Support for State Standards Adds up to Success at Stamford Public Schools

The case study examines the implementation of Everyday Mathematics, a Pre-K through Grade 6 program designed for Common Core State Standards, in Stamford Public Schools, a public school district in Stamford, Connecticut. The district serves over 8,000 elementary students across 15 schools, with a diverse population speaking over 65 languages. Everyday Mathematics was adopted in 2016 to address inconsistencies in math instruction and improve alignment with state standards. The program incorporates distributed practice and a spiral curriculum to deepen understanding and achieve long-term mastery of concepts.

Outcomes were measured using the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) scores. Following implementation, math proficiency increased across Grades 3–5 between 2016 and 2017. The percentage of students who met or exceeded proficiency in Grade 3 rose from 48.4% to 51.0%, Grade 4 performance improved from 41.5% to 50.5%, and Grade 5 performance increased from 37.2% to 42.1%. Teachers reported enhanced student engagement and conceptual understanding, with students showing a greater appreciation for math. The program’s technology and resources, such as activity cards and online games, supported differentiated instruction and provided tools for tracking student progress.