A good read...
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-math9mar09,0,1449785.story?page=1
"the Singapore system has its roots in math curricula developed in the former Soviet Union, whose success in math and science sent shivers through American policymakers during the Cold War."
not entirely lah...must adapt. But LA unified school system is so screw that teacher union are not really keen on the testing criteria.