Lindsey Henderson is the Policy Director for Math policy at ExcelinEd.
Excellence in math instruction requires the talent and dedication of teachers, but it also greatly depends on the instructional materials placed in front of students in classrooms every day. Curriculum decisions are often made quietly at the district level without thorough vetting and without the standards necessary to serve math students well.
It follows that one of the most powerful methods for improving math outcomes remains largely underused across the country: high-quality instructional materials or HQIM.
While states have invested significantly in teacher development, assessments and intervention programs, the question of what students are actually learning from deserves attention. Curriculum sits at the center of every instructional decision a teacher makes. As such, it deserves invested consideration.
Results from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) make the urgency evident. The numbers show that only 28% of eighth grade students demonstrate proficiency in basic math.
States that prioritize HQIM are better positioned to drive significant math improvement among their students. That’s why ExcelinEd has released a High-Quality Instructional Materials Policy Playbook for Math, which aims to help states navigate evaluating and selecting materials that will position students for success.
If you were to walk into any school district, you would find a wide variety of math curricula in use: textbooks, teacher guides and digital platforms, to name a few. But variety does not equate to quality. When states fail to rigorously evaluate instructional materials and either require or incentivize the use of high-quality options, school and district leaders are left to navigate a crowded marketplace on their own. Without clear, trusted information about which materials are most likely to improve student outcomes, it can be difficult to discern truly high-quality curricula from those that are simply well marketed.
High-quality instructional materials for math are not just those that align to state standards. They must follow coherent learning progressions across grade levels, building on what students learned previously and preparing them for what comes next in math. They must simultaneously develop what are called the Four Strands of Mathematical Proficiency: procedural fluency, the ability to perform math procedures with speed and accuracy; conceptual understanding, knowing how and why math works; real-world problem-solving, connecting math to students’ lives; and productive disposition, helping students see math as sensible, useful and worthwhile.
Equally important, high-quality materials must support the educators using them. The best curricula include examples of common student mistakes, multiple approaches to solving problems and professional learning tools that help teachers strengthen their own math knowledge. When materials are designed with both students and teachers in mind, the impact of a single curriculum adoption decision imparts greater impact.
When materials aren’t up to standard, even the most talented teacher faces an uphill battle. With high-quality materials, teachers feel equipped to deliver consistent, reliable instruction that moves all students forward.
ExcelinEd’s newly released High-Quality Instructional Materials Policy Playbook for Math provides a comprehensive framework giving states the tools they need to define, evaluate and recommend high-quality math materials. The playbook outlines how states can build a clear definition of HQIM, develop a sound evaluation rubric, establish a transparent review process and provide districts with the guidance and funding support necessary to adopt materials effectively.
Several states are already demonstrating what this looks like in practice:
These states share the common understanding that curriculum is not a neutral element but rather is fundamental to successful instruction. And when states invest in getting it right, the benefits reach every student in every classroom.
Instructional materials represent one of the most cost-effective policy options available to schools. Improving curriculum quality does not require building new infrastructure or hiring additional staff. It requires making smarter and better- informed decisions about the resources that districts are already purchasing.
ExcelinEd’s HQIM Policy Playbook gives state policymakers a clear, actionable roadmap for ensuring that every teacher has the materials they need to teach effectively and every student has the opportunity to achieve mathematical proficiency.
