Student-centered, problem-based math curriculum built to make math stick — for every learner, in every classroom.
Our Curriculum
CPM offers two research-backed curriculum series for middle and high school — each designed for different contexts while sharing the same commitment to deep mathematical thinking.
Inspiring Connections brings math to life through real-world contexts that reflect students' own experiences. Lessons tackle relevant, complex issues while keeping the mathematical rigor high, so students see math as connected, meaningful, and worth engaging with.
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Core Connections is CPM's time-tested curriculum, built on a research-based progression that develops deep mathematical understanding over time. Lessons spark discussion, encourage multiple ways of thinking, and give teachers the consistent routines they need to build a strong classroom community.
Learn MoreSee It In Action
See what a CPM lesson looks and feels like, from the teacher's perspective and the student's.
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Core Connections 3rd Edition
Core Connections 3rd Edition — Coming Soon
Video Coming Soon
Core Connections 3rd Edition
Core Connections 3rd Edition — Coming Soon
Hear From Educators
These trainings were led by teachers who had taught CPM for many years. We would go through the first few units, do the problems, and practice using the supports that CPM recommends. By the end of the multi-day summer sessions, we had a handful of lessons planned. These were extremely helpful.
2024 CPM Professional Learning Participant
CPM has transformed my classroom. Students who used to sit quietly and wait for me to show them steps are now talking to each other about math, arguing about approaches, and actually excited when a problem is hard.
CPM Teacher
The professional learning embedded in CPM's curriculum made all the difference. I felt supported from day one — not just with the content, but with how to actually facilitate a student-centered classroom.
CPM Teacher
The CPM Difference
CPM Professional Learning doesn't just train you. It changes how you teach. Work alongside experienced facilitators to tackle real classroom challenges and walk away with concrete strategies that stick.
In a CPM classroom, students don't just follow steps. They think, discuss, and build on each other's ideas. Over time they develop real confidence in their ability to tackle hard problems and trust their own mathematical thinking.
Common Questions
CPM's curriculum designers, who are all classroom teachers, regularly follow emerging insights from math education researchers. The release of Inspiring Connections Middle School was a great opportunity to incorporate the latest research while keeping Core Connections available for districts with established implementation.
Student-centered practice is at the center of CPM. Teachers step off the stage to support students with guidance, questions, and suggestions as students grapple with engaging tasks.
With CPM, professional learning and instructional support are embedded directly within the curriculum. Each lesson follows a consistent Launch–Explore–Closure structure and includes a Lesson at a Glance guide, team strategies, and embedded teacher notes.
CPM programs are low-floor, high-ceiling, and wide-threshold. Every lesson was designed with incredible attention to Universal Design for Learning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and success for English learners.
CPM lessons include clear language objectives, structured routines, sentence frames, and visual supports to ensure access for all learners. Instruction is designed with movement and varied engagement in mind.
The Spanish translation of Inspiring Connections is being released in phases through the 2025–26 school year, including Spanish resource pages and enhancements to the overall user experience.
Mathematical sensemaking requires meaningful context. CPM programs incorporate math language routines that support diverse learners, including Three Reads and Stronger and Clearer. The reading supports mathematical reasoning — it doesn't replace it.
Research consistently shows that learning improves when practice is spaced over time. In CPM programs, topics and skills are intentionally revisited across lessons and practice to strengthen retention — not concentrated in a single unit.
In a problem-based classroom, teachers regularly interact with students as they work, allowing them to monitor the progress of individuals, teams, and the class as a whole. Formative assessment is built into every lesson through circulation and structured discussion.
Research shows that the mathematics standards for grades 6–8 are rigorous and comprehensive. Students benefit from engaging deeply with these standards rather than moving through them at an accelerated pace. CPM supports districts in making thoughtful decisions about pathways.
CPM programs are designed with a 45-minute class period in mind, but lessons can be extended to provide additional time for deeper thinking. In shorter class periods, teachers have successfully adjusted pacing while maintaining the instructional model.
