Owatonna board adopts Illustrative Mathematics as new K–12 math resource

The Owatonna School Board on Monday approved Imagine Learning’s Illustrative Mathematics as the district’s new K–12 math resource, the board said during its April 27 meeting. The motion to adopt the resource was moved by Dr. Ciampa and seconded by the chair; it carried on a voice vote.

District staff framed the change as a shift from a teacher-led model to a problem‑based approach that puts students’ reasoning at the center of instruction. “We landed on a resource called Illustrative Math,” said Julie, a district staff member who led the curriculum review, describing a year-long process that evaluated three candidate resources and included teacher pilots, site visits and a 26-member district committee representing K–12, special education and EL programs.

Julie told the board the new program balances extended problem-solving time with daily numeracy practice: "They get some of that, it's 15 minutes a day for the numeracy time and then it's 60 minutes of math instruction to a problem‑based system." Board members described classroom demonstrations and teacher feedback shown at a recent District Curriculum Advisory Committee meeting as influential in the decision.

The board moved the adoption under agenda item 9a; no board member raised a formal objection during the voice vote. The district plans additional teacher support and classroom visits to monitor rollout and alignment with the new state math practices.

What happens next: the district will implement the resource across grade levels with planned professional development and cross‑district teacher collaboration. Staff said they will return to the board with timeline and support details.