitina, Parent
Emily Jones, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Denise Frakes, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Seethalakshmi Sastry, California Resident
Murali Sastrt, California Resident
Maria Lewis, California Resident, Parent
Aru Sa, California Resident
Candy Miller, California Resident, Parent
Sang Vor, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner, Student
Kacy Hayes, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator
Linda Clark, California Resident, Parent
Alexandra Youngs, California Resident, Parent
Maria Isidore, California Resident, Parent
Nicole Pentheroudakis, California Resident, Parent
Guru Murthy, California Resident, Parent
Lidia Reznichenko, Parent
Simon Poon, California Resident, Parent
YUKI MORI, California Resident, Parent
Itisha Deokar, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Diane Sinclair, California Resident, Parent
Christopher Flores, California Resident, Parent
Shahrzad Peykar, Parent
Danielle Macrorie, California Resident
Ingrid Ber6, California Resident, Parent
Anastasia Caso, California Resident, Parent
Lesley Mcknight, K-12 Educator
William Margulies, California Resident
caryl margulies, California Resident
William Margulies, California Resident
Elizabeth Curutchague, K-12 Educator
Kathy Shoemate, California Resident, K-12 Educator
Alice Giliarini, California Resident
Lauren Marty, California Resident, Parent
Katie Wilson, California Resident, Parent
Stephen Duan, Parent
Krystal Kermott, California Resident, Parent
Dev Naini, California Resident, Parent
Rengrong Wang, California Resident, Parent
Kristy Lovejoy, California Resident, Parent
Yibing Wu, California Resident, Parent
Yiqian Wang, California Resident, Parent
Leanna Ortega, California Resident, Parent
Shannon Saad, Parent
Randall Nelson, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Bradley Robb, K-12 Educator
Fan Fei, Parent
Xin Yuan, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Becky Stuempfig, Parent
Colette Wisrman, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Jennifer Young, California Resident, Parent
Nadine Song, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner, Public Official
Julia Wang, Parent
Fang Luo, California Resident, Parent
Bo Wang, California Resident, Parent
Ye Jiang, California Resident, Parent
Yitao Liu, California Resident, Parent
Michelle Chen, Parent
Chris Chai, Parent
Zhifei Fan, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Jia Fei, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Ye Jiang, California Resident
Sophie Shi, California Resident, Parent
Anne Maree Connick, California Resident, Parent
Robert Berge, California Resident, Parent
April Berge, Parent
Qiao Li, California Resident, Parent
ramya balasubramanian, California Resident
Grace Liu, Parent
Jianhong Fang, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Anice Lim, Parent
Sarah Green, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Linda Rice-Doering, California Resident
Graciela Rosinsky, California Resident, Parent
Janine Baeza, California Resident, Parent
Klaasje Maduras, California Resident, K-12 Educator, Higher Educator
Lauren Delgado,
Josephine Love, California Resident, Parent
Pooja Gupte, Parent
Elizabeth High, California Resident, Parent
Foster Wilson, California Resident, Parent
Sally Yousif-Rosales, California Resident
Robert Rosales, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator, STEM Practitioner
Kathleen Hill, California Resident, Parent
James M, California Resident, Parent
Vivian Kung, California Resident, Parent
Judi Bikel, California Resident, Parent
Ramona Guillen, Parent
Briana Rolufs, Parent
Chengzhong Jiao, California Resident, Parent
Meirav Goren, California Resident, Parent
Jodi Doolittle, California Resident, Parent
Jesse Doe, K-12 Educator
Anjali Kucheria, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Dawn Froeschner, California Resident, Parent
Jane Lee, California Resident, Parent
Kelly Schenkoske, California Resident
Ling Huang, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner
Steven Ludington, Parent
Hui Lin, California Resident, Parent
Vivian Gerritsen, Parent
Yiyi Zeng, California Resident, STEM Practitioner
Vivian Gerritsen, Parent
Luke Liu, California Resident, Parent
Caren Furtado, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator, STEM Practitioner, Student
Shawna Campbell, California Resident, Parent
Julia Bach, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Nicole Nolte, K-12 Educator
Sunghee Kim, Parent
Anicia Hibdon, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator, Higher Educator
Erika Lawson, Higher Educator
Nichole Raiewski, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator, STEM Practitioner
Rosalynn Symington, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Elijah Symington, California Resident, Student
Jeremiah Symington, California Resident, Student
Jaelene Symington, California Resident, Student
Erin Allen, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Cynthia Rajsbaum, California Resident, Parent
Darrell Lepkowsky, California Resident
Elizabeth Nikkel, California Resident, Parent
Robyn Pereira, California Resident, Parent
Ilene Cooper, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Julia Nikitina, Parent
Lidia Reznichenko, California Resident, Parent
Justin Horner, California Resident, Parent
anastasia caso, California Resident, Parent
Rebecca Stuart, Parent
Elena P., Parent
Julia Mihata, Parent
Elena Phelps, California Resident, Parent
Deede Liu, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Lisa sanders, California Resident, Parent
Daniel Aires, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Dev Naini, California Resident, Parent
Shirley Chan, Parent
Wilson Sinn, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Eva Wehrhahn, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Herman Sit, California Resident, Parent
Julia Wang, California Resident, Parent
Christine Chan, Parent
Larry Valleroy, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Connie Wu, California Resident, Parent
Ola May, California Resident, Parent
Raymond Chan, California Resident, Parent
Susan Fekete, K-12 Educator
Sunny Arford, California Resident
Emily Johnstone, California Resident, Parent
Jeff Abel, K-12 Educator
Cindy Fukuyama, California Resident, K-12 Educator
Connie Strickland, California Resident, Parent
Melissa Abraham, California Resident, Parent
Roshanak Monzavi, Parent
Robert Kim, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator
John Luciano,
Jesse Doe, K-12 Educator
Erika Lubensky, California Resident, Parent
Douglas Kasunich, California Resident
Sherri Tice, California Resident, Parent
Averal Kandala, California Resident, STEM Practitioner
Heather Keller, California Resident
Joanna Ng, California Resident, Parent
Xiaofan Wu,
M B, Parent
Vivienne Fischer, California Resident, Parent
Christie Miro, California Resident, Parent
Jean Lundgren, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Emily Wichmann, California Resident, Parent
Vicky Margiotta, California Resident, Parent
kimberly hendrix, California Resident
Paul Kartinen, California Resident, Parent
Candace Jahn, California Resident, Parent
Laurie Patrick, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Haruko Ohshima, Parent
Susan Mitchell, California Resident, Parent
Amy Anderson, California Resident, Parent
Nancy Hastings, California Resident
Nancy Kohn Hsieh, California Resident, Parent
James Esteves, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Valerie VanWagenen, California Resident, Parent
Simon Smolnick, California Resident, Parent
Jennifer Mutz Mutz, California Resident, Parent , K-12 Educator
Alison Marsden, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner
Xin Li, California Resident, Parent , STEM Practitioner
Zhipan Li, California Resident, Parent
Wendy Liu, California Resident, Parent
Limin Qian, California Resident, Parent
Allyson Rosen, California Resident, Parent , Higher Educator, STEM Practitioner
Carolina Nicoud, Parent , K-12 Educator