Math Education News and Updates Since 2000 by Ashley Morris

2005 - "We All Use Math Every Day" Initiative

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-07 13:36:35 UTC

A combined effort between CBS, TI, and NCTM, "We All Use Math Every Day" provides free resources to math teachers. These lessons use Numb3rs to engage students in applications of mathematics.

PR Newswire. (2007, March 29). ‘We All Use Math Every Day™’ education initiative wins national iParenting Media Award for best educational web site. PR Newswire. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.chron.com/news/article/prn-we-all-use-math-every-day-tm-education-1590019.php

2011 - Desmos is launched

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-07 13:50:58 UTC

In 2011, Desmos is lauched by creator Eli Luberoff at TechCrunch Disrupt NYC. Desmos is an online, free graphing calculator. It also has Smart Phone Apps available. This was cheaper and more accessible for schools.

Koda, A. (2023, October 3). Desmos founder talks graphing calculators, charting his career. Yale Daily News. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2023/10/03/desmos-founder-talks-graphing-calculators-charting-his-career/

2010 - Common Core

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-07 13:58:01 UTC

In 2010, The common Core State Standards for Math and ELA education are released. The goal for math was to create a curriculum that focuses on depth of knowledge and understanding. It was also the first time the US could have had a national curriculum. However, not every state adopted it.

Common Core State Standards Initiative. (n.d.). Common Core State Standards. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://corestandards.org/

ABC News. (2010, June 2). States unveil ‘Common Core State Standards’ for public schools. ABC News. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/national-school-standards-states-recommended/story?id=10809243

2002 - Abel Prize created

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-07 14:09:35 UTC

Established as the "Nobel Prize" for mathematics. The goal is also to encourage math studies in students. They have awards for students and math teachers. "The Abel Prize supports a number of measures directed towards stimulating the interest in mathematics among children and young people. Among these are mathematics competitions for children and teenagers, and a mathematics teacher prize. "

The Abel Prize. (n.d.). About the Abel Prize. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://abelprize.no/page/about-abel-prize

2019 - MVP Protest

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:11:54 UTC

WCPSS students and families protest the use of Math Vision Project curriculum in high schools. One high school staged a walk out.

MVP focuses on collaboration and critical thinking. It also does not want the teachers to provide direct instruction.

Heffernan, S. (2019, April 10). Wake students plan walkout to protest new math curriculum. WRAL News. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.wral.com/story/wake-students-plan-walkout-to-protest-new-math-curriculum/18316470/

2025 - NYC schools adopt Illustrative Mathematics

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:17:18 UTC

To combat low test scores, NYC schools will adopt Illustrative Mathematics. Teachers push back saying it's too fast and there aren't enough resources for stuggling students. As is common with the math wars, this curriculum "put[s] too much focus on developing deep understandings of math concepts, and not enough on practicing math skills"

Schwartz, S. (2025, February 7). New York City’s new curriculum gets caught in the ‘math wars’. Education Week. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/new-york-citys-new-curriculum-gets-caught-in-the-math-wars/2025/02

2025 - Maryland adopts integrated math

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:19:19 UTC

Maryland math curriculum changes include moving to integrated math. It also requires 60 minutes of math instruction in all grades K-12. The goal is to prepare students for the real world.

Lynn, K. (2025, March 25). Maryland education leaders set to approve new math policy that would affect all grades. WJLA. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.wral.com/story/wake-students-plan-walkout-to-protest-new-math-curriculum/18316470/

2014 - NC reviews CCSS for math

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:28:33 UTC

NC adopted the CCSS in 2010 and implemented them using grant money. An advisory board is put together to review the CCSS for NC schools. The board will also make recomendations to the State Board of Education.

Public Schools First NC. (2014, September 23). The Facts on Common Core State Standards. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://publicschoolsfirstnc.org/resources/fact-sheets/the-facts-on-common-core-state-standards/

2014 - 5 states opt out of CCSS for Math

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:35:29 UTC

By 2014, five states have decided to not use the CCSS for their math standards. More states begin reviewing and replacing CCSS as shown in the next slides.

