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Welcome to the overview on the 
National Mathematics Advisory panel.

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Success in mathematics is important for all
of our citizens — it gives them college

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and career options and increases 
options for future income.

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We need a technical work force 
with top-level skills.

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The National Assessment of Educational 
Progress (or NAEP) shows there have been

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improvements in mathematics achievement 
over the last two decades,

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although students do less well as
they move through the grades.

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Students do better in 4th grade 
than in 8th grade,

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and the poorest performance 
is in 12th grade.

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On the 2007 TIMSS (or "Trends in 
International Mathematics and Science

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Study") results, even the performance 
of our 4th graders was found to be

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only slightly above the international 
average and behind 10 other nations.

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What can we do to help all students improve
their performances and succeed in mathematics?

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"I think students need to develop critical
skills beginning in elementary school.

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I want to know more about how to teach these
skills in early grades, and prepare students

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for entry into algebra.

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What do we know now about improving mathematics
instruction?"

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Actually, we know quite a bit about what is
needed.

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We know we must begin early to prepare students
for algebra and strengthen mathematics instruction

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at all grade levels.

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It's not necessarily true that children are
'too young' or 'not ready'

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to learn critical skills.

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Learning mathematics depends on prior 
opportunities to learn and build knowledge.

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We also are learning more about how students
learn and what teaching practices are effective.

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In April 2006, the National Mathematics Advisory
Panel was created to review the best available

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scientific evidence and recommend ways to
advance the teaching and learning of mathematics,

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with a specific focus on preparation for learning
algebra.

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Panel members conducted a systematic review
of the research and deliberated the evidence

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over a period of nearly two years.

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The Panel's final report, 'Foundations for
Success,' was released in March 2008 — providing

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45 findings and recommendations for improving
the teaching and learning of mathematics.

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The report addresses the necessary critical
foundations for success in algebra, as well

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as lists the major topics in algebra.

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Algebra is a gateway to later achievement
in school and career.

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Students must fully comprehend algebra concepts
by the time they graduate from high school.

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Those principles are helpful, but what practical
help does the research provide about instruction?

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The National Mathematics Advisory Panel has
over 40 findings and recommendations

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on numerous topics.

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We've translated many of these recommendations
into overarching practices to guide classroom

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instruction in the primary, intermediate,
and middle grades.

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The Panel recognized that its work is only
the start in a long process.

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In some areas, adequate research does not
exist.

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We are learning as we go along: "...there
is much more to discover about how to

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achieve better results."

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Please visit www.ed.gov/MathPanel to learn
more about the National Mathematics Advisory

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Panel and to receive a free download or copy
of the final report.