Also, I have taken state proficiency tests a few years back probably similar to what she was taking. There were three sections. Math, Writing, and Science.(and yes I did pass all of them). Those 'sections' were in essense, different tests, since they were graded seperately.
If children are to respect their teachers the teachers have to have some expertise in "general knowledge" in order to be seen as intelligent and worthy of respect.
What's considered general knowledge? Long Division? Basic Algebra? Advanced Algebra? Calculus? Geometry? If she's not passing basic math that's one thing. I don't expect an English teacher to know even mid level Algebra. I expect an English teacher to know English and the subjects that are related(Reading, Writing, etc).
She is a high school teacher. She should be expected to have at least some knowledge of all of the courses a student will take at any level in high school. (She did pass high school didn't she?) OK, exceptions for foreign languages, auto shop and very specialized things like that. But the minimum is that she should be able to pass a test in the core curriculum.
When I went to high school, eons ago, that meant she should know math right up through advanced algebra and geometry. We could go easy and not require calculus, even though some of the advanced seniors will be taking it.
Now, without seeing the test, I will speculate that it could easily be passed by someone with a knowledge of basic algebra. I know teachers here in Kali, and my wife is a Professor in the education department at a California State University--I have personal knowledge that the standards are much lower than I would like.
The concept of just giving this woman a "bye" on the math portion of the general knowledge test is completely ridiculous.
As others have pointed out, she may soon be assigned to teach a different class than English.
I well remember the time that my seventh grade daughter's school had a problem with filling a position. Things got shuffled, and because she had the least seniority, the gym teacher was assigned to teach science. About two weeks later, after I saw the graded papers and tests that came home, I went down to the school and raised hell. The teacher was German, spoke and wrote in broken english, and got about half of the basic concepts in science wrong. It ended up that the principal had to take over the class.
The bottom line here is that there is a very good reason to demand a certain proficiency in general knowledge and if the woman doesn't have it she should go somewhere else.