By the Illustrative Mathematics team
Not long ago, much of the conversation in mathematics education centered on curriculum quality.
Today, there is broad agreement that high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) matter. Research has demonstrated their impact, and many districts now view HQIM as the expectation rather than the differentiator.
As a result, finding high-quality instructional materials is no longer the challenge. District leaders are now asking:
How do we build a coherent mathematics program?
Because districts rarely need just a curriculum. They need professional learning. Digital platforms. Print materials. Coaching. Classroom resources. Implementation support. They also need the flexibility to choose the partners and supports that fit their local context. But flexibility without alignment can create fragmented experiences for teachers and students.
At Illustrative Mathematics®, we believe districts shouldn’t have to choose between flexibility and coherence.
That’s where IM Certified® comes in.
What is IM Certified?
Unlike many curriculum providers, our approach begins with open access. Our curriculum, IM® Math v.360, is available as a free open educational resource (OER) through AccessIM.org, giving every educator and district access to high-quality instructional materials without cost barriers.
IM Certified is the designation reserved for organizations whose curriculum materials, platforms, professional learning, and implementation supports have been reviewed by Illustrative Mathematics for alignment with IM’s instructional model. Together, these partners form the IM Certified ecosystem—a flexible network that allows districts to choose the combination of curriculum, technology, professional learning, coaching, and supplemental resources that best fits their local context while maintaining alignment to one shared instructional vision.
The IM Certified stamp of approval helps districts identify products and services that support the coherence of IM Math across lessons, units, grades, and classrooms.
Why Certification Matters
Because IM Math is openly available as an OER, educators may encounter products described as “based on,” “inspired by,” or “built from” curricula developed by Illustrative Mathematics. Those offerings may share common roots with IM Math, but they are not the same as IM Certified options.
That distinction matters. IM Certified partners provide materials and supports reviewed by Illustrative Mathematics to preserve the design of IM Math, including the sequence of mathematical ideas, grade-level focus, development of representations, and instructional model. That coherence is what helps teachers, leaders, and students work from the same mathematical playbook.
The IM Certified Ecosystem
Every district builds its mathematics program differently. The IM Certified ecosystem was designed with that reality in mind.
IM Certified Curriculum Distribution Partners
IM Certified curriculum distribution partners—Imagine Learning, Kendall Hunt, and Kiddom—help districts access and implement IM Math in ways that fit their local context while preserving the integrity of the curriculum.
These partners may provide:
- digital curriculum platforms
- print materials
- enhanced teacher and student experiences
- curriculum-based professional learning
- ongoing implementation support
IM Certified Professional Learning Service Partners
Successful implementation requires more than materials. Educators benefit from professional learning, coaching, and implementation support that deepen their understanding of the curriculum and strengthen instructional practice.
IM Certified professional learning service partners offer different combinations of services designed to support educators, including:
- curriculum-based professional learning
- instructional coaching
- implementation services
- leadership support and planning
- ongoing educator learning experiences
IM Certified Supplemental Partners
Supplemental tools and resources can extend and enrich the learning experience when they reinforce the same instructional approach and mathematical progressions as the curriculum.
IM Certified supplemental partners may provide:
- manipulative kits and classroom resources
- supplemental instructional resources
- student practice and enrichment experiences
- tools that support classroom implementation and engagement
Together, IM Certified partners create an ecosystem of aligned supports that helps districts implement IM Math while preserving the integrity of the curriculum and instructional model.
Why Alignment Matters
Coherence doesn’t happen by accident. It requires curriculum, professional learning, implementation support, and instructional resources that reinforce the same instructional vision.
When those elements work together, teachers spend less time navigating disconnected programs and more time supporting student thinking. Leaders can focus on improving instruction instead of coordinating competing initiatives.
That’s the goal of the IM Certified ecosystem.
Coherence in Action
Today, more than 3.4 million students across all 50 states learn with IM Certified curricula.
Across districts, one pattern continues to emerge: When IM Math is implemented with aligned, curriculum-based supports, schools and districts can make meaningful, sustained gains in student learning:
- In New York City Public Schools District 11, math proficiency increased by 24.8 percentage points across grades 3–8 between 2022 and 2025.
- In Los Angeles Unified School District, schools using IM Math improved math proficiency faster than comparable non-IM schools and twice as fast as the state average.
- In the School District of Philadelphia, math scores reached their highest level in nine years in 2025.
- In Pittsburgh Public Schools, third-grade math proficiency has nearly doubled since 2021.
While every district’s implementation journey looks different, these examples illustrate what is possible when high-quality instructional materials are paired with aligned supports and a coherent vision for teaching and learning.
One Vision. Flexible Solutions.
IM Certified partners are more than a collection of organizations offering related services. Together, they form a network working toward a common goal of helping educators deliver meaningful mathematics experiences for every student.
While each partner contributes something unique, all support the same instructional vision. Together, they help districts create coherence across curriculum, instruction, professional learning, and implementation.
Conclusion
No two districts are exactly alike. That’s why the IM Certified ecosystem was designed to offer flexibility without sacrificing coherence.
Whether districts need digital access, print materials, professional learning, implementation support, or all of the above, they can build the solution that fits their needs while remaining connected to one shared vision for mathematics teaching and learning.
That’s the promise of the IM Certified ecosystem: the flexibility to build the implementation that fits your district without sacrificing the coherence that helps teachers, leaders, and students succeed.
Next Steps
Looking for the right combination of curriculum and implementation support?
Whether you’re exploring free access through AccessIM, looking for a digital platform, evaluating print options, planning professional learning, or seeking implementation support, the IM Certified ecosystem provides flexible pathways built around one coherent vision for mathematics instruction.
Explore our IM Certified partners and discover how you can build the solution that fits your district while maintaining the integrity, rigor, and coherence of IM Math.
