No School Left Behind: Implementation of China's New Mathematics Curriculum Reform (2000-2020)

by Wei Gao, Xianwei Liu

Overview

Based on the fieldwork carried out at two elementary schools, Merits School and Pioneer School, in northeastern China, the monograph details how local schools enacted the New Mathematics Curriculum Reform that was launched in early 2000.

The trajectory of the reform implementation at each school was plotted out. Both schools resorted to a long-standing quality control mechanism, i.e., teaching norms, to operationalize the reform ideas. The mechanism functioned by placing teachers under measurable supervision and evaluation aligned with the reform. The schools responded to the reform following school people's raising practical concerns, as well as the established school culture. Merits School arrived at a "two-faced strategy" to cope with the reform. Pioneer School managed to maintain a balance between promoting reform pedagogy and maintaining good test rankings. Both schools marginally involved parents in the implementation of the reform. This study suggests that to achieve success, reformers need to place equal emphasis on the transformation of teachers as well as local policymakers.

This book enriches the existing literature on the implementation of mathematics curriculum reform at the school level and brings insights into the schools' implementation decisions, which will appeal to policymakers, curriculum researchers and administrators.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032023366
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/25/2023
Series:	China Perspectives
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Wei Gao, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Institute of Higher Education at Beijing University of Technology, China. He obtained his doctorate from Syracuse University, United States of America. He has been an elementary teacher, UN Volunteer, special educator, and an engineer. His research is focused on STEM education and inclusion issues.

Xianwei Liu, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Institute of Higher Education at Beijing University of Technology, China. Dr. Liu focuses on the area of STEM education, with a particular interest in students’ capacity development in the STEM areas.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. Curriculum Reform as Leverage of Change 3. Research Design 4. Merits School Confronted with the Reform 5. Teaching Evaluation at Merits School In Response to the Reform 6. Teachers’ Learning and Professional Development at Merits School 7. Pioneer School Embraced the Reform 8. Teaching Evaluation at Pioneer School in Response to the Reform 9. Teachers’ Experience of the Curriculum Reform at Pioneer School 10. Key Findings 11. General Discussion 12. Concluding Remarks