Nearly 600 scientists and educators have voiced opposition against California’s new K-12 mathematics framework that deemphasizes advanced courses in an attempt to close achievement gaps between students from different racial or economic backgrounds, warning that it would only worsen the disparities it seeks to address. “We write to express our alarm over recent trends in K-12 mathematics education in the United States,” reads an open letter signed by a growing list of 597 professionals in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) fields, among whom are Fields Medalists, Turing Award winners, members of the National Academy of Sciences, and faculties at top U.S. universities. The signatories are particularly concerned about the proposed California Mathematics Framework (CMF), which they say is well-intended, but will harm students in the long run. The CMF has been a source of controversy since a rewrite was first proposed in 2019. Following several revisions, the latest draft of …