Report Overview
What are some states doing to address learning losses?
- Increasing the frequency of materials
Simba’s 2023 National Instructional Materials Adoption Scorecard and Outlook to 2027 offers a comprehensive analysis of trends in the K-12 instructional materials market, with a specific focus on state adoption activities during the 2023-2024 cycle. With educational institutions striving to address the significant learning losses observed post-pandemic, this report provides critical insights into how states are navigating these challenges. The report is a must-read for educational policymakers, curriculum developers, and stakeholders in the educational sector seeking to understand the trends and strategies that are shaping the future of instructional material adoption.
2023 National Instructional Materials Adoption Scorecard and Outlook to 2027 highlights the 2023-2024 instructional materials adoption marketplace and the concerted effort to regain pre-pandemic student achievement levels. The lagging student performance has led to the implementation of new public policies, new instructional strategies, and comprehensive curriculum overhauls by adoption states. These states are employing innovative approaches to address the proficiency gaps that have widened over the past few years.
The report highlights several critical issues and trends in education. Demographic achievement gaps are impacting the sector as students, particularly across ethnicity and income levels, are experiencing notable learning losses post-pandemic. Additionally, the report emphasizes the ongoing struggle with declining student proficiency in foundational skills like reading and mathematics, a problem worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and closely tied to these demographic gaps.
The 2023-2024 adoption cycle was heavily focused on science curricula in Florida and Texas, while other significant adoptions included K-5 English Language Arts (ELA) in Indiana, K-12 ELA and handwriting in South Carolina, and K-12 mathematics in Oklahoma. A growing trend in the adoption of science-based reading instruction, particularly in K-5, is expected to continue, driving demand for specialized phonics curricula and materials, with increased attention on cursive handwriting for literacy and cognitive development.
Looking ahead, the report identifies key upcoming adoptions, including K-12 ELA and reading intervention materials in Florida and K-5 ELA and K-12 mathematics in Texas for the 2024-2025 cycle, as well as major adoption activities planned for California’s K-8 math materials in 2025-2026 and computer science adoptions in 2026-2027.
The report mentions several companies that play significant roles in the 2023-2024 adoption cycle, including Accelerate Learning, B.E. Publishing, Carolina Biological Supply, Cengage, Discovery Education, EduSmart, eDynamic, Goodheart-Willcox, Great Minds, HMH, Lab-Aids, McGraw Hill, PASCO Scientific, Perfection Learning, Savvas Learning, and Summit K12.
Stakeholders, educators, and policy influencers are encouraged to delve into this report to gain a deeper understanding of the current challenges and opportunities in the instructional materials adoption market. With its in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations, this report is essential for anyone involved in shaping educational policies and practices.
Methodology
Overview
The 2023 National Instructional Materials Adoption Scorecard and Outlook to 2027 is an all-new Simba Information report on the K-12 market for instructional materials, examined through the perspective of current state-level adoption activity.
This analysis tracks overall trends in the marketplace and state legislation and policy trends. It incorporates research on important adoptions that occurred in 2023-2024, as well as those underway in 2024-25. This report also looks forward to adoption activity planned for 2025 through 2027.
Sources
This report aims to objectively assess the instructional materials marketplace and employs a broad array of information resources to that end, including education industry press, business media, and general news outlets. Research has been gathered from sources at federal and state education agencies, state boards of education, and state research departments. Insights are also distilled from inquiries and interviews with state and district-level education professionals.
Research of federal and state government education agency data and sources provides the foundation for this report. This includes not only state departments of education, but state boards of education and departments specialized in instruction, curriculum, and student assessment.
Specialized education industry sources include publications such as ChalkBeat, EducationWeek, EdSource, FutureEd, and State Education Standard. Specialized business sources include economic data references, analyst commentary, and financial press.
General news sources employed include the Associated Press, CNN, CNBC, Fox News, and PBS. National press, such as Newsweek and The Atlantic, is an increasingly important channel for public education issues.
Newspaper coverage is used to add detail for specific markets. Examples include Indiana Capital Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, The Oklahoman, Orlando Sentinel, Salt Lake Tribune, Texas Tribune, and Tulsa World.
Policy-oriented sources round out the mix. Examples of those media include City Journal, Wirepoints, RealClearInvestigations, and more. Many associations and nonprofits are involved in the enterprise of public education, especially in promoting education policy for instruction and curricula.
Associations and Nonprofits
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American Civil Liberties Union
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Education Commission of the States
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Center for Education Market Dynamics
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Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
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ExcelinEd in Action
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National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO)
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National Center for Science Education
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State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA)