State of the Instructional Materials Market 2023

EdReports’ 2023 State of the Instructional Materials Market report reveals a deepening divide between the availability of standards-aligned K–12 curriculum and its use in classrooms. Despite growing access to high-quality materials, more than half of teachers still lack regular access to aligned curriculum—which plays an essential role in fostering educational equity and improving student outcomes.

Drawing from data in EdReports’ over 1,100 published reviews and the RAND Corporation’s American Instructional Resources Survey (AIRS), the report explores the impact of aligned materials across English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. The availability of aligned curricula has continued to rise—yet, only 35% of ELA and 51% of math teachers report using at least one aligned curriculum weekly, with science teachers lagging even further at 6%.

Access to quality K–12 curriculum also varies significantly by subject and grade level. While 69% of high school ELA materials meet alignment criteria, only 44% of elementary ELA materials do, highlighting the need for greater attention to early literacy resources. Science also presents challenges, with only one-quarter of middle school materials meeting alignment expectations.

Adopting and implementing high-quality materials is an essential first step towards delivering effective, equitable education, yet too many classrooms continue to go without. Further, the report's findings underscore the need for states, districts, and schools to go beyond simply selecting quality K–12 curriculum. Providing the necessary support for successful implementation is critical, including long-term, curriculum-based professional learning for all teachers. When empowered to make the most out of materials, educators can ensure every student has access to the quality, engaging, grade-level content they deserve in order to learn and grow.

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