NEW YORK, NY — EdTrust-New York today released Solving the Equation: What Families Think About Math Instruction, Access, and Opportunity in New York, a new report revealing widespread concern among parents about math instruction, math pathways, and inequitable access to information about advanced coursework across the state. The findings underscore an urgent need for statewide action to strengthen math teaching and learning, particularly for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners (ELLs/MLLs). The state can do this in part by expanding programs like NYC Solves, which provide evidence-based math curriculum and related teacher professional development to ensure that all NYC students learn foundational math skills.

The report draws on a new statewide poll conducted with the MassINC Polling Group and comes amid decades of stagnation in New York’s math outcomes. Recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results show that New York ranks 37th in the nation in Grade 4 math and 27th in Grade 8 math. State scores have not improved meaningfully since the late 1990s.

“These findings make one thing clear: New York must treat math instruction and professional learning opportunities for educators with urgency,” said Arlen Benjamin-Gomez, Executive Director of EdTrust-New York. “Families statewide believe in their children’s potential, but the system is not giving students the math instruction, support, or opportunities they need to succeed.”

Parents Express Concern About Math Progress Despite Confidence in Basic Skills

Parents are concerned about their child’s math progress, only 53% of parents say their child is very confident in doing basic math, and 43% worry about their child’s math progress.

Even though most parents report that schools provide some math support, 39% still seek outside help, most often tutors, math apps, and online tutorials. Families with higher incomes and higher levels of education report significantly stronger confidence in their child’s math progress and math identity.

Math Identity Reflects Structural Inequities

The poll finds that math identity, seeing oneself as a “math person,” tracks strongly with socioeconomic status, gender, and parental education.

Only 51% of parents consider themselves a math person, and men report far higher math confidence than women. Parents with advanced degrees are more likely to identify as strong in math (66%) than parents with a high school diploma or less (41%).

Students With Disabilities Experience Persistent Gaps in Support

Parents of students with disabilities show significantly higher concern about math progress and report the highest rates of seeking outside support. More than half cite cost as a major barrier to accessing outside support.

ELL/MLL Families Face High Concern and Fewer School-Based Supports

Parents of ELLs/MLLs report some of the highest levels of concern about math progress and one of the highest rates of using outside math help. They also face the greatest rates of cost barriers and limited access to school-based tutoring, and online practice tools.

Income Shapes Access to School-Based Math Supports

Families earning over $100,000 annually report far higher access to tutoring and math tools than families earning under $50,000.

Inconsistent Communication Limits Access to Advanced Math Pathways

Only 39% of middle-school parents say their child’s school has discussed high school math pathways. Awareness of key milestones, such as the need to take Algebra I in 8th grade to reach Calculus by 12th, remains low statewide.

Participation in math course planning is also inequitable, with White parents significantly more likely than parents of color to take part. Despite a state law requiring annual notifications about advanced coursework, only 60% of parents reported receiving it.

Parents Overwhelmingly Support NYC Solves Once They Learn About It

Parents in New York City strongly support NYC Solves:

• 86% of parents in NYC support NYC Solves, with 61% indicating strong support
• 79% of Black parents, 84% of Latinx parents, and 87% of Asian American parents support NYC Solves. However, more effort must be made to ensure that parents are informed about NYC Solves overall. Just 31% of parents indicated that they had heard of the program prior to our survey.

Parents Overwhelmingly Support Statewide Math Reform

Large majority of parents want the state to take the lead in strengthening math instruction:

• 80% support requiring evidence-based math curriculum
• 75% support a state-vetted list of high-quality curriculum options

Support is strongest among Black, Latinx, and New York City families.

EdTrust-New York Calls for State Budget Investments to Strengthen Math Instruction

In response to the findings, EdTrust-New York is proposing three major budget investments for 2025–26:

1. Math Coaches

A $20 million investment to place math coaches in up to 200 high-need elementary schools.

2. High-Impact Tutoring

A $5 million investment to expand evidence-based math tutoring for grades 6–9 in up to 25 high-need districts.

3. Auto-Enrollment in 8th Grade Algebra I

A $8.5 million grant program to 15 school districts with high concentrations of students from low-income backgrounds. This would enable those districts to expand access to 8th grade Algebra I to up to 6400 students.

EdTrust-New York also urges New York City Public Schools to sustain and expand NYC Solves and will release a long-term statewide math policy agenda that includes a focus on building strong math identities, improving school communication, and ensuring equitable access to advanced coursework.

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About EdTrust-New York

EdTrust-New York is dedicated to eliminating equity and opportunity gaps that hinder students from reaching their full potential. We focus on ensuring that students of color, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander students, and those from low-income backgrounds achieve high levels of success from early childhood through college. For more information, visit EdTrustNY.org.