Yes, IM® Math is a comprehensive TK–12 core mathematics curriculum, not a supplemental program. It is designed to support full-year, grade-level instruction.

IM Math is structured around a coherent progression of lessons, units, courses, and grade levels. Mathematical ideas build over time, so students develop conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and the ability to apply mathematics in new situations.

Current course offerings include:

• IM® TK Math — Transitional Kindergarten
• IM® K–5 Math — Kindergarten through Grade 5
• IM® 6–8 Math — Grades 6–8, including an Accelerated Pathway (Grades 6–7)
• IM® 9–12 Math — Traditional Pathway (Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2) and Integrated Pathway (Integrated Math 1, 2, 3)

Spanish translations of student materials are available for K–8, the 6–7 Accelerated pathway, Algebra 1, and Integrated Math 1. Spanish translations of teacher guides are available for K–5.

Because IM Math is a comprehensive core curriculum, it is designed to anchor instruction rather than be used as a collection of disconnected activities or occasional lessons. Districts and schools may use supplemental products or services alongside IM Math, and IM Certified® partners offer options that have been reviewed by IM to ensure they reinforce the instructional model and mathematical coherence of the core curriculum.

Next Steps and Resources

• IM Math Curriculum Overview
• IM Certified Partners
• AccessIM.org — access any K–12 course for free

The core IM® Math curriculum is authored, reviewed, and maintained by Illustrative Mathematics®, a nonprofit organization built on the vision that all learners can know, use, and enjoy mathematics.

IM Math was developed by mathematicians, educators, curriculum specialists, and classroom teachers, including IM cofounders Dr. Bill McCallum and Dr. Kristin Umland. Together, their expertise shapes the curriculum, from the sequencing of units to the structure of individual lessons.

The IM writing teams include former teachers, many with more than a decade of classroom experience. Their insights help ensure IM Math reflects how students learn and what teachers need to support student success. You can learn more about the writing teams on each curriculum page.

Next Steps and Resources

• About Illustrative Mathematics
• IM® TK Math Curriculum Information
• IM® K–5 Math Curriculum Information
• IM® 6–8 Math Curriculum Information
• IM® 9–12 Math Curriculum Information

In an IM® Math classroom, students work together to solve meaningful, grade-level problems. They make sense of the problem, try strategies and representations, compare approaches, and explain their reasoning. Throughout the lesson, students engage in mathematical discussions with partners, small groups, and the whole class. They listen to one another’s ideas, ask questions, build on different approaches, and make connections between strategies. These conversations give teachers insight into student thinking.

The teacher plays a central role. They launch the problem, listen carefully as students work and discuss, ask purposeful questions, select student thinking to bring forward, and guide conversations that help the class make sense of important mathematical ideas. During the lesson synthesis, the teacher helps connect students’ thinking to the key mathematics of the lesson.

Each lesson follows an intentional structure: a warm-up, activities, a lesson synthesis, and a cool-down. Instructional routines, math language routines, and embedded accessibility guidance support students in making sense of mathematics, participating in discussions, and explaining their reasoning.

The goal is not for students to figure everything out on their own. The goal is for students to do real mathematical work together, with teacher guidance that helps them build understanding, fluency, confidence, and math identity over time.

Next Steps and Resources

• On-Demand Training Modules — demonstrate instructional routines and lesson structure in practice
• Blog: Elements of Problem-Based Teaching and Learning — includes classroom video and 360° virtual classroom
• IM Classroom Videos
• Blog: What is Problem-Based Instruction?

In IM® Math, fluency means using procedures flexibly, accurately, efficiently, and appropriately. Students learn not only how to carry out procedures, but why they work and when to use them.

IM Math develops conceptual understanding and procedural fluency together. Students build fluency through meaningful problem solving, classroom discussion, practice, and repeated opportunities to use what they are learning in new situations.

In IM® K–5 Math, fact fluency is an explicit focus of the grade-level standards. Students develop fluency by using relationships among facts, describing patterns, and building strategies grounded in understanding. As students move through grades 3–5, they build fluency with multiplication and division facts and with standard algorithms for all four operations.

