OpenUpResources: What Every Educator Needs to Know in 2025

When I first encountered educators struggling with expensive textbooks and rigid curriculum materials during my work in education technology, I wondered if there might be a better way. Turns out, there was – and it's been quietly revolutionising classrooms across the globe.

OpenUpResources has grown from a 13-state initiative to serving over 3.6 million students worldwide by 2025, fundamentally challenging how we think about educational materials. Rather than the traditional model where schools pay hefty licensing fees for textbooks that gather dust, this nonprofit publisher offers something different: high-quality curriculum that's completely free, openly licensed, and designed with real classroom feedback.

What makes this particularly relevant right now is the financial pressure many schools face alongside growing demands for educational equity. While commercial publishers focus on profit margins, OpenUpResources has built their entire approach around evidence-based instructional design and teacher empowerment. Their 2025 edition incorporates the latest literacy research and extensive teacher feedback, addressing the very challenges I've seen educators grapple with firsthand.

Through my conversations with educational professionals, I've learned that finding quality curriculum materials that don't break the budget whilst actually improving student outcomes feels nearly impossible. OpenUpResources seems to offer a solution that addresses both concerns, but like any significant change in education, successful implementation requires understanding exactly what you're getting into.

What is OpenUpResources?

OpenUpResources isn't just another name in the crowded educational publishing space – it's actually quite different from what you might expect.

Started in 2015 as a nonprofit publisher, OpenUpResources emerged from something called the K-12 OER Collaborative, which was a 13-state initiative specifically designed to tackle quality gaps in the US curriculum market.

Core Definition and Mission

Here's what makes OpenUpResources stand out: they're delivering high-quality, openly accessible PreK-12 curricula and professional learning supports with one clear goal in mind.

Their 2025 mission is straightforward but ambitious: **delivering the highest quality learning experiences for all students by providing educators with best-in-class, research-based PreK-12 curricula and professional learning so every student can achieve academic success in inclusive classrooms**.

What's impressive is their reach – they're now serving more than 3.6 million students globally, which shows this isn't just a small-scale experiment anymore.

How OpenUpResources Differs from Traditional Publishers

The difference between OpenUpResources and traditional textbook publishers is pretty significant, and it comes down to more than just business models.

The **Open Educational Resources (OER) licensing model** is particularly important here – it means educators can actually use, adapt, and share the materials freely rather than being locked into expensive licensing agreements. This is especially significant when commercial textbooks have risen 87.5% in the last decade alone, exceeding the rate of inflation by more than 3.5 times.

This fundamental difference in approach creates ripple effects throughout the entire educational experience, from how content is developed to how teachers can implement and modify materials to suit their specific classroom needs.

Educational Philosophy and Approach

OpenUpResources built their approach around some core principles that directly impact how students learn.

They prioritise **equity, inclusivity, and empowerment** of both students and educators, which isn't just marketing speak – it's embedded in how their curricula are designed. The programmes are specifically developed to be culturally responsive and inclusive, reflecting diverse voices and perspectives in both content and pedagogical approach.

The pedagogical focus centres on **student discourse theory**, which emphasises verbal, visual, and written mathematical literacy, along with diverse learning pathways and rich classroom discussion rather than traditional lecture-based approaches. This means students aren't just passively receiving information – they're actively engaging with content through structured dialogue and collaborative learning techniques.

What's particularly valuable is their emphasis on **conceptual understanding and meaningful connections** with material, using evidence-based instructional design principles drawn from the latest literacy and educational research. Their approach incorporates text-centred instruction, particularly in their literacy programmes, where students work with authentic, whole texts rather than fragmented excerpts or simplified materials.

For mathematics specifically, they've adopted what they call **"humanising mathematics"** – an approach that deepens student connection to mathematical concepts whilst building inclusive classroom communities. This framework focuses on helping students see mathematics as something relevant to their lives and experiences, rather than abstract formulas to memorise.

This means the content isn't just covering topics – it's designed to help students actually understand and apply what they're learning through structured protocols and explicit routines that support both content mastery and community building.

Subject Areas and Grade Coverage

OpenUpResources covers the essential academic areas comprehensively, with strategic partnerships that bring specialised expertise to each programme.

