Report: Florida Textbooks not Aligned to Common Core

In a draft paper, Morgan Polikoff, an assistant professor in the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education, analyzed several math textbooks currently in use in fourth grade classrooms in Florida and found them misaligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

In his most stringent analysis, Polikoff found that only "27 percent to 38 percent of the textbooks' content is in perfect proportional agreement with the CCSS." Using a less rigorous definition of alignment that uses the standards as a reference and does not require proportional agreement, Polikoff found that between 63 percent and 79 percent of textbook content was aligned to the standards.

When flipping the analysis so that the textbooks were the reference, Polikoff found similar numbers, ranging from 70-76 percent alignment, though when ranking the textbooks this way, the order "is nearly the opposite of the rank ordering on the previously mentioned indices," wrote Polikoff in the paper. "That is, textbooks in which a larger proportion of the content comes from the standards are not necessarily the textbooks that cover the largest proportion of standards content."

In looking for the source of the misalignment, Polikoff found that the texts were approximately evenly split in misaligned topics and misaligned cognitive demand.

"The cognitive demand analysis indicates that each of the three CCSS-aligned textbooks and Saxon emphasizes memorization and procedures overwhelmingly," wrote Polikoff, with those categories representing between 88 and 93 percent of total content though the CCSS calls for just 60 percent of content to focus on those processes.

Conversely, although "almost one-third of the standards content calls for students to demonstrate understanding, just 7 percent to 12 percent of the textbooks' content is at this level," wrote Polikoff, and there is "essentially zero" content focused on the two top levels of cognitive demand despite their 11 percent representation in the standards.

Polikoff analyzed seven math textbooks designed for fourth-grade classrooms that are currently in use in Florida. Three of the textbooks analyzed are "Common-Core aligned," three were earlier versions of those books and the seventh is not specifically aligned with any standards. Florida was chosen because it is one of the only states that collects textbook adoption data by district and because it's "a statewide textbook adoption state and a large state that likely influences the content in textbooks nationwide," according to the paper.

To read the full draft paper visit bcf.usc.edu.

About the Author

Joshua Bolkan is contributing editor for Campus Technology, THE Journal and STEAM Universe. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • split-screen digital illustration of two AI-influenced classrooms

    What AI Gets Right and How It Will Be Used in the Year Ahead

    AI has tremendous potential to do good in education while honoring and upholding the essential role of teachers. However, its success will depend on how we choose to use it.

  • DreamBox Math

    Discovery Education Announces Updates to Experience, DreamBox Math

    K-12 learning solution provider Discovery Education has announced enhancements to its Discovery Education Experience and DreamBox Math products, designed to create a more personalized, engaging learning experience for students.

  • The AI Show

    Register for Free to Attend the World's Greatest Show for All Things AI in EDU

    The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, held April 5–7, 2025, at the San Diego Convention Center, is a free event designed to help educators, students, and parents navigate AI's role in education. Featuring hands-on workshops, AI-powered networking, live demos from 125+ EdTech exhibitors, and keynote speakers like Colin Kaepernick and Stevie Van Zandt, the event offers practical insights into AI-driven teaching, learning, and career opportunities. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to integrate AI into classrooms while exploring innovations that promote equity, accessibility, and student success.

  • A geometric pattern of open Chromebook computers with bold outlines, subtle shading, and soft gradients, spaced evenly with vibrant green and blue accents on a neutral background.

    Challenges and Opportunities Ahead for the 'Great Chromebook Refresh'

    During the pandemic, the education community scrambled to provide students with laptops to promote online learning equity and mitigate learning loss. Today, those devices are approaching the end of their useful lives — and a "great Chromebook refresh" has been predicted as schools seek to replace them with newer models.