March 24, 2026
Math education in the U.S. is in crisis. National assessments show that only 39% of fourth graders, 27% of eighth graders, and 21% of 12th graders are proficient in math, with significant racial and socioeconomic achievement gaps that haven’t budged in decades. But here’s the good news: a growing body of research is pointing the way to what works in improving math instruction. What will it take to turn those insights into better learning for students? And what can we learn from states, districts, and schools that are already doing it?
Join Bellwether for a discussion about how education leaders, practitioners, and policymakers can bridge the gap between research-based best practices and how math is actually taught in classrooms across the country. We’ll explore what the research tells us about how students learn, the intersection between research and instruction, and the challenges educators face in shifting how students learn math.
Featuring:
- Anson Jackson – Senior Partner at Bellwether
- Sarah Powell – Professor at the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin
- Beth Zhang – Co-President at Lavinia Group
- Moderated by Andrew J. Rotherham – Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Bellwether
