The Palo Alto Unified School District Board of Education showed support for offering an advanced math course beyond BC Calculus to students at Tuesday’s Board meeting.
In the spring of 2023, PAUSD decided to stop offering multivariable calculus on campus, sending students to Foothill or De Anza to take the course instead.
During public comments held at the meeting, many students and parents supported a push to bring back multivariable calculus. Sophomore Kira Tzeng said at the meeting off-campus math courses are inaccessible.
“Last year, I was a starting pitcher on Paly’s softball team, and I also played flag football this past fall,” Tzeng said. “I would have a hard time scheduling an off-campus or after- school class with sports and choir practice.”
At the meeting, Stanford professor Brian Conrad said offering multivariable calculus in high school is crucial for later success in data science and artificial intelligence.
“The district provides resources in varsity sports for athletically ambitious students to achieve their full potential,” Conrad said. “Creating equity for intellectually ambitious students . . . is at least as important as sports.”
However, not everyone supported reintroducing multivariable calculus. Parent Uzma Minhas said PAUSD has spent unnecessary resources on the course.
“We need to take a zoomed out approach to this,” Minhas said. “Public schools have a broader mission to provide equitable, free education that prepares all students to become civic-minded individuals. Offering college-level courses like multivariable calculus goes beyond this mission.”
Board Member Rowena Chiu said she supports offering higher math courses through PAUSD.
“As a parent of four children . . . I have seen the importance of allowing each child to discover their own intrinsic motivation and their own path in life,” Chiu said. “I hope that this district will not suppress advanced acceleration and choice.”
Board Vice President Shounak Dharap said he will trust teachers to make the final decision.
“The best thing we can do is support the professionals in our district to go out on a limb,” Dharap said. “Many math teachers think it might be best for some of our students to have a math elective beyond BC Calculus.”
Board President Shana Segal said she wants to help every student reach their full potential.
“Based on the staff report and communications between Foothill and PAUSD, offering multivariable calculus right after school on PAUSD campus in alignment with the PAUSD calendar seems to be the most optimal outcome at this time,” Segal said. “We want to help our students.”