Baker, C. R. (2014, January 4). Opting out of the Common Core. Deseret News. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.deseret.com/2014/1/4/20532378/opting-out-of-the-common-core/

2017- NC repeals CCSS

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:38:02 UTC

NC replaces CCSS with their own standards. These new standards are similar to CCSS. These new standards are confusing to teachers. The standards were rated as weak and need improvement by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

The News & Observer. (n.d.). NC ditched Common Core. Now its confusing math standards fall flat. The News & Observer. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article218015655.html

2002 - NCLB Signed

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:41:42 UTC

NCLB becomes law. The aim was to improve outcomes and raise scores. This law increasd the pressure of standardized tests by requriring all students to be "proficient" on state tests.

Klein, A. (2015, April 10). No Child Left Behind: An overview. Education Week. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/no-child-left-behind-an-overview/2015/04

2006 - NCTM Reverses 1989 recommendations

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 14:48:46 UTC

NCTM changes it's opinion and decideds students need stronger basic/foundational skills. This reverses years of promoting "fuzzy math" where the focus was on discovery and student lead learning. Learning math facts and algorithms were deemed important again.

Suffren, Q. (n.d.). Sub‑Standard Math Standards Get Help. The Thomas B. Fordham Institute. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/sub-standard-math-standards-get-help

2014 - States begin to repeal CCSS

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 15:03:02 UTC

Several states repeal CCSS and replace them with their own standards. Some states have standards that are very similar but use a different name. In 2014 only 43 states are using the CCSS as is. Some have replaced it with their own standards that are nearly identical. While others have completely replaced them.

Layton, L. (2014, September 10). Common Core 2.0: Common Core by another name. The Washington Post. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/common-core-20-common-core-by-another-name/2014/09/09/9d2ed458-3857-11e4-bdfb-de4104544a37_story.html

2025 - Math scores start to show recovery

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 15:23:40 UTC

Five years after schools closed due to the pandemic, we are starting to see some recovery in Math scores. However learning gaps are growing between lower performing students and their higher performing peers. Federal funding is ending for some programs. This could slow or reverse progress.

Kuhfeld, M., & Lewis, K. (2025, March 18). 5 years after COVID‑19 hit: Test data converge on math gains, stalled reading recovery. Brookings Institution. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.brookings.edu/articles/5-years-after-covid-19-hit-test-data-converge-on-math-gains-stalled-reading-recovery/

2014 - States drop out of CCSS

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-08 15:31:15 UTC

More state pull out of CCSS

"Legislation has been introduced in at least 12 states to prohibit implementation and states have dropped out of the two major Common Core assessment consortia"

Markell, J., & Perdue, S. (2014, February 10). Common Core isn’t a government conspiracy. Bloomberg Opinion. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2014-02-10/common-core-isn-t-a-government-conspiracy

picture: Map showing some states have left or revised CCSS Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Common Core implementation by state. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Core_implementation_by_state#/media/File:Status_of_Common_Core_Standards_vector.svg

2015 - ESSA replaces NCLB

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-09 14:05:26 UTC

President Obama signs the Every Student Succeeds Act. This replaced NCLB and while continuing the spririt of previous education laws. It offered more flexibility with how testing is accomplished and made allowances for differences in student demographics.

Korte, G. (2015, December 11). The Every Student Succeeds Act vs. No Child Left Behind: What’s changed? USA Today. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/10/every-student-succeeds-act-vs-no-child-left-behind-whats-changed/77088780/

2004 - TIMSS report released

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-09 14:21:16 UTC

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003 was released in 2004. It showed that 8th grade US math students were being in math compared to the top 8 countries but scored higher than the international average.

Boston College, TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center. (n.d.). TIMSS 2003. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://timssandpirls.bc.edu/timss2003.html

National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.). Mathematics and science achievement of eighth-graders in 2003. In TIMSS 2003 results. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://nces.ed.gov/timss/results03_eighth03.asp

2000 - NCTM releases Principles and Standards For The Teaching of Mathematics

ashleyroofmorris — 2025-07-09 15:30:26 UTC

NCTM released the first set of standards for the 21st century. It outlines what is needed for a rigorous, high quality math education so students are college and career ready after graduation.

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. (n.d.). 100 Timeline. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.nctm.org/100timeline/