Optimizing Math Curriculum to Meet the Learning Needs of Students

With the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, educators are under tremendous pressure to increase the academic performance of all students. The concern over student performance is not overstated. The 2003 National Association of Education Progress reported that 23% and 32% of students in 4th and 8th grade scored below the basic level. Because 75% of a teacher's instructional decisions regarding content sequence and instructional objectives are determined by a district's adopted mathematics textbook, there is a need to develop effective strategies to better implement mathematics curricula and materials. The authors' purpose in this article was to describe an 8- step strategy, OPTIMIZE, to help teachers maximize the effectiveness of their current mathematics curriculum by designing adequate and appropriate modifications to increase the mathematical achievement of all students.