​SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) today announced the launch of a statewide effort to develop an Illinois numeracy plan — a comprehensive strategy to boost student learning in math by supporting high-quality, evidence-based mathematics instruction in classrooms across the state. The initiative follows the state's successful and nationally acclaimed Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan and begins with a statewide needs assessment survey, which will be open April 16-30.

ISBE will use the results of the survey to inform its invitation-only Numeracy Summit this summer with state and national experts.

“Just as we united educators, families, and community members to build a shared vision for improving literacy, we are now embarking on that same ambitious journey for mathematics," said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders. “Illinois students deserve the same level of excellence in math instruction as they now receive in literacy. Illinois' numeracy plan will give schools the tools they need to elevate instruction and unleash students' math potential." 

“Literacy cannot be limited to just language. Students also must be knowledgeable and comfortable with numbers, so they can unlock new opportunities for themselves and make informed decisions about their futures," said State Representative Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, who sponsored legislation to develop the Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan. “I applaud the State Board of Education for looking at the framework we set as a state through our work on the literacy plan to build an evidence-based math plan that is responsive to the various needs of our diverse student body."

Illinois has made historic gains in literacy — leading the nation in English language arts growth and surpassing pre-pandemic levels of proficiency. However, progress in mathematics has not kept the same pace. The numeracy plan will provide school districts with comprehensive guidance on effective, evidence-based, and equitable math instruction, while respecting school districts' local control over curriculum and recognizing each district's unique student needs and diversity.

The process to develop the plan will center on a collaborative approach beginning with a statewide needs assessment survey. ISBE is inviting math educators, school and district leaders, representatives of higher education institutions, and Regional Offices of Education (ROEs) to take the survey. ISBE's invitation-only Numeracy Summit on June 3 will convene state and national math experts and key stakeholders to review survey findings and shape the direction of the plan. ISBE will publish a draft of the numeracy plan during its development and offer multiple opportunities for the public to provide feedback through statewide listening tours and online public comment.

The final numeracy plan is anticipated to be presented to the ISBE Board for approval by June 2026.​

The Illinois Comprehensive Literacy Plan, adopted in January 2024, serves as the model for the numeracy initiative. The literacy plan was developed through broad stakeholder engagement. It does not include any new mandates for schools; instead, it offers guidance, support, and resources to help districts analyze their data and create local plans to spur continuous improvement. ISBE recently released a $3 million state-funded grant, available to all school districts and ROEs, to support the implementation of local literacy plans.

Visit ISBE's Standards and Instructions webpage to take the survey and find more information on the statewide numeracy plan.