Key takeaways
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Evidence quality is non-negotiable.
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Adaptivity and data tools are only valuable if teachers can act on them.
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Adoption determines ROI.
Is Your District Considering A Supplemental Math Solution To Accelerate Learning For All Students And Increase Teacher Capacity?
The investment in curriculum programs for schools in your district is a significant undertaking. You have diverse student needs, staffing capacity concerns, and district accountability to consider.
This helpful guide provides districts with a comprehensive set of criteria for preparing to issue a request for proposals (RFP) or to make a district purchasing decision for supplemental math programs.
Objectives
- To accelerate learning for diverse classroom instructional needs
- To support data-driven instruction and district administration with robust and easy-to-read data analytics
- To expand classroom staff capacity
Important Considerations
- Does the research show independently evaluated “Strong” evidence of effectiveness?
- Does the solution build deep conceptual understanding needed to develop critical math skills?
- Does the solution provide the just-in-time supports needed?
- Does the student have agency over their learning?
- Can assessment data support real-time instructional decisions?
- Can assessment data support real-time instructional decisions?
- Does progress monitoring support predictive analytics and teaching recommendations?
- Does the PD offered adapt to your needs?
- Does the PD offered adapt to your needs?
- Is ongoing support included in your subscription?
Weighing and Ranking Criteria
Use this chart to help your district determine the ranking of important criteria when it comes to finding a supplemental math program.
| Category | Description | Weight (district completes) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | Independently proven to produce desired outcomes including ESSA “Strong” research | |
| Adaptivity | Students develop the conceptual understanding and fluency needed | |
| Acceleration | Just-in-time scaffolding, feedback, hints and instructional support | |
| Student Agency | Choice and control over interactive lessons and student progress monitoring | |
| Assessment | Supports data-driven instruction with real time assessment data | |
| Data-Driven Instructional tools | Tools provide teacher insights into student thinking and personalized lesson assignments | |
| Progress Monitoring | Provides predictive analytics and real-time usage and progress data for educators and administrators | |
| Professional Learning | Flexible implementation – blended or on-site PD | |
| Implementation Success & Ongoing Support | Provides implementation and onboarding services to support adoption and usage with ongoing customer support | |
| Integrations | Supports SSO and rostering via Clever or ClassLink |
Questions and Considerations for Choosing a Supplemental Math Program
Consider these thoughtful questions and criteria to find the answers that best inform your selection of a supplemental math solution.
Efficacy
Identify the research that demonstrates the program is as effective as they say. Who conducted the research and has it been validated by independent third parties?
Criteria to Consider:
- What ESSA Tier of Evidence does the product have and is there research to support the level?
- Is there a list of independent Randomized Control Trial (RCT) studies that demonstrate the usage needed to support the study outcomes?
- What is the recommended usage of the program?
- Do they have customer testimonials that support their efficacy claims?
Adaptivity & Acceleration
How can the solution support the instructional needs of all students? How does it adapt to each student’s unique needs?
Criteria to Consider:
- Does the program deliver what students need in a motivating and engaging format?
- How does the program determine what each student needs based on their unique starting point?
- What are the adaptive learning pathways a student takes through the program?
- What are the scaffolds, hints, and feedback offered in the program?
- How does the solution serve MTSS Instruction for Tier I, II, and III?
- How does the solution serve the needs of English Language Learners?
- How can teachers make supplemental assignments for accelerated or struggling students?
Student Engagement & Agency
A program only works when students use it. Selecting a solution that students love increases the likelihood you will achieve your progress goals.
Criteria to Consider:
- How does the student experience agency over their learning?
- How does the program promote a growth mindset in mathematics?
- Is the solution age- and grade-agnostic?
- Can students track their own progress in the program?
Assessment & Curricular Insights
Consider that a more innovative approach to assessment may help you get the data needed to drive instruction while also relieving students of test-anxiety and increasing instructional time.
Criteria to Consider:
- Does the solution assess student methods in addition to answers?
- Does the solution deliver ongoing, real-time proficiency data?
- How often does the assessment need to occur and how much time does it take?
- How does the assessment inform instruction?
- Does the solution align with your state standards and core curriculum?
Progress Monitoring & Data-Driven Instructional Tools
Educator demands are high and classroom diversity tests capacity. How useful is the data a solution generates? Can teachers easily use that data to make personalized instructional decisions?
Criteria to Consider:
- Do the instructional tools allow educators to group students with shared levels of understanding?
- Does the program make lesson recommendations and predictions to inform instructional strategies?
- Does the solution provide visibility into how students think and learn?
- How does the solution help teachers monitor progress and provide personalized and targeted instruction at scale?
Implementation & Professional Learning
The effectiveness of your investment is tied to usage and adoption. The program cannot be burdensome to your staff.
Criteria to Consider:
- How does the solution support PD for math?
- How accessible is Professional Development?
- What type of implementation and ongoing support does the solution provide?
Integrations
The ability to integrate rosters and support for single-sign-on will translate to ongoing ease of use by staff and students.
- Does the program support SSO and rostering via Clever or ClassLink?