Their 2025 offerings include:

**Mathematics Programmes:**

• Humanising Mathematics PreK–5 – designed to build math community and support conceptual understanding
• Open Up Resources 6–8 Math (3rd Edition, 2025) – the latest edition emphasising mathematical discourse and literacy
• Open Up High School Math – comprehensive coverage of Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2, plus integrated pathways

**English Language Arts Programmes:**

• EL Education K–5 Language Arts (2025 Edition) – incorporating current literacy research and teacher feedback
• Bookworms K–5 Reading and Writing – structured around three instructional blocks: Shared Reading, ELA, and Differentiated Instruction
• EL Education K–2 Skills Block (2024 Edition) – focusing on foundational literacy skills
• EL Education 6–8 – text-centred literacy curriculum for deeper connection
• Odell Education High School Literacy – emphasising real-world content knowledge through science and social studies texts

What makes their approach different is how they work with established educational organisations. They partner with **EL Education**, a nonprofit with substantial literacy expertise, and **Odell Education** for high school literacy development. These partnerships mean they're not trying to develop everything in-house – they're leveraging proven expertise from organisations that have already demonstrated success in specific areas.

The programmes use **explicit routines and structured protocols**, particularly evident in curricula like Bookworms where daily instruction is organised with clear, routinised practices across different learning blocks. This structure helps teachers implement the materials consistently whilst maintaining the flexibility to adapt to their specific classroom contexts.

The nonprofit structure means all of this development work gets reinvested back into improving the curricula and supporting educators, rather than generating profits for shareholders. This creates a continuous cycle of improvement that directly benefits the educators and students using these materials.

OpenUpResources in 2025: Current Developments

The past year has been transformative for OpenUpResources, with several major initiatives reshaping how educators access and implement their open educational resources.

The biggest game-changer has been the launch of their Interactive Classroom platform in July 2024. This isn't just another digital resource – it's a comprehensive classroom management system that brings together lesson planning, real-time teaching tools, assessment, and reporting all in one place.

The Interactive Classroom Platform: A Complete Teaching Solution

What makes this platform particularly powerful is its assignment management capabilities. Teachers can assign lessons, practice problems, and assessments to:

• Individual students for personalised learning
• Small groups for collaborative work
• Entire classes for whole-group instruction
• Multiple classes simultaneously for efficiency

The system supports differentiated assignments and can release materials asynchronously for absent students, which addresses one of the most common classroom management challenges educators face.

The platform also includes real-time annotation tools that let teachers highlight and mark up digital lessons during instruction, plus manual grading features where educators can leave detailed feedback on open-response questions. Students can see their scores in context with class averages, which helps them understand their performance relative to their peers.

What makes this particularly clever is how it integrates with the educational technology systems schools are already using. The platform supports single sign-on through Clever and ClassLink, with daily automatic syncing of classroom and roster data. This means class rosters automatically reflect changes in the school's information system without manual updates. They're also adding Edlink integration soon and already support assignment distribution through Google Classroom.

The platform is currently in beta for grades 6-8 Math through June 2025, which means OpenUpResources is taking a careful, feedback-driven approach rather than rushing to market. This extended beta period shows they're serious about getting it right before rolling it out more broadly.

The technical requirements are relatively straightforward for schools – district administrators need to configure the SSO integration and roster sync, but once that's set up, teachers can add students manually or use access codes for self-enrollment if needed.

Professional Development Takes Centre Stage

The HIVE conference has become OpenUpResources' flagship professional learning event, and 2024's gathering in July drew hundreds of educators and school leaders. These aren't just promotional events – they focus on deepening instructional practices through specific methodologies that address classroom equity and mathematical discourse.

At HIVE conferences and their Math Language Routines workshops, educators learn research-based strategies including:

• Facilitating rigorous mathematical discussions
• Implementing formative assessment cycles
• Using data-driven lesson planning to address learning gaps
• Teaching specific instructional techniques like "Stronger & Clearer Each Time," "Three Reads," and "Co-craft Questions"

The Math Language Routines component is particularly valuable, as it teaches specific instructional techniques derived from Stanford's framework. These professional development sessions emphasise equity strategies that dismantle linguistic and cultural barriers in maths classrooms, helping teachers design tasks that engage all students, including multilingual learners, in complex mathematical reasoning through culturally responsive teaching practices. Providing opportunities for all students to engage in productive mathematical discourse may be a powerful way to improve outcomes.

The workshops combine online and in-person formats, with participants engaging in live lesson modelling, collaborative planning, and subject-specific breakout sessions. Educators receive digital certificates of completion or continuing education units for documented hours, which helps with professional development requirements. Research shows that professional development positively impacts both teaching practices and student learning in mathematics.

