Mathematical proficiency for all students: toward a strategic research and development program in mathematics education

A clear need exists for substantial improvement in mathematics proficiency in U.S. schools. The RAND Mathematics Study Panel was convened to inform the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement on ways to improve the quality and usability of education research and development (R&D). The panel identified three areas for focused R&D: development of teachers' mathematical knowledge used in teaching; teaching and learning of skills needed for mathematical thinking and problem-solving; and teaching and learning of algebra from kindergarten through the 12th grade.

PREFACE; CONTENTS; FIGURES; SUMMARY; ACKNOWLEDGMENTS; RAND MATHEMATICS STUDY PANEL AND RAND STAFF; Chapter One INTRODUCTION; GOALS AND EXPECTATIONS; CHALLENGES AND CONFLICTS; RESEARCH KNOWLEDGE NEEDED TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS; A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION; FOCUS AREAS OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM; PROGRAM GOALS; FOUNDATIONAL ISSUES; ORGANIZATION OF THIS REPORT; Chapter Two TEACHERS' MATHEMATICAL KNOWLEDGE: ITS DEVELOPMENT AND USE IN TEACHING; BENEFITS OF A FOCUS ON MATHEMATICAL RESOURCES FOR TEACHING; WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MATHEMATICAL KNOWLEDGE FOR TEACHING?

Chapter Three TEACHING AND LEARNING MATHEMATICAL PRACTICESMATHEMATICAL PRACTICES AS A KEY ELEMENT OF PROFICIENCY; BENEFITS OF A FOCUS ON MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES; WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LEARNING AND TEACHING MATHEMATICAL PRACTICES?; Chapter Four TEACHING AND LEARNING ALGEBRA IN KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE; ALGEBRA AS A MATHEMATICAL DOMAIN AND SCHOOL SUBJECT; BENEFITS OF A FOCUS ON ALGEBRA; WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING ALGEBRA?; IMPACT OF POLICY CONTEXTS ON STUDENT LEARNING

Chapter Five TOWARD A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION RESEARCH COMMUNITYTHE NATURE OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; CRITERIA FOR THE QUALITY OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM; AN ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE TO CARRY OUT THE WORK; THE ROLE OF OERI IN CONDUCTING PRACTICE-CENTERED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT; INITIAL STEPS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PROPOSED PROGRAM; FUNDING RESOURCES; Chapter Six CONCLUSIONS; BIBLIOGRAPHY