In IM® 6–12 Math, students continue developing procedural fluency with grade-level mathematics. They connect representations, strategies, language, and notation, and they strengthen skills through distributed practice across lessons and units.

Across all grade levels, IM Math helps students build fluency by making sense of mathematics. 

Next Steps and Resources

• Fluency Development — free K–5 ebook and resources
• Blog: Developing Conceptual Understanding and Procedural Fluency — IM 6–12
• Blog: The Joy of Fluency — IM’s approach to what fluency means
• Blog: Fluency Development Within and Across the Grades in IM K–5 Math: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

IM® Math includes embedded instructional resources and teacher guidance designed to help a wide range of learners access grade-level mathematics. These research-based supports work alongside students’ IEPs and 504 plans and within district MTSS frameworks. 

For multilingual learners, math language routines are woven throughout the curriculum to support language development alongside mathematical thinking. Routines such as Co-Craft Questions, Three Reads, and Stronger and Clearer Each Time provide structured opportunities for students to practice mathematical language, revise their thinking, and participate in discussions.

For students with disabilities, IM Math incorporates principles of Universal Design for Learning to support multiple ways for students to access content, engage in mathematical thinking, and demonstrate their understanding. Lessons include accessibility guidance and instructional resources that help reduce barriers to participation while maintaining grade-level rigor. 

For students with unfinished learning, pre-unit resources and diagnostic assessments help teachers understand what students know before a unit begins. Teachers can use that information to provide timely support while keeping students engaged in grade-level mathematics.

Across the curriculum, IM Math supports teachers in creating classrooms where students with a range of learning needs can make sense of mathematics, share ideas, build confidence, and see themselves as capable mathematicians.

Next Steps and Resources

Multilingual learners:

• Blog: Empowering Multilingual Learners in Math
• Blog: Math Language Routines: Discourse with a Purpose
• Blog: Tackling Wordy Problems: How the Three Reads MLR Supports Access for All Learners

Students with disabilities:

• Blog: Empowering All Storytellers: Tips for Engaging Special Populations Using IM v.360 (6–12)
• Blog: Visualizing IM K–5 Math in Specialized Academic Settings

Unfinished learning:

• IM Professional Learning — PL pathways include specific focus on supporting unfinished teaching and learning
• Example: Grade 1 Course Guide — Center Overview

Yes, IM® Math is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M). 

EdReports has concluded that the complete IM K–12 Math curriculum meets expectations across all three gateways: Focus and Coherence, Rigor and Mathematical Practices, and Teacher and Student Supports. IM Certified® editions from Imagine Learning, Kendall Hunt, and Kiddom have each earned a Meets Expectations rating from EdReports across all three gateways.

The Standards for Mathematical Practice (MPs) are embedded throughout the curriculum. Lesson and activity narratives reference the MPs directly, and each course guide includes charts showing where the MPs are emphasized across units. See an example in the Grade 7 Course Guide.

For states that did not fully adopt the CCSS-M or have made amendments, some IM Certified® curriculum distribution partners offer state-specific versions of IM Math. Availability varies by state and partner.

IM® TK Math is aligned to the California Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations, Learning Trajectories, and other research-based standards and frameworks.

Next Steps and Resources

• EdReports Reviews of IM Math
• Standards for Mathematical Practice
• Grade 7 Course Guide—Standards for Mathematical Practice
• Principles for Organizing Mathematical Content
• CCSS-M (Common Core State Standards-Math)

District results vary by context, but schools and districts using IM® Math with aligned implementation support have reported meaningful gains in student learning. Some examples:

• In New York City District 11, math proficiency in grades 3–8 increased after the district adopted IM Math. 
• In Los Angeles, schools using IM Math improved math proficiency at a faster rate than comparable schools not using IM Math. 
• After Philadelphia schools adopted IM Math, district math scores reached their highest level in nine years, with school-level data showing gains associated with focused implementation.

These examples point to the importance of coherence: high-quality curriculum, sustained professional learning, leadership support, and aligned instructional practices working together. When those pieces reinforce the same instructional model, teachers are better supported and students have more consistent access to grade-level mathematics.

