Instructional Materials Evaluation Toolkit (IMET) – Math
This tool is designed to evaluate comprehensive math curricula (including supplemental materials) for grades K-12 to determine alignment with the Common Core State Standards in mathematics. The IMET can be used as a guide both in vetting existing curricula and in developing new programs. Two versions exist – one for K-8 and one for high schools – both of which consider non-negotiable alignment criteria, alignment criteria, and indicators of quality. The tool is broad in scope: it considers an entire package of curriculum. Review with this tool could be complemented by a more fine-grained, grade-by-grade alignment analysis, like that supported by the Mathematics Grade-Level Instructional Materials Evaluation Tool (developed by the Council of the Great City Schools).
The level of detail and guidance provided in section one, where the analysis is focused on several clusters of content standards for each grade, requires reviewers to get into the conceptual nitty-gritty of the content standards, a necessary part of a thorough and meaningful content analysis. This tool is much more than “a cursory glance at the table of contents” and will require that reviewers are deeply familiar with the Common Core State Standards in mathematics, as well as grade-level appropriate pedagogy. The only shortcoming is that, although they are mentioned, the math practice standards are not treated in a very meaningful way. Curriculum reviewers who use this tool should be aware of this and find another means to consider integration of the practice standards.