Driving High-Quality Math Materials: A District Leader’s Guide

The Center for Education Market Dynamics • July 24, 2024

As a district leader, you play a critical role in selecting curriculum materials for your students. Throughout the country, many district leaders like you are turning to high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) as their next math curriculum solution. Research indicates that these aligned materials have a positive impact on accelerating student achievement and improving teacher practice. Not all high-quality materials are the best fit for every district, though. The materials you select should support the unique needs of your students and teachers.

This series is designed to help you navigate the selection process, setting selection criteria beyond “aligned materials,” and ensuring your district not only purchases high-quality math materials, but is also set up for success through the implementation of those materials.

You’ll hear from district leaders and support providers about their experiences with the curriculum adoption process. By sharing their experiences, emerging trends, and best practices, this series aims to highlight the pivotal role district leaders get to play in getting more high-quality materials into classrooms.

Whether you are new to your role and embarking on your first curriculum adoption, leading a curriculum adoption for the first time in recent years, or are an experienced leader looking to enhance your district’s curriculum selection and implementation processes, this series leads you through the journey of adopting and implementing math HQIM.

The six-part series covers:

• Establishing a Curriculum Adoption
• Changing Instruction With Intention
• Leading Effective Adoptions
• Selecting the Right Curriculum and Tools for Your District
• Launching Your Implementation
• Strengthening and Sustaining Your Implementation

Shift the focus from ‘Is this a high-quality curriculum?’ to the more important question of ‘Will this high-quality curriculum support our goals for educators and students?’

– Leading Effective Adoptions

What You Can Expect to Learn:

• Selection Criteria Beyond Alignment: Discover how to set selection criteria that go beyond just “aligned materials” to ensure they meet the unique needs of your student population.
• Insights From Peers: Hear from district leaders and support providers about their real-life experiences with the curriculum adoption process, including challenges and successes.
• Emerging Trends: Stay informed with trends in HQIM adoption and implementation.
• Best Practices: Learn proven best practices to ensure your district is set up for success from the selection process through to full implementation.