Educators and leaders can review detailed case studies, outcome data, and implementation stories via our IMpact page.

Next Steps and Resources

• NYC District 11 Case Study
• Blog: Building a Coherent Math System: Lessons from NYC District 11
• IMpact — IM’s full research and evidence program
• IM Case Studies

IM Certified® means a product, service, or partner has been reviewed by Illustrative Mathematics® to ensure it aligns with IM’s instructional model, meets IM’s standards for quality, and preserves the intended experience of IM® Math. IM Certified partners and the IM team collaborate throughout the partnership to enhance products and services to meet the needs of educators.

The IM Certified designation helps schools and districts implement IM Math with confidence, knowing that the materials, platforms, services, and supports they use reinforce the same instructional approach. Certification means:

• Curriculum distribution partners provide official versions of IM Math that preserve the curriculum’s mathematical coherence, sequence, and instructional model. 
• Professional learning and supplemental partners provide services and tools that support the same instructional model.

When schools and districts choose IM Certified options, they can select the materials, platforms, and supports that fit their context while maintaining a coherent approach to math instruction.

The IM Certified Partners Directory is the best place to see current certified options.

Next Steps and Resources

• M Certified Partners Directory
• IM Case Studies
• How IM Certified® Products and Services Help Districts Build Coherent Mathematics Programs

All options provide access to the same high-quality IM® K–12 Math curriculum. The differences are in format, platform features, print options, and cost.

Free Open Educational Resource (OER) 

• Available digitally through AccessIM.org and IM.kendallhunt.com
• Full curriculum at no cost 
• No student accounts required and free registration for educator accounts
• Downloadable, printable PDF versions of teacher and student resources
• Lesson slides available for purchase separately through IM Certified® partner Kendall Hunt
• Ready-made print student workbooks and teacher guides available for purchase through Kendall Hunt

• Ready-made print materials, including student workbooks, teacher guides, and lesson slides available

• Enhanced digital platforms with subscription
• Student rostering and account management
• In-platform task and assessment assignment
• Data reporting and progress monitoring

The right choice depends on your school’s or district’s needs, including digital platform features, print materials, reporting, pricing, and implementation support. 

Next Steps and Resources

• On-Demand Training Modules — self-paced implementation support
• Side-by-Side Partner Comparison (PDF)
• Imagine Learning | Kendall Hunt | Kiddom

Educators can access the current version of IM® K–12 Math through AccessIM.org or the prior version through IM.KendallHunt.com. 

On both platforms, student and family materials are open access and require no registration. Access to restricted materials, including assessments and sample student responses, requires an educator account.

The fastest way to get an educator account is to receive an invitation from a verified colleague at your school. Verified educators can invite colleagues by selecting Invite an Educator on AccessIM.org or Invite a User on IM.kendallhunt.com. 

You can also create a new account in three steps:

1. Verify your identity: Upload a government-issued photo ID and take a live photo using Stripe Identity.
2. Confirm your email confirmation: You’ll receive a secure link from [email protected].
3. Complete your registration: Fill in a short form to create your account and password.

For registration help: [email protected]

Once registered, your login works across AccessIM.org, CA.AccessIM.org (California edition), and IM.KendallHunt.com.

Lesson slides are not included on AccessIM.org. They are available separately through Kendall Hunt via the Google Slide Decks request form.

Next Steps and Resources

• AccessIM.org — Illustrative Mathematics’ free website for IM K-12 Math
• On-Demand Training Modules — self-paced implementation support for teachers
• Quick Start Guide
• Kendall Hunt Google Slide Decks Request Form

To request physical print samples, contact one or more IM Certified® curriculum distribution partners:

• Imagine Learning
• Kendall Hunt
• Kiddom

Note: The complete IM® K–12 Math v.360 curriculum is available online at no cost through AccessIM.org, so you can review it before requesting print materials.

Next Steps and Resources

• IM Certified Partners Directory

In addition to curriculum distribution and professional learning, IM Certified® partners offer products and services that support successful implementation of IM® Math.

