Calculators out in Texas elementary schools??!!

No Calculator

I am getting word that the Texas State Board of Education voted today on a new set of education standards that will not allow the use of calculators in grades 1 to 5.Here is a Houston Chronicle article from yesterday indicating that the board was leaning in that direction.

Use of calculators in lower elementary grades has been linked to students having serious problems with fractions, algebra and higher level mathematics courses.

I believe there will be a portion of Kentucky’s new math assessments where calculators also will not be permitted, though I do not believe a complete ban on their use is in current or contemplated policy here. It will be interesting to see how this major change in Texas plays out over the next few years.