NYC Solves
NYC SOLVES
Overview
Overview Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, we will be launching an initiative called NYC Solves. The goal is to ensure that all New York City students develop math skills, a critical requirement for educational, career, and lifetime success. Based on extensive research, NYC Solves will ensure that students use high-quality curricula taught by well-trained and coached teachers.
Phasing in over the next few years, NYC Solves will require high school math classrooms to adopt a single, uniform curriculum called Illustrative Mathematics. For middle schools, districts will choose from a list of pre-approved curricula.
Why is this important?
Too many of our high school and middle school students are not meeting grade level proficiency in math. Two-thirds of Black and Latino students are not performing at grade level in math, and students in temporary housing and other students who have formal gaps in their education can fall behind when moving to a new school using a different curriculum.
As we have seen with NYC Reads, standardizing curriculum options across all New York City Public School Districts, ensures that all students have access to the tools they need to build strong math skills and that instruction is consistent from grade to grade and school to school, offering our city's students a more level playing field. Using a standard curriculum allows teachers to collaborate easily with their peers and superintendents and principals to do professional development effectively while ensuring consistent quality class-to-class and school-to-school.
What are the goals of this program?
Our goal is to ensure that every student in every classroom has access to quality, research-based curricula selected through collaboration between superintendent and principals that is supported by deep, intensive training and support. Teaching our children to be skilled mathematicians is an absolutely essential step in ensuring each New York City Public Schools student graduates on a pathway to a rewarding career and long-term economic security, equipped to be a positive force for change.
About the Curricula
Each curriculum has been reviewed and met expectations by EdReports, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization. In addition to the EdReports review, each selected curriculum has undergone a formal review by a committee of New York City Public school educators including school leaders, central staff with expertise in mathematics, special education and multilingual learners and district-based mathematics specialists. This NYCPS review was based on alignment with the NYCPS Shifts in Mathematics, quality of mathematical tasks, strength of math language development, engagement of and accessibility for diverse learners, and alignment with CR-SE principles.
You can learn more about the high school curriculum by accessing the Illustrative Mathematics website.
About the Curricula
A curriculum is how standards, or learning goals, for every grade and subject are translated into day-to-day activities. As part of the NYC Reads initiative, all early childhood programs will use The Creative Curriculum. All elementary schools will choose a comprehensive, evidence-based curricula for reading instruction that includes grounding in phonics.
Each curriculum has been reviewed and met expectations by EdReports, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization. You can learn more about each of the elementary school curriculum options below: