Research & Insights

State of the States: Five Policy Levers to Improve Math Instruction

June 2025

Strong math skills open doors to higher earnings, college opportunities, and the fastest-growing careers. If we want students to succeed, we need to better prepare and support our elementary teachers in math instruction. Here’s how!

Download Executive Summary

Math can change lives

Charlotte wants to be an architect.

She dreams of designing extraordinary buildings and owning her own architectural firm. But without teachers who are prepared to help Charlotte master fractions, ratios, and measurements, she will never be able to transform her sketches and blueprints into functional designs. 

Charlotte isn't alone.

Unfortunately, many teachers report that they don’t feel fully prepared to teach math effectively—a challenge that may be contributing to a nationwide decline in students’ math achievement, with only a few bright spots bucking the trend.

Great math teachers change lives, but only if they have the preparation and support to do so.

Why math matters

Strong early math skills lay the foundation for success across all subjects.

Early math skills predict students’ long-term reading, math, and science achievement, as well as K–8 grade retention.

Strong math skills open doors to higher earnings, college opportunities, and the fastest-growing careers.

Improving math scores leads to stronger earnings—especially for historically underrepresented students. Taking advanced courses also has a positive effect on college enrollment, particularly for low-income students. And with STEM careers growing three times faster than non-STEM fields, strong math skills are more essential than ever for future opportunities.

This report highlights five key policy levers states can use to ensure that all teachers are prepared to successfully teach mathematics from the first day they enter the classroom.

EXPLORE THE STATE OF THE STATES REPORT

  • National Overview

  • Five Recommended Policy Levers for States

  • Assessing the Quality of States' Elementary Math Licensure Tests

  • State-Specific Recommendations

  • Case Studies

    • Resources

    Endnotes
    1. Horizon Research, Inc. (2019). Highlights from the 2018 NSSME+.
    2. Claessens, A., & Engel, M. (2013). How important is where you start? Early mathematics knowledge and later school success. Teachers College Record, 115(6), 1–29; Duncan, G. J., Dowsett, C. J., Claessens, A., Magnuson, K., Huston, A. C., Klebanov, P., … & Japel, C. (2007). School readiness and later achievement. Developmental Psychology, 43(6), 1428.
    3. Werner, K., Acs, G., & Blagg, K. (2024). Comparing the long-term impacts of different child well-being improvements. Urban Institute.
    4. Byun, S. Y., Irvin, M. J., & Bell, B. A. (2015). Advanced math course taking: Effects on math achievement and college enrollment. The Journal of Experimental Education, 83(4), 439–468.
    5. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024). Employment in STEM occupations. https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/stem-employment.htm