SEATTLE -- The Seattle School Board has voted to adopt a controversial new math curriculum despite outcries from parents.

With a 4-to-3 vote, the board on Wednesday decided to adopt the Discovering Series by Key Curriculum Press just minutes after hearing pleas against the program.

Dozens of parents and several educators gathered at the school board meeting to voice their disapproval of the program that will replace the current texts, which are at least 17 years old.

"The series is based on a vision that has turned out to be grossly misguided in math education," said one parent.

"Please reject the Discovering series," another parent said.

The series was recommended to the school board by a committee of teachers, a professor and two parents who looked at 25 different math programs. The committee said the program will help kids work together to figure out solutions to algebra and geometry problems.

However, hundreds of parents fear the new books will "dumb down" their kids' math lessons. Many even threatened to yank their kids out of school if the school board chose the Discovering series.

Parent Rick Burke, who has three kids enrolled in Seattle schools, thinks the Discovering Series is a step backwards.

"The parents are saying, 'Please, help us out here. Help us understand. Give us some material that's accessible for us and our students that we can use as a good resource,"' said parent Rick Burke.

Consultants to the state Department of Education agreed. The consultants called Discovering the "weakest option" in algebra, geometry and advanced geometry. They said the program is "mathematically unsound," and even "unacceptable."

Anna Maria De La Fuente, K-12 mathematics director, said the Discovering series, which aligns well with the new state standards, ranked second overall. She said the program is doubtlessly an improvement from the current curriculum.

"I'm really excited our children are going to have really quality materials in the fall. That's been the number one priority along the way," she said.

Not so, according to Cliff Mass, a University of Washington professor.

"The next generation or two generations of Seattle school children will have a very poor math education," he said.