Understanding the Student Math Readiness Problem

This report is currently free to access to help districts address challenges to student math readiness. Learn more about how EAB’s District Leadership Forum can help your district close achievement gaps.

Across the country, educators are struggling to make progress in student math readiness. National assessment results show record-high numbers of students scoring below grade-level in math, and fewer high schoolers are meeting college-readiness benchmarks. While almost every demographic group saw declines following pandemic-era school disruptions, gaps between groups either persisted or grew wider. Regardless of region or students’ historical math performance, administrators and educators see these trends in their districts.

EAB’s interviews with district leaders elevated numerous possible causes for declines or slow progress in math achievement. Many leaders cited challenges like socioeconomic barriers and students’ limited access to math support at home. Nevertheless, the resource-intensive interventions needed to address these issues made progress feel out of reach.

Early insights from EAB’s research reveal three key math challenges that are both within leaders’ immediate control and require district-level solutions. Our ongoing research will focus on addressing these three core challenges:

1. More students are progressing through grade levels without mastering foundational math skills, leaving them unprepared for grade-level content.
2. Teachers face increasing difficulty in delivering grade-level math instruction due to competing curricular and classroom demands.
3. More students don’t see a clear connection between math and their future goals, not only reducing motivation to persist through challenges but also potentially limiting access to advanced courses or math-dependent careers after high school.

EAB is launching a research initiative to address these challenges in math instruction, aiming to produce resources and recommendations based on the real experiences of district leaders, teachers, and students. Through surveys, educator interviews, and best-practice research, EAB will develop actionable solutions for school districts to improve student math readiness and close achievement gaps.

Download the full report to learn more about these challenges and discover how your district can get involved with our student math readiness research.

Download the Report