Adopted by the California State Board of EducationAdopted by the CA State Board
The California State Board of Education has adopted both of CPM’s middle school programs, Inspiring Connections and Core Connections, 3rd Edition, for grades 6–8. Both were reviewed against the California Mathematics Framework, with its focus on reasoning, representation, communication and coherent learning progressions.
Adopted November 6, 2025
2CPM programs adopted statewide
CA State Board adopted programs
Both are built on CPM’s core philosophy: collaborative learning, problem-based lessons and mixed, spaced practice. Choose the one that fits your district, or explore both.
New for CaliforniaCPM’s newest middle school curriculum: student-centered, problem-based lessons where teams collaborate, reason and communicate every day. Aligned with the California Mathematics Framework.
Proven and evolvingThe trusted CPM approach, updated with the latest math education research and teachers’ classroom experience. Deepens conceptual understanding through discourse and meaningful practice.
Side by side
Student materials, digital tools, teacher support and family resources, compared line by line.
Founded in California
CPM began when 30 math teachers decided algebra should be a door, not a wall. More than 35 years later, it’s still a California nonprofit, and its curriculum designers are all classroom teachers.
Two Eisenhower grants and three founders: Dr. Tom Sallee of UC Davis, Dr. Elaine Kasimatis and Judy Kysh.
Entirely by word of mouth, with pages handed out chapter by chapter from Judy Kysh’s van.
CPM Educational Program becomes the nonprofit it is today, based in Elk Grove.
Teachers who saw the difference brought CPM back to their own districts.
Dr. Sallee documents the research behind collaboration, problem-based lessons and spaced practice.
The State Board adopts Inspiring Connections and Core Connections, 3rd Edition, for grades 6–8.
California Mathematics Framework
Reasoning, discourse and problem solving have been at the center of CPM since 1989, long before the 2023 Framework named them as priorities.
Both programs are on California’s adopted list. The State Board adopted both programs for grades 6–8 on November 6, 2025.
View the listCPM connects and revisits key ideas to build deep understanding. Our Major Conceptual Ideas align directly with the Framework’s Big Ideas, keeping grades coherent.
Students build the practices through rich, collaborative problem solving in every unit. They are the structure students learn through, not an add-on.
Ideas connect within and across domains, so students see math as a connected whole rather than a list of isolated skills.
Lessons build inclusive participation and a positive math identity for every learner. Study teams make discourse a daily, structured norm.
Translanguaging and discourse routines build mathematical language and full participation, especially for multilingual learners.
Students explore, reason and make connections through authentic problems, not contrived exercises. Students think; teachers guide.
Results
Test results from schools using CPM, a California district’s adoption story and teachers in their own words.
Percentage-point gain in students meeting or exceeding standards on the Smarter Balanced exam, 2015 to 2018, at a school where 88% of students are economically disadvantaged.
Read the report (PDF)6th graders at or above grade level on NWEA, fall to winter of 2023–24. 7th graders in their second year of the program rose from 52% to 59%.
Read the report (PDF)The district piloted CPM, observed classrooms and reviewed the data before its committee reached consensus. Many of its students are emergent bilinguals.
Other curriculum had all the bells and whistles, but CPM actually worked in implementation.
As a 31-year veteran educator, I am now the facilitator of discussion while still guiding the students toward mathematical proficiency and knowledge.
Multilingual learners
Language supports are built into the lessons, not bolted on, and Spanish resources help families take part at home.
Implementation support
Every new adoption, purchase or expansion includes three years of professional learning, for any CPM program. Our team works alongside your teachers from day one and for years after.
Sustained, teacher-led learning that grows with your team, from Foundations in year one through leadership development. Virtual events, in-person sessions and coaching.
Explore PL
A structured plan that coordinates curriculum rollout, PL scheduling and teacher support at every stage of your district’s transition.
See the plan
Teachers connect, share research and deepen practice with a national community of CPM educators. Held each February in California.
Conference details
Regional and virtual events all year, from Foundations workshops for new CPM teachers to deeper dives for experienced teams ready to lead.
View eventsFor your adoption committee
Official state adoption records, program overviews, standards correlations and evidence, gathered in one place.
FAQ
Quick answers on choosing, piloting and rolling out CPM. Don’t see yours? Ask us on a call.
Both are adopted for grades 6–8 and share CPM’s three pillars. The difference is format and history.
Inspiring Connections
Core Connections, 3rd Ed.
Yes, for a semester or a full school year.
Yes. Every new adoption, purchase or expansion includes three years of professional learning, for any CPM program.
Start with a free digital sample. We’ll prepare a quote after a short call.
Yes, for students and for families.
Access is designed into every lesson, not added later.
CPM recommends depth over speed in grades 6–8.
The grade 6–8 standards are rigorous and comprehensive, and research shows students benefit from engaging deeply with them rather than moving through them quickly. CPM helps districts make thoughtful pathway decisions.
Yes. Lessons are designed for a 45-minute period.
Yes. California adopts K–8 materials only, so high schools choose locally.
Core Connections, 3rd Edition is coming to high school course by course. Algebra and Integrated 1 are available now for examination and professional learning, with a Spanish option, and Geometry and Algebra 2 are in the works.
Talk to our team
Talk through your California math adoption with us. We’ll help you compare both programs and plan what comes next.
Share a few details and we’ll be in touch to find a time.
