Georgia's new math curriculum may have a dramatic affect on the pocketbooks of sixth-graders' parents this fall.

Mathematics coordinator Lynn Ridgeway told the Fayette County Board of Education last week the state's elevated math curriculum embraced by State School Superintendent Kathy Cox is raising the bar for math studies around the state.

"The curriculum is based on Japan and Singapore curriculum," Ridgeway told the board.

Sixth graders will now study elements of pre-algebra and geometry, along with other math skills, Ridgeway said. But because the curriculum is so advanced and new math textbooks aren't set to be adopted for a few more years by the state, there's one big problem.

"There's really no textbook for this class," she said.

Instead, students will be using three books: the regular sixth grade math textbook, along with algebra and geometry textbooks. Ridgeway said each classroom would have a set of books for students to use, but if parents wanted their children to have a set of books for use at home, they would have to buy a set from the publishers.

Ridgeway sent a letter home to parents of rising sixth graders outlining the changes in the curriculum and an information sheet on the textbooks' publisher, Glencoe Textbooks.

Prices range from from $69.56 for "Applications and Connections, Course 1" to $81.32 for an Algebra 1 textbook.

The new curriculum also changes from a spiral concept to more of a ladder one, Ridgeway added.

Students will spend more time on mastering subjects and when they move to the next grade, they won't be given a review of the principals. Instead, they'll be expected to know the concepts and take the next step on the curriculum, she added. That idea drew concern from one board member.

"If they don't use it, they'll lose it," said Marion Key.

Ridgeway said the curriculum will also eliminate the need for stand-alone algebra and geometry classes in the middle school after the 2006-2007 school year because they will be part of the new curriculum.