Standards-based mathematics curricula
Summary
The National Science Foundation funded a set of curriculum materials development projects. Each produced a comprehensive set of materials for a range of grades, aligned with Principles and Standards for School Mathematics. These have all been published commercially. They are:
Middle Grades 5/6-8:
- Mathematics in Context
- MathScape
- MathThematics
- Pathways to Algebra and Geometry
- Connected Mathematics
Implementation Support Centers
The National Science Foundation also funded four implementation support centers to support districts implementing NSF mathematics curriculum programs. The centers offer a variety of services from curriculum selection, to alignment, to implementation strategies and plans. These centers are:- K-12 Mathematics Curriculum Center (MCC)
- Alternatives for Rebuilding Curricula (ARC), (Elementary curriculum support center)
- Show Me Center (middle grades curriculum support center)
- Curricular Options in Mathematics Programs for All Secondary Students (COMPASS)
Purpose
These tools were developed to enable teachers to implement in their classrooms a curriculum that is aligned with the Principles and Standards for School Mathematics (PSSM)
Preparation and help
Standards-based improvement and curriculum-led improvement set out the principles underlying effective implementation of these programs.
Evaluative evidence
Each of these curricula lists the sources of evaluation evidence, often substantial, collected in the course of the development process and linked research studies.
Evidence on curriculum effectiveness summarizes the current picture, which shows that students using these curricula, when compared with matched students using traditional curricula, perform at least comparably well on traditional tests and much better on tests that assess the broader range of performance goals of these curricula � goals that the Standards require.
Evidence on curriculum effectiveness summarizes the current picture, which shows that students using these curricula, when compared with matched students using traditional curricula, perform at least comparably well on traditional tests and much better on tests that assess the broader range of performance goals of these curricula � goals that the Standards require.
Complementary tools
Standards-based assessment is an important complement to these curricula, ensuring that the achievements of the students are fuilly recognized. Balanced Assessment in Mathematics was funded by NSF to develop tests, classroom assessment materials, and professional development support aligned with PSSM and these curricula.