**HIVE 2025 is already scheduled for July 14-16 in Orlando**, and the strong early registration numbers suggest educators are finding real value in these professional development opportunities. The Math Language Routines Virtual Workshops announced for 2025 extend this support beyond the annual conference format, covering middle school mathematics domains like ratios, proportional reasoning, algebraic expressions, and geometry.

Strategic Partnerships Drive Rural Education Investment

Perhaps the most significant partnership development is OpenUpResources' involvement in **North Carolina's Golden LEAF Schools Initiative**. This $25 million programme, developed in partnership with the Golden LEAF Foundation and Marzano Resources, specifically targets rural education communities.

The funding is distributed as competitive grants to eligible rural Local Education Agencies, supporting:

• Curriculum adoption and implementation
• Professional development programmes
• Instructional materials and resources
• Classroom technology upgrades
• District-level support systems

Districts are selected based on demonstrated need, implementation readiness, and commitment to evidence-based instructional improvements.

This initiative addresses a critical equity issue, as rural schools run on smaller budgets than urban schools and thus have little room for a reduction of funds. Additionally, in all but six states, the federal funding formula provided urban districts with more Title I funding per poor pupil than rural school districts.

Marzano Resources brings their expertise in high-reliability instructional strategies to the partnership, training educators in research-based frameworks like standards-based planning, structured feedback routines, and differentiated instruction. They focus on building collaborative team structures and supporting data-driven instruction practices.

The initiative targets measurable outcomes including **improved student achievement on North Carolina's End-of-Grade mathematics assessments**, increased teacher capacity for standards-aligned instruction, and reductions in achievement gaps for rural and low-income student populations. Annual progress reports benchmark results against baseline data and comparable districts.

This partnership represents more than just curriculum adoption – it's about addressing educational equity in underserved areas where budget constraints often limit access to quality instructional materials. The initiative demonstrates how open educational resources can play a crucial role in levelling the playing field, particularly when combined with comprehensive professional development and implementation support.

Shifting from Resources to Platform Provider

What's particularly interesting about OpenUpResources' 2025 positioning is how they're evolving beyond just providing open educational resources. The Interactive Classroom platform signals a strategic shift toward becoming a comprehensive educational technology provider.

The platform's **progress monitoring and roll-up reporting capabilities** allow teachers and administrators to generate detailed, standards-tagged reports at different levels – by student, class, school, or district. This data can identify learning gaps and drive instructional decisions, which positions OpenUpResources as more than just a content provider.

The system also includes accessibility features and accommodations for students with different needs, though the exact specifications aren't fully detailed in public materials. This attention to inclusive design reflects the organisation's broader equity focus.

This move makes sense when you consider the post-pandemic landscape – schools need integrated solutions that work seamlessly with their existing systems, not just standalone resources. By building compatibility with major EdTech platforms and offering end-to-end classroom management tools, OpenUpResources is positioning itself to compete directly with traditional curriculum publishers.

Building Community and Recognising Excellence

The organisation continues to recognise excellence through initiatives like their High School Mathematics Scholarship programme and Teacher of the Month awards, while their annual Give Back Day reinforces community service values. These programmes help build a strong community around their resources whilst identifying and supporting the next generation of educational leaders.

The evidence suggests **OpenUpResources is successfully transitioning from a curriculum provider to a comprehensive educational partner**, with digital tools, professional development, and strategic partnerships all working together to support educators and improve student outcomes. The careful, feedback-driven approach to their platform development, combined with targeted investments in underserved communities, positions them well for continued growth and impact in the educational landscape.

Implementation Process and Requirements

Getting started with OpenUpResources isn't just about downloading materials and jumping in—successful implementation follows a clear pathway that schools and districts have refined over years of experience.

Most educators first encounter OpenUpResources through their district's curriculum review process, where it often surfaces during scheduled adoption cycles because of its strong alignment with state standards and reputation for equity. The pathway might also come through partnerships with organisations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, recommendations from professional networks at conferences, or simply word-of-mouth from neighbouring districts who've seen good results.

But discovery is just the beginning. The real work starts with evaluation.

