**Polikoff, M. (2018, June 28). The challenges of curriculum materials as a reform lever. Brookings. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-challenges-of-curriculum-materials-as-a-reform-lever/
Recognizing that many voices in the education field believe that having strong instructional materials is the best way to ensure better and more equitable student math performance, this article questions some of the underpinnings of that belief. The author raises that while instructional materials are an important component to teaching and learning, there are some problems with defining what high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) are. He poses that even if those problems were resolved, districts and teachers would still experience challenges in adopting and using them. The report concludes with recommendations for addressing these challenges and effectively leveraging instructional materials for educational improvement.
Steiner, D. (2017, March). Curriculum research: What we know and where we need to go. https://standardswork.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/sw-curriculum-research-report-fnl.pdf
This article summarizes what is known (and not known) in the research literature about curriculum. The author highlights two key findings from the research: 1) curricular choices can matter significantly for student learning, and 2) changes in curriculum are relatively cost neutral interventions. However, the article mainly focuses on complexities in curricular research, including varying definitions of what constitutes a “curriculum”, the difficulty and inefficiency of conducting experimental or quasi-experimental research that compares two different curricula (thereby making it difficult to know what makes a given curriculum effective), and the challenges of interpreting the role of faithful implementation (or lack thereof).
Council of Chief State School Officers. (2021). How states can support the adoption and effective use of high-quality standards aligned instructional materials. https://753a0706.flowpaper.com/CCSSOIMPDCaseStudyOVERVIEWFINAL/
This document outlines strategies that states can implement to help school districts adopt and effectively use HQIM. The strategies include developing clear messaging about the importance of HQIM and aligned professional development, providing clear guidance to districts about which instructional materials meet high standards, and creating incentives to encourage districts to adopt HQIM.
While this report focuses on strategies states can implement, we believe these are strategies districts can use as well.
**This document is a priority reading.