Governor Hosts Illinois Mathematics Summit

NAPERVILLE, IL -- Governor George Ryan invited representatives of higher education, K-12 educators, state and local policymakers and business and community members to gather today at the Illinois Mathematics Summit held at Northern Illinois University's Naperville Campus.

"Math skills will be of the utmost importance as the job market moves increasingly toward more technical fields, and our children need the highest quality instruction for success in the future," said Governor Ryan.

Participants discussed strategies for improvement in these six main issues:

• Closing the achievement gap as it applies to poverty and gender in mathematics.
  
• Improving teacher preparation and aligning preparation with the Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics.
  
• Providing sustained professional development opportunities for improving mathematics instruction.
  
• Aligning the Illinois Learning Standards with curriculum, instruction and assessment in mathematics.
  
• Coordinating curriculum in mathematics across grade levels.
  
• Improving the recruitment and retention of mathematics teachers.

Illinois Deputy Governor of Education Dr. Hazel Loucks offered an opening presentation on the status of mathematics in Illinois. Other presentations were made by John Dossey, Distinguished University Professor of Mathematics Emeritus at Illinois State University, and Johnny Lott, president-elect of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. In addition, breakout sessions were hosted by honored members of both the mathematics and the business community. The conference was sponsored by contributions from Blouke Carus and the Illinois Education Association.