Discovery and Initial Evaluation

Districts typically use multi-dimensional evaluation frameworks when assessing whether OpenUpResources fits their needs. They're looking at several key areas:

• Standards alignment - ensuring the curriculum matches state requirements
• Equity and accessibility features - scaffolds for English learners and supports for students with disabilities
• Pedagogical approach - problem-based learning and student discourse emphasis

The pedagogical shift gets serious scrutiny because OpenUpResources can be quite different from traditional textbook approaches. Districts often use tools like EdReports or state-approved rubrics to systematically evaluate these aspects. Many districts also develop their own Fidelity of Implementation Rubrics, adapting research-based curriculum evaluation checklists to fit their specific context and needs.

Beyond EdReports, districts commonly use Teacher and Student Feedback Surveys targeting engagement and standards alignment during their evaluation phase. Some state Departments of Education provide customised mathematics curriculum pilot rubrics based on open curriculum best practices, though these frameworks vary significantly by state.

Many districts don't jump straight into full adoption. They'll run pilot programmes in select classrooms or schools for a semester or year, gathering feedback from teachers and students before making the bigger commitment. This trial approach helps identify potential challenges early and builds confidence among stakeholders before district-wide rollout.

Technical Infrastructure and Format Options

One of the practical advantages of OpenUpResources is its flexibility in format options. Districts can choose between print and digital implementations based on their existing infrastructure and learning environments.

For digital implementation, schools need to ensure compatibility with their learning management systems. OpenUpResources supports integration with several platforms:

• Canvas - using Common Cartridge format or LTI integrations
• Google Classroom - through shareable links and folder structures
• Schoology - via .zip file imports

Each platform has specific technical requirements. Canvas integration needs LMS admin rights and basic knowledge of importing external tools, whilst Google Classroom works seamlessly with Google Slides and docs.

Districts can also use OpenUpResources' hosted platform, which provides secure educator accounts with role-based access controls for teachers, coaches, and leaders. This platform includes interactive dashboards for tracking curriculum usage, asynchronous professional learning modules, and analytics features not available in basic file downloads or LMS imports. The hosted platform is browser-based and designed for compatibility with standard desktop and mobile browsers, with single sign-on capabilities available for district accounts.

The curriculum works on Chromebooks, Windows laptops, iPads, and desktops, but reliable internet connectivity is essential for accessing embedded digital tools and multimedia supports. Districts going the digital route often need to set up district-level rostering and account creation, especially if they're using the hosted platform.

Professional Development Framework

Here's where the rubber really meets the road. Professional development isn't optional with OpenUpResources—it's absolutely critical for success.

Open Up Resources delivers certified professional development through their team of former and current educators with direct curriculum experience. Their formal PD options include:

• In-person workshops
• Personalised virtual professional learning communities
• Asynchronous courses and modules
• Individualised coaching for teachers and leaders

The initial training typically involves 2-5 full days before the first year of implementation, often delivered through summer institutes or intensive onboarding sessions. These focus on unpacking the curriculum design, understanding lesson routines, and making the pedagogical shifts from direct instruction to facilitating mathematical discourse. Open Up Resources also hosts major events like their annual "HIVE" learning institute, which offers immersive, multi-day learning experiences for educators from across the country.

But the learning doesn't stop there. Open Up Resources offers customisable professional learning community models—both virtual and onsite—typically structured as ongoing, themed meetings focusing on areas like mathematical discourse and assessment practices. These PLCs use collaborative protocols including guided discussion of implementation challenges, shared lesson study, and peer-to-peer reflection.

Many districts adapt sector-standard PLC frameworks, such as DuFour's model with recurring team meetings focused on student outcomes and collaborative inquiry, tailored by OpenUp trainers to curriculum-specific needs. The structure varies—some districts use multi-grade teams whilst others focus on vertical alignment PLCs.

The time investment is significant. Teachers need those initial training days, plus regular PLCs (usually weekly or monthly), plus time for individual preparation as they adapt to the new approach. It's not uncommon for teachers to spend 20-30% more time on lesson preparation in their first year while they're getting comfortable with the materials and methods.

For language arts implementation, EL Education serves as a national nonprofit K–12 educational publisher and professional learning provider, partnering on curriculum and training, especially for K–5 and 6–8 programmes.

Instructional Coaching Support

Open Up Resources offers individualised coaching support—both virtual and in-person—delivered by their staff who hold relevant credentials and curriculum expertise. These coaches are typically former successful curriculum implementers with prior teaching experience plus formal training with Open Up Resources.