Still have questions? We'd love to talk.
A CPM team member will reach out within 1 business day.
Ready to Move Forward?
The CPM Pilot Program allows schools and districts to implement CPM curriculum with embedded professional learning and support during the adoption process. A semester- or year-long pilot provides sufficient time for teachers and students to experience the full instructional model.
Thinking about adopting CPM for your school or district? We've made the evaluation process as straightforward as possible. Start with our Review Documents and Tools, built to help teams assess alignment, set shared instructional goals, and build consensus around CPM's curriculum and professional learning.
Explore Adoption ResourcesGet Started
The best way to understand CPM is to experience it. Request a free eBook preview and get full access to the student experience, including lesson structure, instructional routines, embedded assessments, and digital tools.
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2.3.4
Defining Concavity
4.4.1
Characteristics of Polynomial Functions
5.2.6
Semi-Log Plots
5 Closure
Closure How Can I Apply It? Activity 3
9.3.1
Transition States
9.3.2
Future and Past States
10.3.1
The Parametrization of Functions, Conics, and Their Inverses
10.3.2
Vector-Valued Functions
11.1.5
Rate of Change of Polar Functions
This professional learning is designed for teachers as they begin their implementation of CPM. This series contains multiple components and is grounded in multiple active experiences delivered over the first year. This learning experience will encourage teachers to adjust their instructional practices, expand their content knowledge, and challenge their beliefs about teaching and learning. Teachers and leaders will gain first-hand experience with CPM with emphasis on what they will be teaching. Throughout this series educators will experience the mathematics, consider instructional practices, and learn about the classroom environment necessary for a successful implementation of CPM curriculum resources.
Page 2 of the Professional Learning Progression (PDF) describes all of the components of this learning event and the additional support available. Teachers new to a course, but have previously attended Foundations for Implementation, can choose to engage in the course Content Modules in the Professional Learning Portal rather than attending the entire series of learning events again.
The Building on Instructional Practice Series consists of three different events – Building on Discourse, Building on Assessment, Building on Equity – that are designed for teachers with a minimum of one year of experience teaching with CPM instructional materials and who have completed the Foundations for Implementation Series.
In Building on Equity, participants will learn how to include equitable practices in their classroom and support traditionally underserved students in becoming leaders of their own learning. Essential questions include: How do I shift dependent learners into independent learners? How does my own math identity and cultural background impact my classroom? The focus of day one is equitable classroom culture. Participants will reflect on how their math identity and mindsets impact student learning. They will begin working on a plan for Chapter 1 that creates an equitable classroom culture. The focus of day two and three is implementing equitable tasks. Participants will develop their use of the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Meaningful Mathematical Discussions and curate strategies for supporting all students in becoming leaders of their own learning. Participants will use an equity lens to reflect on and revise their Chapter 1 lesson plans.
In Building on Assessment, participants will apply assessment research and develop methods to provide feedback to students and inform equitable assessment decisions. On day one, participants will align assessment practices with learning progressions and the principle of mastery over time as well as write assessment items. During day two, participants will develop rubrics, explore alternate types of assessment, and plan for implementation that supports student ownership. On the third day, participants will develop strategies to monitor progress and provide evidence of proficiency with identified mathematics content and practices. Participants will develop assessment action plans that will encourage continued collaboration within their learning community.
In Building on Discourse, participants will improve their ability to facilitate meaningful mathematical discourse. This learning experience will encourage participants to adjust their instructional practices in the areas of sharing math authority, developing independent learners, and the creation of equitable classroom environments. Participants will plan for student learning by using teaching practices such as posing purposeful questioning, supporting productive struggle, and facilitating meaningful mathematical discourse. In doing so, participants learn to support students collaboratively engaged with rich tasks with all elements of the Effective Mathematics Teaching Practices incorporated through intentional and reflective planning.