Here's the story, in brief.

Seattle Public Schools' choice of new high-school math textbooks has been challenged by three people who say the books' approach is failing many students.

The Seattle School Board recently approved the purchase of three books published by Key Curriculum Press: "Discovering Algebra," "Discovering Geometry" and "Discovering Advanced Algebra."

The vote was 4-3, with three board members expressing concern about whether the books were too heavily weighted toward one side of the often-contentious debate over how best to teach math.

The appeal was filed in King County Superior Court by parent DaZanne Porter, retired math teacher Martha McLaren and Cliff Mass, University of Washington professor of atmospheric science.

(I hope to get more information for you on the appeal, and other possible moves, directly from the source.)

Since I am not a lawyer, I will not try to guess whether this appeal will succeed.  But I will add that the school board may change its mind after the next election, especially since one of those in the majority, Cheryl Chow, is not running for re-election.

(If you want some background on the controversy, you might want to start with Professor Mass's op-ed.)