The California State Board of Education recently adopted a recommended list of math curricula that 600+ school districts can choose from over the next two years — the first opportunity to do so in over 10 years. While the materials on the list have been deemed as the best currently on the market – local school boards are not compelled to adopt from this list, nor will they be provided any financial incentives to do so.
Local Chambers of Commerce and business leaders can play — and have — a powerful role in this effort by urging local school leaders to select materials from the state vetted list that best meet the needs of their local context, to strengthen student outcomes and build the skilled workforce our economy depends on.
The ROI is Clear
High quality instructional materials—aligned to standards, supportive of multilingual learners, and designed for teachers—are 40× more cost effective at boosting achievement than reducing class sizes.
What California Business Leaders Can Do
Business leaders play a pivotal role in ensuring students are prepared for the jobs
driving the state’s economy. Here are ways to take action:
Ask Questions of
Education Leaders
Spread the Word
Advocate Locally
How does your local school
or district choose curriculum?
Does the process
support multilingual learners?
How are reviewers selected, and what criteria guide their decisions?
This toolkit makes it easy to share! There are graphics, newsletter copy, and suggested social media posts.
Share trusted resources—including those from the California HQIM Learning Community.
Attend school board meetings and voice support for adopting high‑quality curriculum from the state‑recommended list.
Publish op‑eds or blog posts framing curriculum quality as a workforce investment, not just an education issue
This Is About California’s Workforce Pipeline
