Table of Contents
In a surprising turn of events, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) is under scrutiny for its procurement practices regarding the controversial Illustrative Math curriculum. This comes after a formal request from an education vendor, Savvas Learning Company, urging city Comptroller Brad Lander to investigate whether the DOE bypassed standard bidding rules in its $34 million initiative known as NYC Solves.
Allegations of bypassing procurement processes
According to a letter dated November 26, obtained by The Post, Sean Mulcahy, the senior vice-president of Savvas, claims that the DOE did not adhere to any procurement process before selecting Illustrative Mathematics. He stated, “While multiple curricula companies would normally have had the opportunity to submit proposals, it appears the DOE selected Illustrative Mathematics with no competing bids or procurement process.” This allegation raises serious questions about transparency and fairness in the educational procurement landscape.
Impact on students and teachers
The NYC Solves initiative, launched in June by Mayor Adams and then-Chancellor David Banks, aims to tackle the alarming statistics showing that nearly half of students in grades 3-8 were not proficient in math as of 2023.
The program began with 265 high schools piloting Illustrative Math for algebra. However, feedback from educators has been overwhelmingly negative, with many expressing dissatisfaction with the curriculum’s rigid structure and the requirement for students to work in groups with minimal teacher guidance.
This has led to a citywide decline in performance on the Algebra 1 Regents exams, raising concerns about the efficacy of the curriculum.
DOE’s response to the allegations
In response to the allegations, the DOE has stated that it has complied with all procurement policies and procedures.
They assert that Savvas was evaluated among other companies that responded to a public Request for Information regarding math curricula. However, the DOE has not provided evidence of any competitive bidding process for the algebra curriculum, leaving many to wonder if the selection of Illustrative Math was truly in the best interest of students.
As the investigation unfolds, the implications of this procurement controversy could have lasting effects on educational practices in New York City. Stakeholders are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the decision-making processes that shape the future of education for countless students.
