An Overview of the 2025 California Math Review Criteria Map

What will reviewers look for in materials, and what can districts do now to prepare?

To prepare to release the California Department of Education (CDE) list of recommended programs in November 2025, the CDE is forming review committees to evaluate publisher-submitted instructional materials. As noted in our prior blog reviewing California’s Timeline of Significant Events, instructional materials reviews will begin at the end of July 2025. Since the State Board of Education approved the Criteria Map*, and as the state prepares to review math programs, you might wonder: What will reviewers look for in materials? And what can I do now to prepare for my district’s materials review and adoption process?

What will reviewers be looking for in materials?

Reviewers, including California educators and content experts, use and are trained on an approved criteria map to conduct reviews during the review process. The Criteria Map* includes five categories for review:

1. Mathematical Content/Alignment to the Standards
2. Program Organization
3. Assessment
4. Access and Equity 
5. Instructional Planning and Support 

The first category, Mathematics Content/Alignment with the Standards, includes criteria around alignment to the California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM) content standards, consistent content with the publisher expectations outlined in the Mathematics Framework, correct grammar and spelling, and materials which include content that meets California Environmental Principles and Concepts. Materials must incorporate all criteria in Category 1 to be considered for adoption. Categories 2–5 must have real “strengths” in these areas to be considered suitable for adoption. 

What has changed since the 2014 math review process?

While many of the criteria from previous reviews remain consistent, the 2025 reviews include a few expanded and additional criteria to be aware of. The following are two new areas publishers must consider: 

• Materials must focus on mathematical investigations that address the “Big ideas” of the grade the majority of the time 
• Supports for Multilingual Learners, including strategies for teachers

Some of the new or expanded criteria include:

• Criterion 1.2: Instructional materials must be consistent with the content of the 2023 Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade Twelve (Mathematics Framework), and the depth of understanding of mathematics and mathematics instruction as described in the Publishers’ and Content Developers’ Guide to the Mathematics Framework section in Chapter 13 (Check out our Chapter 13 article to learn more.). Materials develop conceptual understanding of key mathematical concepts and offer engaging applications of mathematics, using real-world examples and data as a means to spark inquiry and apply mathematical concepts. 
• Criterion 2.1: The instructional materials are consistent with the progressions in the CA CCSSM and guidance in this curriculum framework for relating content to the concepts of the Big Ideas in previous and future grades, and fully integrate content into strategically designed opportunities for students to use the mathematical practices. Further information regarding the Big Ideas of mathematics may be found in the Publishers’ and Content Developers’ Guidance Section in this chapter [Chapter 13]. See note above for our blog on Chapter 13. 
• Criterion 2.2: In each grade in the kindergarten through grade eight sequence, the instructional materials are designed for students and teachers to spend the majority of their time on mathematical investigations that address the Big Ideas of that grade, as described above, and in the grade band chapters of the Mathematics Framework. 
• Criterion 2.4: Intervention components, if included, are designed to help teachers respond to students’ progress in mathematics, with opportunities to reclaim missed concepts from prior grades, to give growth mindset messages and communicate that all students can be successful, and to give students access to rich, connected ideas, helping them to develop number flexibility as defined in the Mathematics Framework. 
• Criterion 2.7: The grade-level standards, Big Ideas, and the SMPs [Standards for Mathematical Practices] shall be explicitly stated in the student editions demonstrating alignment with student lessons.
• Criterion 3.3: Assessments integrate mathematics content and the language needed to participate in the SMPs.
• Criterion 4.5: Teacher materials include strategies to help students who have not yet achieved grade level proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in academic English to understand the mathematics content and practices that are tied to the Mathematics Framework.
• Criterion 5.9: Specific strategies to support students in developing the language skills needed to meet the mathematical learning and language objectives that are explicitly and clearly associated with instruction and assessment.

What does this mean for our district in preparing to adopt new math materials?

In addition to criteria that have been signaling quality for years, we are excited to see how publishers work to meet the criteria listed above.

As you and your adoption team begin step two of the adoption process, “Develop your lens,” reviewing the state criteria can help develop your own local priorities. It can also highlight areas where you may want to begin engaging in professional learning as an adoption team or as a district, equipping your team to look for these criteria during your adoption process as you winnow down your list. Beginning the adoption process by learning about how the state reviews for quality is a great first step! 

During CalCurriculum’s workshop series, participants will learn about the implications of the 2023 Revised Math Framework and the anticipated November 2025 state math adoption list release for the adoption process. 

*The Criteria Map Template for 2025 Mathematics Adoption is available for download from the California State Board of Education meeting agenda for January 18, 2024. CalCurriculum has not altered and does not maintain the document.