Districts building their own coaching capacity typically seek instructional coaches with prior curriculum implementation success and participation in OpenUp's official professional development modules. Unlike some curriculum providers, there's no universal, formal coaching certification programme for OpenUpResources implementation—training is localised and provided directly by Open Up Resources staff.

The coaching approach focuses on observing classes, co-teaching, and providing feedback throughout that crucial first year of implementation, helping teachers navigate the shift from direct instruction to facilitating mathematical discourse. This support proves invaluable as educators adapt to new instructional methods.

Common Implementation Challenges and Solutions

Even with good preparation, districts face predictable challenges. The biggest one is typically the teacher learning curve—OpenUpResources promotes a problem-based approach that can be quite different from how many teachers learned and taught maths previously.

The solution isn't more training materials. It's intensive, ongoing support through professional learning communities and leveraging the detailed teacher materials that essentially function as embedded professional development. The curriculum includes extensive guidance on facilitating maths discussions and supporting student thinking, but teachers need time and support to internalise these approaches.

Other common challenges include:

• Monitoring for fidelity across multiple schools - especially challenging for smaller districts with limited central support
• Parent communication concerns - when students discuss maths differently at home
• Administrative buy-in - ensuring leadership understands the pedagogical shift

The most successful districts build capacity among administrators and site-based coaches, establish clear classroom visit protocols, and create consistent implementation guidelines that everyone understands.

Parent communication often requires attention too. When students come home talking about maths differently—explaining their thinking, working on problems collaboratively, taking longer to get to answers—parents sometimes worry. Districts that get ahead of this with early family engagement, parent information nights, and regular communication about instructional goals tend to see much smoother implementations.

The key insight from districts who've successfully implemented OpenUpResources? It's not just a curriculum change—it's a cultural shift towards more student-centred, discussion-rich mathematics learning. That shift takes time, support, and patience, but the districts who invest in it properly see students developing deeper mathematical understanding and stronger problem-solving skills. With Open Up Resources' expansive curriculum, educators gain access to tools that can elevate both student understanding and engagement.

As schools implement OpenUpResources and see students engaging more deeply with mathematical concepts, many educators find themselves wanting to document and recognise these learning achievements in ways that go beyond traditional grading. This is where digital credentialing platforms like VerifyEd become valuable, allowing teachers to create and award verified digital badges that capture specific mathematical competencies and problem-solving skills students demonstrate through the curriculum's rich, authentic assessments.

Educational Effectiveness and Research Evidence

Understanding whether a curriculum actually improves student learning isn't just nice to have — it's essential for making informed decisions about what materials to adopt in your classroom or district.

The challenge with OpenUp Resources is that we're dealing with a relatively new player in the curriculum space, which means the research landscape looks quite different from what you might expect for traditional textbook publishers.

Student Achievement and Learning Outcomes

Here's what we know about student performance with OpenUp Resources materials — and what we don't.

The most comprehensive evidence comes from broader research on open educational resources rather than OpenUp Resources specifically. A major synthesis by Hilton in 2016 examined nine studies comparing OER to traditional textbooks and found that students generally achieve the same learning outcomes when using open resources, with the significant bonus of cost savings.

But when it comes to peer-reviewed studies directly comparing OpenUp Resources curricula like Illustrative Mathematics or EL Education Language Arts to traditional materials, the research is surprisingly sparse. This doesn't mean the materials don't work — it just means we're still waiting for those rigorous, multi-year comparative studies to emerge.

However, there's encouraging news on the horizon. Several multi-year pilot and quasi-experimental studies tracking OpenUp Resources implementation are currently underway (2023–2025). Preliminary findings from district reports and conference poster sessions suggest **statistically significant gains in mathematics proficiency** for students in pilot districts compared to matched comparison schools. Early data also indicates **greater equity gains for historically underperforming student subgroups**, though full longitudinal data won't be available until late 2025 and 2026.

What we do have is encouraging feedback from teachers and students about engagement levels. Research suggests that open resources can boost student engagement because they're more adaptable and less restrictive than traditional textbooks. Teachers report being able to customise materials to better fit their students' needs, which often translates into more engaged learners.

**The gap in longitudinal research is particularly noticeable.** While those ongoing studies will fill this gap, there currently aren't any published studies tracking cohorts of students using OpenUp Resources over multiple years to measure long-term academic progress compared to traditional curricula. This is crucial data that districts typically want to see before making large-scale adoption decisions.

