| Title: |
Impact of the Illustrative Math Curriculum on Math Achievement: A Matched-Comparison Study in Massachusetts |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Noman Khanani; Dalia Zabala; Shannon Stackhouse; Jena Gu; Kirk Walters; WestEd |
| Source: |
WestEd. 2025. |
| Availability: |
WestEd. 730 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-1242. Tel: 877-493-7833; Tel: 415-565-3000; Fax: 415-565-3012; Web site: http://www.wested.org |
| Peer Reviewed: |
N |
| Page Count: |
24 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Reports - Research |
| Education Level: |
Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Grade 6; Intermediate Grades; Grade 7; Grade 8 |
| Descriptors: |
Middle School Students; Mathematics Curriculum; Mathematics Achievement; Mathematics Instruction; Middle School Mathematics; Program Evaluation; School Districts; Core Curriculum; Institutional Characteristics; Program Effectiveness; Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Curriculum Implementation; Barriers; English Learners; Low Income Students; Students with Disabilities; Minority Group Students; COVID-19; Pandemics |
| Geographic Terms: |
Massachusetts |
| Abstract: |
This study is the first to explore the impact of the Illustrative Math (IM) curriculum on student math performance. IM is one of the nation's most widely adopted high-quality math curricula. Using survey, state, and public town data from districts in Massachusetts, researchers explored how student math performance changed in 71 schools after they began implementing the IM curriculum in middle school grades compared to similar schools using a different high-quality math curriculum. The difference between schools that adopted IM before the pandemic and those that adopted IM after it likely reflects implementation challenges during COVID-19, including disrupted professional development, remote learning complications, and reduced collaborative planning time, which are all critical for successful curriculum adoption. The findings suggest that with proper implementation support and stable conditions, IM can deliver meaningful academic gains. |
| Abstractor: |
ERIC |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
ED677533 |
| Database: |
ERIC |