NYC SOLVES

NYC SOLVES

NYC Solves is New York City Public Schools’ systemwide math initiative (launched in 2024–25) to ensure every student—starting in elementary—learns with a high-quality, coherent curriculum taught by well-trained and coached teachers. In elementary grades, schools are adopting problem-based materials (including DESMOS) and pairing them with ongoing teacher professional learning and coaching so instruction emphasizes conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and rich problem solving aligned to standards.

As the initiative scales, the city is expanding NYC Solves across additional schools and grades so students experience consistent math teaching and supports as they move through the system—part of a broader effort to raise achievement alongside NYC Reads. For families and educators, this means a common scope and sequence, shared assessments and planning tools, and more instructional time spent on reasoning and real-world applications.

Our Curriculum: DESMOS (By Amplify)

What it is & why we use it. Desmos (by Amplify) is a digital, problem-based math curriculum that helps students make sense of math—not just memorize steps. Its purpose is to build deep understanding, flexible thinking, and confidence through interactive models (dragging, sketching, sorting, graphing) and rich discussion. Instead of “Do these 20 problems the same way,” students explore why methods work, compare strategies, and explain their thinking—what many people call “new math.”

How lessons are laid out. Each unit is organized around a big idea (e.g., place value, fractions, patterns). A typical lesson starts with a quick warm-up (“Notice & Wonder,” “Which One Doesn’t Belong?”), moves into a few interactive screens where students try ideas and get instant feedback, includes short pauses for teacher-facilitated discussion, and ends with a brief cool-down check. Teachers see a live dashboard of student work, can pace the class, spotlight great thinking, and give timely support.

How it supports students.

  • Visual & hands-on: Dynamic tools help kids see math, not just hear about it.

  • Multiple ways in: Tasks have low floors/high ceilings, so every learner can start and then stretch.

  • Immediate feedback & safe mistakes: Students test ideas, revise, and grow persistence.

  • Language & reasoning: Explaining, sketching, and comparing strategies strengthen communication and understanding.

  • Teacher insight: Real-time info lets teachers target help and celebrate progress.

How you can help at home. Ask, “What do you notice? What do you wonder? Can you show me another way?” Encourage drawing, using objects, or explaining with words. It’s okay if an answer is “not yet”—the goal is sense-making first, shortcuts second.