The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has announced plans to invest $1.1 billion over four years to improve K-12 math education and address achievement gaps that have been exacerbated by school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A year after announcing that it would invest in new ways to increase student achievement in math, the foundation’s U.S. Program is making math the cornerstone of its K-12 strategy over the next decade to help improve outcomes for all students—and in particular for Black and Latinx students and students from low-income backgrounds, who often lack access to high-quality curriculum, experienced teachers, tutoring, and other supports. The foundation will support the development and use of high-quality instructional materials, including digital tools, that increase student motivation, engagement, and persistence; invest in strong teacher preparation programs and ongoing, job-embedded professional learning for teachers; partner with school districts to help implement the practices, protocols, and systems changes most essential for strong math instruction; and work with partner organizations to better align the math course pathways leading from high school to college. In addition, the effort will include investments in research and development and an innovation agenda and partnerships to develop new tools and breakthroughs that can be translated into classroom practice.

Research has shown that students who pass Algebra 1 by ninth grade are twice as likely to graduate from high school and more likely to enroll in and graduate from college and go on to well-paid careers. The most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress data show a sharp decline in math achievement for nearly all subgroups of students.

“Math helps students become better problem solvers and critical thinkers, and it is an essential skill for a constantly changing economy,” said Allan Golston, president of the foundation’s U.S. program, in a video. “We believe that math is for everyone, and it should be a gateway to opportunity for all students.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Drazen Zigic)