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Why is F4Ed Needed?

According to the Department of Education, 80% of our children are not learning the math and science skills they need:


        

This shortfall is not limited to any one social or economic group. Four out of every five of our 12th graders are not proficient in math and science!

Similar results hold in reading, foreign language, and other subjects. Given worldwide competition for US universities and jobs, this makes it increasingly difficult for our children to succeed in the years to come.

In mathematics especially, the United States is significantly behind other nations in performance and curriculum. Even our nation's top students are behind their peers internationally:


Comparing curricula across countries, we see that US students are far behind the world leaders in Algebra, Geometry, and other major subjects:























A detailed comparison between U.S. and International math curricula shows how much later our students are introduced to important math concepts:

Comparison of US and International K-5 Curriculum


Topic
US
International
 
Read, write, order, compare numbers 0 - 100
1st Grade
1st Grade
Add & subtract to sum of 10 using pictures
1st
1st
Add & subtract to sum of 20 using pictures
1st
1st
Add & subtract to sum of 20
2nd
1st
Add & subtract within 100
2nd
1st
Begin to develop the concept of multiplication
2nd
1st
Add & subtract 2-digit numbers
3rd
1st
Multiply through 5 x 5
3rd
1st
Begin to develop the concept of division
3rd
1st
Begin to introduce the concept of a fraction
3rd
1st
Multiply through 10 x 4
4th
1st
Divide by 0 - 10
4th
1st

Read, write, order, compare numbers to 1,000
2nd
2nd
Add & subtract 3-digit numbers
3rd
2nd
Measuring area in square units
4th
2nd
Simple fractions
4th
2nd
Multiply through 10 x 10
4th
2nd
Multiply through 12 x 12
5th
2nd
Add & subtract fractions
5th
2nd

Read, write, order, compare numbers to 10,000
3rd
3rd
Introduction to areas and perimeters
3rd
3rd
Add & subtract 4-digit numbers
4th
3rd
Finding the area and perimeters of rectangles
4th
3rd
Multiply whole numbers to product of 1000
5th
3rd
Equivalent representations of fractions and decimals
5th
3rd
Divide whole numbers to 1000 (long division)
5th
3rd
Introduction to angles: acute, obtuse, right angles
5th
3rd

Read, write, order, compare numbers to 100,000
4th
4th
Decimals
5th
4th
Improper fractions
5th
4th
Add & subtract fractions
5th
4th
Add & subtract decimals
5th
4th
Multiply fractions
5th
4th
Properties of parallel and perpendicular lines
5th
4th
Introduction to volume
5th
4th
Add & subtract improper fractions Not covered
4th
Introduction to triangles (isosceles, equilateral, right) and four-sided figures (parallelogram, rhombus, trapezoid) Not covered
4th
Using variables to denote angles Not covered
4th
Multiply decimals Not covered
4th

Read, write, order, compare numbers to 1,000,000
5th
5th
Volumes of rectangular solids
5th
5th
Divide decimals and fractions by whole numbers Not covered
5th
Area of a triangle Not covered
5th
Ratios Not covered
5th
Averages Not covered
5th
Rates Not covered
5th
Measure of a right angle Not covered
5th
Sum of angles of a line Not covered
5th
Sum of angles of a circle Not covered
5th
Sum of angles of a triangle Not covered
5th
Sum of angles of a quadrilateral Not covered
5th
Solve for missing angles Not covered
5th
Exterior angles of a triangle Not covered
5th
Find the missing edge of a rectangular solid given the volume Not covered
5th

Note: U.S. Curriculum from a top public elementary school in California. International curriculum from Singapore.


This curriculum gap persists and grows through college, causing our children to underperform in math.


How does F4Ed address this gap?

Find out here.