I appreciate you taking the time to read my comment. It's always good to keep a healthy discourse about these types of issues.

First of all, best wishes in graduate school. I'm in graduate school myself, so I know how challenging it can be. I'm also sure that you can conquer Common Core math, so good luck with that too. You're right. It's tough that parents aren't able to help their kids with homework, and I think that's the main source of the complaints with Common Core methods. Maybe I should produce a video series for an adult target audience about Common Core. Could be a hit... haha or maybe not.

Either way, I understand the textbook thing. Even now in graduate school, I'm glad I kept all of my textbooks from my undergraduate studies because I can reference them as I need them. Especially for things like calculus. Textbooks are another tough issue in schools. My wife tells me that the problem teachers have with textbooks is that by the time the school gets the funding approved to purchase a new set, there may be other better resources that have come out in the meantime, meaning the teachers are less likely to teach from the textbook.

However, there is an argument to be made about having reference materials available to students in tough situations like your niece. You might try asking the school librarian if something like that is available. Librarians are always extremely helpful human beings.

Best wishes moving forward. I hope she's able to recover in math. I credit my love of math as the reason I'm in graduate school now, so I wish her nothing but success moving forward.

Thanks again for your thoughtful response. I think conversations like these make me appreciate Steemit even more.