Overview

Math achievement in U.S. schools is rebounding but remains below pre‑pandemic levels — highlighting the urgent need to accelerate and sustain progress in math learning. The Achievement in Mathematics (AIM) study is an MDRC research project that examines how different instructional strategies delivered through supplemental digital learning products support math learning for students who are behind in elementary school. The study focuses on a central question facing educators: whether students who start behind in math benefit more from approaches that emphasize building foundational skills (“remediation”) or from approaches that prioritize access to grade-level content while targeting critical prerequisite gaps (“acceleration”).

The AIM study builds on prior work conducted through the ReSolve Math Study, in which students in elementary schools were randomly assigned to one of these two instructional approaches within supplemental digital learning platforms. This randomized design provides a strong foundation for comparing the effectiveness of the approaches in real classroom settings.

For AIM, MDRC is working with the two digital learning product providers that participated in the ReSolve Math Study to analyze data generated through students’ use of these tools in over 60 elementary schools across the country. AIM uses de-identified data from student use of these products, including interim math assessment scores and measures of engagement, such as time spent and lesson completion.

The study includes a special focus on the comparative effectiveness of the two approaches for students who begin the year behind in math. AIM will provide rigorous evidence to inform how educators can use instructional time and digital tools to support students struggling in mathematics.