March MATHness: Revisited
Our Three Expert Judges Reflect on Leading Math Efforts, One Year Later
The 2024 March Mathness competition featured 16 promising practices, programs, and policies in math education. Ultimately, automatic enrollment into advanced math courses in Texas and North Carolina came out on top! This year, we have reconvened our judges—Dale Chu, Jocelyn Pickford, and Chad Aldeman—to revisit their favorites from last year and check in on where these initiatives are now.
Alabama’s Numeracy Act has propelled the state to the top of the nation in math progress, making it the only one to surpass pre-pandemic math scores. Dale Chu explores how Alabama achieved this milestone while questioning whether its success can be replicated nationwide.
Meanwhile, Jocelyn Pickford lifts up Kentucky’s Numeracy Counts Act, which is making strides with new numeracy academies and teacher incentives, and highlights Louisiana’s “Back to Basics” approach, which embeds high-dosage tutoring and foundational math instruction into daily learning.
Beyond policy, states are embracing performance-based tutoring contracts to ensure accountability and impact. Chad Aldeman draws attention to how this model is expanding, with new districts adopting data-driven tutoring initiatives that tie funding to student progress.
With even more states adopting automatic enrollment in advanced math courses, the policy continues to break down barriers for students, eliminating assumptions about their abilities and ensuring more learners—especially those from underserved backgrounds—have access to higher-level math opportunities. These targeted strategies prove that smart, research-backed interventions can drive real improvements in math achievement.
While progress is happening, there’s still work to do. National math assessment scores remain below pre-pandemic levels, and the need for effective solutions has never been more urgent. By scaling what works, states can continue building momentum. March Mathness isn’t just about competition, it’s about finding the best plays for student success!