Mathematics Instruction

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Mathematics Update Newsletter Sign Up

Sign up to get the Mathematics Update, a monthly newsletter for mathematics educators, administrators and leaders.

Previous Mathematics Update Newsletters

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Math Counts Act Implementation

In the coming days and weeks, the Iowa Department of Education (Department) will be sharing new tools to help schools strengthen K–6 math instruction under the Math Counts Act (HF 784). These resources will support schools using a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), ensuring that all students receive timely, targeted and standards-aligned instruction. New tools and information will be added to this webpage as they become available.

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Mathematics Professional Learning for K-12 Educators

The Iowa Department of Education is providing professional learning aligned with the goals of House File 784 (HF 784), which prioritizes high-quality mathematics instruction at no cost to a minimum of 1,250 K-12 educators. 

Professional Learning

Professional Learning for Mathematics Educators

Explore mathematics professional learning opportunities offered by the Iowa Department of Education and discover additional resources to support your professional growth.

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Approved Early Mathematics Assessments

To support early identification and targeted instruction, the Iowa Department of Education has published a vetted list of mathematics screening and progress monitoring tools for students in grades K–6. These tools meet the technical requirements outlined in House File 784 and are designed to support local implementation of MTSS. Beginning in the 2025–26 school year, all districts must administer an approved screener three times annually and use an approved progress-monitoring tool.

2026-27 Approved Early Mathematics Assessments (180.64 KB) .pdf

Iowa Math Counts Act (House File 784) (15:31) - Video explaining the requirements for screening, progress monitoring and interventions under the Iowa Math Counts Act (HF 784). The video also addresses common questions.

Early Literacy and Mathematics: Assessment and Intervention (141.38 KB) .pdf - Iowa Code 279.68, as amended by House File 2618 and House File 784, promotes effective assessment, instruction, and intervention practices to support all students to become proficient in reading and mathematics. Taken together, these separate requirements are combined into a common set of assessment, intervention and decision-making practices.   

Early Literacy Implementation (ELI) and Math Counts FAQ (223.79 KB) .pdf - Collection of frequently asked questions with responses that address ELI and Math Counts. This technical support addresses questions about screening, risk and proficiency determinations, personalized plans, home communication, and more.

Example Parent/Guardian Letter (12.74 KB) .docx - House File 784 promotes collaboration with families to support students in becoming proficient in mathematics. The example parent/guardian letter provides schools with an example of initial parent/guardian notification.

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Personalized Mathematics Plan

House File 784 requires the development of a personalized mathematics plan for any K–6 student identified as “persistently at risk” in mathematics. The Department has developed a statewide template and technical assistance document to support educators in designing targeted, data-informed plans that address the individual needs of students. Plans should include clear instructional goals, research-based strategies, and a progress monitoring system. Plans also ensure ongoing communication with families and provide scaffolds to maintain access to grade-level content. 

Model Personalized Mathematics Plan: HF 784 Technical Assistance (1.37 MB) .docx

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Iowa Comprehensive State Mathematics Plan

By House File 784, the Iowa Department of Education developed the Iowa Comprehensive State Mathematics Plan (CSMP) (1.36 MB) .pdf to increase mathematics proficiency statewide. The Executive Summary outlines the goals, evidence-based mathematics instruction and school recommendations that will guide implementation. The plan outlines a multi-year vision focused on four key goals: strengthening universal instruction, improving interventions, supporting teacher preparation and expanding stakeholder engagement. The CSMP serves as a roadmap for continuous improvement in mathematics education and provides aligned recommendations and resources for schools, AEAs and educator preparation programs.

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Mathematics Teacher Preparation Workbook

This workbook supports Iowa’s efforts to prepare effective mathematics educators. It aligns with:

  • HF 784 (Iowa’s educator preparation requirements)
  • Iowa’s Comprehensive State Mathematics Plan
  • Iowa Academic Standards for Mathematics
  • National frameworks, including:
    • NCTM’s Principles to Actions and Standards
    • The Mathematical Education of Teachers (MET) II
    • AMTE’s Standards for Preparing Teachers of Mathematics

It helps implement HF 784 by:

  • Integrating mathematics methods coursework
  • Building teacher candidate skills in number sense, learning progressions, conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and application
  • Supporting the use of high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials

This collaborative resource reflects Iowa’s commitment to preparing confident, capable, and well-supported mathematics educators who can deliver rigorous, standards-aligned instruction to all students.

Mathematics Teacher Preparation Workbook (385.69 KB) .pdf

Data-Based Decision Scenarios 

This collection of scenarios representing Kindergarten through 6th grade is intended to support pre-service educators in understanding how assessments can be used to guide instructional decisions within a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS). Facilitator guidance, discussion prompts, and sample answers are included.

Higher Ed Assessment and Data-Based Decisions Scenarios (510.9 KB) .pdf

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High-Quality Instructional Materials Statewide Contracts

In response to requests from instructional leaders across Iowa and the needs of schools, the Department conducted a request for proposals to identify and establish statewide contracts with negotiated pricing for high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) aligned with Iowa’s academic standards for English Language Arts/Literacy and Mathematics. To learn more and access the contract numbers, see the High-Quality Instructional Materials Statewide Contracts for English Language Arts and Mathematics (141.08 KB) .pdf document. Note that this purchasing list is not an “approved list.” 

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Mathematics Teaching Endorsements

In Iowa, teacher licensure is handled by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. For the requirements for teaching endorsements in mathematics, use the following links:

Board of Educational Examiners spreadsheet listing subject/course BEDS codes (219.07 KB) .xlsx and the endorsements that permit you to teach them.

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Laws & Regulations

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Contacts

GEAR UP Iowa Staff
PositionName & Contact Information
Evidence-Based Practices and Dyscalculia Specialist

Melissa Carlson

[email protected]

515-322-7620

K-12 Mathematics Consultant

Christi Donald

[email protected]

515-419-9012

K-12 Mathematics Consultant

April Pforts

[email protected]

515-314-6243

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