International test results indicate that United States students are not measuring up to world standards in mathematics education. What does this mean? A look at the past fifty years of mathematics education provides a record of past and present reforms and the lessons learned from these efforts. The mathematics and mathematics education communities are working together to present a vision of mathematics that will take us into the next century. Current curriculum materials present students with relevant problems to solve, and require exploration and data analysis. We need to produce citizens who are able to understand the power of mathematics and work together with others to use mathematics to solve problems encountered in their personal and professional lives.
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