At the end of March, state policymakers and leaders from across the country will gather in Washington, D.C. for the annual legislative conferences of the Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) and the Council for Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). This year, a pre-conference session will specifically focus on math policy, reflecting a growing focus by states and districts on K-12 math improvement.

But while 46 states have passed or adopted the science of reading policies, far fewer have addressed comprehensive math policies.

In recent years, Alabama, Louisiana, and Kentucky enacted math-focused legislation. This legislative session, several states—including Indiana, Michigan, Montana, and Oklahoma—have proposed new math-related bills, and Iowa passed legislation March 19.

Key Highlights from Proposed Legislation

  • Requiring evidence-based instructional strategies in mathematics.
  • Expanding teacher professional development to strengthen math instruction.
  • Implementing math screeners and targeted interventions for students below grade level.
  • Enacting automatic enrollment policies for advanced math courses based on student test scores.

Despite this momentum, high-dosage tutoring remains largely absent from most states’ proposed legislation. Many states and districts invested heavily in tutoring initiatives with ESSER funds, but with $189 billion in pandemic relief funding spent, tighter budgets loom in the coming years. While some states are increasing K-12 funding or maintaining flat budgets, many are still grappling with student achievement stagnation and declines, as reflected in NAEP and state summative assessments.

New funding opportunities: As states and districts explore innovative approaches to math improvement, NewSchools Venture Fund has launched a Generative AI Math Tutoring funding opportunity. Supported by the Gates Foundation, this initiative aims to expand access to high-quality, personalized learning through AI-powered tutoring solutions. Learn more here.

Go deeper: In case you missed it, I represented the National Math Improvement Project for a webinar exploring how districts are reducing systemic barriers to advanced math education and improving Algebra 1 readiness and outcomes. Check out the recording, here.

This article is sourced from Whiteboard Notes, our weekly newsletter of the latest education policy and industry news read by thousands of education leaders, investors, grantmakers, and entrepreneurs. Subscribe here.