Carnegie Math Pathways

Improving Student Learning and Success in Mathematics and Dramatically Increasing College Completion

For years, the traditional developmental math sequence has stopped roughly half a million college students a year from advancing academically —creating a gatekeeper to college success and completion.  

In 2010, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching brought together faculty members, institutional leaders, researchers, and designers, to radically reimagine the status quo math system and to increase student success in mathematics. 

The result was the introduction of new quantitative and statistical reasoning math pathways designed with a corequisite approach that provide students with the support they needed to enroll directly in college-level math and succeed. 

Beginning with implementation at 18 colleges, Carnegie Math Pathways courses have expanded to serve over 80,000 students at 140 colleges and universities, and adoption continues to grow at the college level and through new high school partnerships. Pathways students are consistently succeeding at triple the rate and in a fraction of the time compared to students in traditional math sequences. Read Carnegie Math Pathways’ retrospective report to learn how this innovative program has helped tens of thousands of students achieve success in mathematics and advance toward their academic and professional goals. 

Housed at WestEd since 2018, Carnegie Math Pathways remains committed to making math a gateway for all students. 

Carnegie Math Pathways Course Solutions

Carnegie Math Pathways has designed rigorous quantitative and statistical reasoning math pathways course solutions— Statway® and Quantway®—which aim to reduce the time required to earn college credit, increase student success in college-level math, and propel more students to college completion.  

Statway and Quantway course solutions include corequisite and college-only course solutions that can be taught in person, online, or in a hybrid modality. The curriculum contextualizes mathematics concepts within relevant, real-world applications meaningful to students’ areas of study and their daily lives, and includes thoughtfully embedded social-emotional learning routines to strengthen confidence, nurture a sense of belonging, and encourage persistence.   

We provide robust professional development, peer mentorship, and help desk support to help educators to successfully bring these solutions to their classrooms. 

The Pathways Approach

We’ve proven that students don’t need multiple levels of remediation to succeed in college math. The Pathways uses an evidence-based instructional approach to create a supportive and engaging math learning experience that helps students persist and succeed in college math. Pathways courses are taught using active, collaborative pedagogy supported through common curricula, an online platform, and rich instructional resources.  

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