About
Far too many Black and Latino/a/e students affected by poverty are not provided sufficient opportunities to build their math knowledge in elementary and middle school. Without a strong foundation in algebra, these priority students’ future high school course-taking and post-secondary opportunities are severely impeded, underscoring algebra readiness and deep conceptual understanding of Algebra I as key levers in efforts to advance educational equity.
A promising new area of reform involves creating a research and development infrastructure for math curriculum developers, researchers, and practitioners to collaborate and address critical learning challenges. Several of these important efforts are funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. They involve some of the largest math solution providers and school districts in the country, as well as established researchers and research institutions, all committed to improving outcomes for priority students.
The AIMS Collaboratory is a community of practice for the R&D networks to share findings related to the products, instructional strategies and professional development supports they are developing, testing, and refining. This work is designed to increase the solution providers’ collective impact on the field. In particular, this work will expand the evidence base on programs that effectively support algebra readiness and, subsequently, a firm grasp of Algebra I, specifically for Black and Latino/a/e students and students affected by poverty.