Recent state test results revealed that many Alabama elementary school students need help with math skills. Fewer than half of third through fifth graders were proficient in math.

This trend isn’t new, but Alabama schools are paying more attention to math instruction and trying to help students boost their skills before they get to crucial middle and high school years.

As a new school year gets underway, parents can ask teachers and principals some key questions to assess math instruction. And they may need to be prepared to ask for extra support if a student starts to fall behind.

Why is math important in elementary school?

Learning foundational elementary math – which includes addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions as well as other concepts – is essential to doing well in middle school math and beyond, experts say.

Alabama’s Numeracy Act, passed in 2022, adds teacher support, standardized instructional materials, regular testing throughout the school year and required interventions for students.

Schools have specific instructions about how to teach math to elementary students, but parents should be on the lookout for certain things required through the Numeracy Act.

Know how much time your child spends learning math

Parents and families children in kindergarten through fifth grade can expect to see students spend more time than in previous years learning numbers, counting and learning basic counting skills.

All kindergarten through fifth grade students are required to have math for at least 60 minutes a day. The law doesn’t specify that all 60 minutes have to be in one session, but the total number of minutes must be 60. Every day of school.

You can also ask teachers how they are helping your student learn fluency, procedural skills, conceptual understanding, and different types of practice and adaptation.

Know which tests your child will take to identify a math deficiency and measure progress

All elementary students must be screened for math deficiencies. If a student shows a math deficiency, teachers must immediately provide extra support. Your child’s math teacher should be able to tell you what type of screener or test will be used.

Additionally, students will be tested throughout the school year (beyond the annual spring test) to determine if they’re making expected progress. Again, your child’s teacher should be able to tell you which tests they’re using and how often your child will be tested.

Know if your child is making progress

Parents will receive report cards showing how their child is doing in math. And if your child shows a “deficiency” in math, teachers have to provide extra support, and they have to tell you about that extra support alongside the regular report card.

Know what your child is supposed to learn in math at each grade level

Teachers might provide this information at the start of the school year to give you a heads up on what your child will learn in math this year. Here’s a quick look at some of the things your child might learn at each grade level, prepared by the state Office for Mathematics Improvement.

Alabama adopted its most recent set of math standards in 2019. The standards are broken down by grade level and all schools are required to teach those standards.

Here’s a link to the 2019 math standards.

Schools have permission to teach above and beyond what’s in the standards, but they must at a minimum teach the standards. All schools can choose from among state-approved textbooks and curricular materials to teach math – and can use additional materials as needed.

However, if your child is in a school in the lowest 10% of academic achievement, elementary teachers must use one of the curricula approved by a state task force.

Ask your child’s teacher what materials they’ll use to teach your child math.

Know how your child’s teacher will provide extra support when needed

If your child is identified with a math deficiency – found through testing and other screeners – the teacher must provide additional support through what the law calls interventions.

The state math task force recommends schools use one of three types of intervention curricula, but schools don’t have to use one of the three types. If you get a notice that your child will receive additional support in math, find out how that additional support will be provided.

Summer math camp might be in your future

Near the end of the school year, teachers will determine which students should go to summer math camp for additional help. All school districts have to offer summer math camp for elementary students. Summer math camp is taught by “highly effective” teachers.

For kindergarten through third graders, math is taught alongside reading. For fourth and fifth graders, camp is focused on math.

If you’re interested in the nuts and bolts of the Numeracy Act at the state level, the Office of Mathematics Improvement has a webpage outlining their work.