In 1999, Assistant Education Secretary Kent McGuire announced the selection of ten mathematics-education programs as being exemplary and promising. The K–12 programs were chosen for their outstanding quality and demonstrated effectiveness, following a national search.

Five of the programs, including IMP, were designated “exemplary” because they provided convincing evidence of their effectiveness in multiple sites with multiple populations. “The exemplary programs have met the highest standards set by our nation’s leading mathematics experts and educators,” McGuire said. “These programs work, and we encourage teachers, administrators, and policymakers to learn more about them as potential additions to their curriculum.”

The search for quality mathematics programs began in 1994 when Congress directed the department’s Office of Educational Research and Improvement to establish “panels of appropriate qualified experts and practitioners” to evaluate educational programs and recommend the best to the secretary of education. The Expert Panel in Mathematics and Science is comprised of 15 mathematicians, scientists, educators, and policymakers from around the country.

The expert panel began its search by assessing the status of mathematics education in the U.S. Their study showed that 43 states have adopted or substantially incorporated recommendations from the national standards documents into their own standards and curriculum frameworks.

The panel also found that educators are seeking curriculum materials and programs that translate the standards into a useful form for their classrooms. Consequently, the panel decided to focus its first year’s search on programs that exemplify the standards set by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the American Association for the Advancement of Science benchmarks.

Exemplary & Promising Mathematics Programs provides additional information about the ten programs identified for recognition in 1999. For copies of the publication, call 1-877-4ED-PUBS (1-877-433-7827).