Starting this year, the state board of education allowed Georgia high schools to choose how they teach math. But when the state adopts new curriculum standards next fall, more schools may choose a traditional approach.

School districts can stick with an “integrated” approach, which combines several subjects into a single course, or revert to a more “traditional” teaching method, where subjects are taught separately. However, Georgia is in the process of adopting national curriculum standards. And State Superintendent John Barge says integrated math may not prepare students as well for the end-of-course tests.

“We’re not going to move the integrated courses from the state-approved list, but what people have to realize is that there may be a risk involved when it comes to the assessment piece and that when the assessments do roll out, they may not align to the way that they’re teaching it.”

Georgia districts are split. Dekalb County uses a traditional approach. Atlanta will keep integrated math. Next fall, Gwinnett County will switch from integrated to traditional math.