Depending on the partner, certified offerings may include coaching, implementation support, family engagement resources, supplemental learning, digital tools, and other services designed to align with IM Math.

All IM Certified® offerings are reviewed by Illustrative Mathematics® to ensure they align with the curriculum’s instructional model and support coherent implementation across classrooms, schools, and systems.

The IM Certified Partners Directory is the best place to see current certified options.

Next Steps and Resources

• IM Certified Partners Directory
• AccessIM.org — family materials, open access

IM® Math includes a variety of formative and summative assessments with a range of item types that help teachers understand student thinking, monitor progress, and plan instruction.

In IM® K–5 Math, assessment opportunities are built throughout instruction. Pre-unit practice problems help teachers understand what students know before a unit begins. Cool-downs help teachers understand what students took away from a lesson. Section checkpoints and end-of-unit assessments give teachers information about student learning across lessons. 

In IM® 6–12 Math, formative assessment opportunities include pre-unit diagnostic assessments, cool-downs, practice problems, and section checkpoints. Summative assessments include end-of-unit assessments and mid-unit assessments in longer units.

Across grade bands, IM assessments give students opportunities to use representations, show and explain their thinking, and apply mathematics. Assessment guidance is provided at the lesson, section, and unit levels to help teachers use existing structures to address unfinished learning while keeping students engaged in grade-level mathematics. 

Next Steps and Resources

• AccessIM.org — access K–12 teacher guides for full assessment design detail
• IM Certified Partners Directory

IM® K-5 Math lessons are designed for 60 minutes of instruction, with additional section-level practice and centers falling outside that time. IM® 6–12 Math lessons are designed for 45 minutes, with additional practice problems falling outside that time. For block scheduling guidance, see Blog: Planning Lessons for a Block Schedule.

The unit sequence is intentionally designed so mathematical ideas build coherently over time. Although units can be reordered, doing so requires careful review of prerequisite concepts and dependencies. Consult the unit dependency chart in each course guide before making changes. Note that the first unit of any course is designed to establish instructional routines and prioritize the major work of the grade, so beginning with a later unit may create challenges for both teachers and students.

For K–5, the “Story of the Grade” posts on the IM Certified® Blog give further insight into the sequencing rationale.

Next Steps and Resources

• Blog: Planning Lessons for a Block Schedule
• Blog: Pacing with Purpose in IM® Math
• Example Unit Dependency Chart (Grade 6)
• Quick Start Guide

Each IM® Math unit includes family support materials that help families understand and engage in the mathematics students are learning. In plain language, these materials describe the mathematical ideas students are exploring, explain how the learning develops over time, and include questions families can ask to start math conversations at home. Family support materials are available on AccessIM.org without a login.

In addition to curriculum-based family resources, some IM Certified® partners offer services that help families support student learning beyond the classroom, including multilingual family communication tools, community-based math experiences, and family engagement resources that help families support their students at home. The IM Certified Partners Directory is the best place to see current options.

Next Steps and Resources

• AccessIM.org — family materials are open access, no login required
• IM Certified Partners Directory

Here are solutions to the most common issues:

“Unable to begin registration” error 

This usually means an account already exists under that email. Try logging in rather than signing up. The same credentials work on both AccessIM.org and IM.KendallHunt.com. To reset your password, contact [email protected].

ID verification failed 

Ask a verified colleague to invite you to AccessIM.org, which skips the identity verification step. If that isn’t possible, email [email protected] with your school email signature and a photo of your school ID, a link to your school’s staff directory, a LinkedIn profile, or a request for a brief video call.

Registration form clears without creating an account 

If the form resets after you submit it and no account is created, check that your password is at least seven characters long. It can contain any combination of letters, numbers, or symbols. Then submit the form again.

Need to use a different email address 

Email addresses on existing accounts cannot be changed. Instead, log in to your existing account and use Invite an Educator to invite yourself at your new address. This creates a new account without repeating identity verification.

Next Steps and Resources

• AccessIM.org/invite — This link will prompt your verified colleague to login to invite you.
• Email [email protected]