Adams: My math-and-physics-teacher husband knew that if our daughter didn't take geometry in 9th grade, she'd never get to calculus. He was right.

About half of parents surveyed say their child is doing well in math, but that drops among lower-income families.

That mind set of "a little bit better each day" is what led Selma Unified School District to put big plans in place last school year. Below the state average in English Language Arts and Math, the ...