Mathematics Intervention

Colorado Department of Education (CDE) has released free math interventions to support key areas in math education across the state. These comprehensive lessons include resources, assessments and activities designed for educators, families and out-of-school time professionals.

Explore Math Interventions

Mathematics Intervention

Some students need extra help to become proficient in mathematics. This help—which often gets called "intervention"—can include things like tutoring, different teaching techniques, mindset adjustments and family/caregiver support. Some interventions are specific, like when one student needs help with one topic. Other interventions are more general, like when groups of students struggle on multiple topics. Either way, we recommend viewing intervention as a process, not just a product to be purchased. Intervention is more than software, manipulatives or training that you can buy. Instead, intervention should focus on the specific needs of each student or group of students, working with them and their support system to help overcome math challenges using the right tools.

Mathematics Interventions at the Student Level

Mathematics Intervention at the Teacher Level

Mathematics Intervention at the Institutional Level

Data-Driven Interventions

Educators should use a variety of data to determine who needs intervention and what an intervention needs to focus on. In addition to student grades and test scores, your data should tell you things like:

How the student(s) are engaged in the classroom
If the problem extends beyond a small number of students or topics
If curriculum materials and instructional methods are aligned and effective

CDE has a rubric and other tools to help you use data more effectively and improve your math outcomes. You are welcome to contact CDE mathematics specialists for help in making sense of your data and implementing interventions.

Your data should now be pointing you in one or more directions. Below, we suggest creating a mathematics intervention plan that may include interventions at the system level, the classroom level or the student level. A more complete flowchart for making intervention decisions is near the bottom of this page.

Developing a Comprehensive Mathematics Intervention Plan

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Consider system-level interventions if your data suggests:

A lack of data or poor data quality at the school level
Ineffective schoolwide support structures for students
Weak connections with parents and communities.

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Consider classroom-level interventions if your data suggests:

Learning difficulties are widespread - more than 10 to 20 percent of the class
Lessons and materials are misaligned with learning goals
Teaching practices are ineffective

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Consider student-level interventions if your data suggests:

Learning difficulties are isolated (less than 10-20% of a class)
A student or students struggle with a specific topic
Activities are needed for extra instructional time

Math Intervention Guidance Flowchart

When students face math challenges and require intervention, diagnosing the root problem is crucial. Similar to how a doctor would not prescribe right arm casts for everyone in an emergency room, in education, educators must address the varying underlying issues of student performance. The following flowchart serves as a tool to examine programs, helping to pinpoint the most impactful course of action.

This is a flowchart to help institutions analyze their math intervention pathways

Mathematics Intervention