Instructional coherence isn’t a buzzword—it’s a cornerstone of student success. When core and supplemental materials are intentionally aligned, they reinforce each other to create more consistent, high-quality learning experiences. Yet in today’s classrooms, the abundance of available resources often leads to fragmentation rather than focus.
Our latest analysis of K–8 math curriculum trends sheds light on how this plays out across the country. Drawing on data from more than 1,700 districts, we identified three key patterns:
- Districts are navigating an overcrowded supplemental market but the number of high-quality core options remains limited.
- Most systems rely on a single core program and layer in multiple supplemental tools.
- Some supplemental products see broader use than any individual core curriculum.
These findings raise pressing questions for district leaders: How can systems manage growing complexity? What does instructional coherence look like in real-world settings? And how can we design for greater clarity amid a crowded and evolving curriculum landscape?
We’re here to help you make sense of the market and make it work for your students.
Your partner in education,
The CEMD Team
