Tom Greene is the National Legislative Director for ExcelinEd in Action. In this role, he manages the organization’s advocacy team and works with leaders and lawmakers from across the states to promote student-centered solutions.
Every competitive and innovative society must ensure its students gain a solid foundation in mathematics. Math proficiency provides K-12 students with many college and career options, enhances their future income prospects and is tied to positive life outcomes.
State-level policies play a pivotal role in achieving this. The strongest policies take a comprehensive approach that includes daily, high-quality math instruction, teacher supports, student assessments, interventions and resources for families. Education policies are integral to creating a math-ready generation that is prepared for the challenges of the future.
In response to troubling trends in the Nation’s Report Card, three states—West Virginia, Arkansas and Florida—doubled down on math policies in 2023 to better address the needs of students.
West Virginia was the first state in 2023 to tackle math policy with its Third Grade Success Act, which will help the state’s more than 68,000 K-3 students. The legislation prioritizes evidence-based math instruction to ensure students achieve proficiency by the end of third grade.
The state had been grappling with a longstanding decline in math performance, scoring eight points below the national average. Just 23% of fourth graders demonstrated proficiency. Fueled by this challenge, West Virginia leaders enacted crucial measures in the new legislation, such as teacher training and requiring evidence-based curriculum in classrooms. With its comprehensive approach and focus on content mastery, West Virginia is taking important steps to ensure student success in math.
Arkansas policymakers passed the Arkansas LEARNS Act in 2023. This transformative legislation mandates progress monitoring and intervention plans for students in grades 3-8 who are falling below grade level in math. The act calls for highly effective math teachers to provide instruction and ensures tutoring support for students facing challenges.
Founder and Chairman of ExcelinEd in Action Gov. Jeb Bush emphasized that this legislation will transform education for the Natural State’s nearly half a million students:
“This comprehensive approach serves as a model for all other leaders looking to reimagine learning and create an environment where families have options, where teachers are rewarded and where all students can gain the skills they need to achieve their full potential,” he said in a statement.
In 2023, Florida enacted legislation that requires schools to identify students struggling in math and to provide them with the interventions they need to catch up and stay on track.
It also requires schools to screen K-4 students for deficiencies in math and/or the characteristics of dyscalculia, a learning disability that can cause students difficulty with number concepts, procedures and calculations. Further, it requires parents of identified students to be immediately notified.
The law tasks the Florida Department of Education with developing a framework for increasing mathematics proficiency statewide and with identifying state-approved mathematics intervention programs, curricula and high-quality supplemental material.
In December 2023, the latest Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) math exam results revealed a concerning decline in the performance of U.S. teenagers, ranking 28th out of 37 participating countries. Despite the pandemic’s impact on education, the United States continues to lag behind global competitors, such as Singapore and South Korea.
The data confirm a math education crisis, with only 66% of U.S. students performing at a basic level in mathematics. The states have an opportunity to turn this around with bigger, more comprehensive math policies that address proficiency issues and, ultimately, can bridge the gap with high-performing nations.
There’s still more work to do, even in these three states that are ahead of the curve with math policy. State lawmakers should consider these fundamental math policy principles for their work in 2024:
Our nation’s recent math performance is a call to action. Efforts in West Virginia, Arkansas and Florida indicate promising momentum for adoption of comprehensive, evidence-based math legislation across the country. Experts know that effective instruction, early diagnoses and extra help for struggling students make a substantial difference. The ExcelinEd in Action team stands ready to help with resources and expert advice for policymakers who want to make a positive impact on math education in their state.
To read more posts from this series, visit From Policy to Action: A Series Looking Back at 2023 Education Legislation.