Standards Alignment and Quality Assurance

This is where OpenUp Resources genuinely shines, and the evidence is much more robust.

EdReports, one of the most respected independent curriculum reviewers in education, conducts evaluations using rigorous, educator-designed processes that rely on detailed scoring rubrics emphasising alignment to standards, rigor, and usability. Teams of expert educators apply custom review rubrics informed by established research and widely used evaluation frameworks, such as EQuIP rubric and IMET.

**Illustrative Mathematics (IM), including all grade bands K-12, has consistently received top marks from EdReports**, meeting expectations in every category. This includes IM K–5, 6–8, and high school curricula all receiving "Meets Expectations" for Focus/Coherence, Rigor, Mathematical Practices, and Usability — the highest possible score across all gateways.

The EdReports evaluation process progresses through sequential "gateways," each with detailed scoring metrics:

• Gateway 1: Focus and Coherence — Measures whether materials address grade-level content and provide coherent progressions
• Gateway 2: Rigor and Mathematical Practices — Assesses balance of conceptual understanding, procedural skills, and application
• Gateway 3: Usability — Examines supports for teachers, student differentiation, assessment, and ongoing teacher learning

Other independent organisations have also reviewed OpenUp Resources with similarly positive results. Student Achievement Partners (SAP) through the EQuIP rubric and panels using IMET have noted strong standards alignment and mathematical coherence. OpenUp materials have been found to excel particularly in math content alignment, with some receiving **"Exemplar" or "Exemplar if Improved" designations** on multiple units and grade levels.

The materials undergo rigorous quality review processes that include teacher feedback, beta releases, and validation using established educational rubrics. This transparent approach to curriculum development is relatively uncommon in traditional publishing, where development processes are often proprietary and less open to external input.

OpenUp Resources also maintains ongoing revisions to keep pace with evolving standards and educational research, rather than waiting for the typical textbook adoption cycle that can span several years. This means educators get access to improvements and updates much more quickly than they would with traditional publishers.

Evidence-Based Design and Continuous Improvement

The development approach behind OpenUp Resources reflects current literacy and learning science research, even if the outcome studies haven't caught up yet.

The organisation integrates teacher feedback directly into material revisions through systematic data collection and analysis. This creates a continuous improvement cycle that's more responsive than traditional curriculum development processes, where feedback often gets lost in lengthy revision cycles.

However, there's a crucial variable that affects outcomes regardless of curriculum choice: implementation fidelity. How well teachers understand and use the materials significantly impacts student results. Research consistently shows that even the best-designed curriculum won't improve outcomes if teachers don't have adequate support and training.

OpenUp Resources recommends a multi-tiered professional learning system to address this challenge:

1. Comprehensive initial onboarding for district- and school-level leadership and teaching staff
2. Ongoing embedded professional development often co-facilitated by master teachers and district maths coaches
3. Regional summits with PLC guides and online communities for ongoing support

Documented case studies from districts that have achieved implementation fidelity note improvements in teacher content knowledge, instructional practice, and initial signs of student achievement growth. Success factors consistently include **strong leadership, teacher professional learning communities (PLCs), expert coaching, and use of OpenUp's implementation toolkit**.

This is where the open nature of these resources becomes both an advantage and a challenge. Teachers have more flexibility to adapt materials to their specific contexts and student needs, but they also need more professional development to use them effectively. It's not a "teacher-proof" curriculum in the way some traditional materials attempt to be.

The transparency in OpenUp Resources' development methodology is refreshing. Unlike traditional publishers who often keep their research and development processes proprietary, OpenUp Resources documents their approach and invites ongoing feedback from educators. This means you can actually see how decisions were made and why certain instructional approaches were chosen.

**The bottom line?** While we're still waiting for comprehensive research on student achievement outcomes, the evidence for quality instructional design and standards alignment is exceptionally strong. The ongoing multi-year studies should provide clearer evidence of student outcomes in the coming years. The real test will be whether districts can provide the ongoing professional development and support that teachers need to implement these materials with fidelity — because that's ultimately what determines whether any curriculum succeeds or fails in improving student learning.

Cost Analysis and Resource Planning

Understanding the financial implications of adopting OpenUpResources is crucial for making informed decisions about your school or district's curriculum investment. The OER model fundamentally shifts how we think about educational spending, moving away from traditional recurring licensing fees to a more sustainable approach focused on implementation support and professional development.

Financial Investment Comparison

The most striking advantage of OpenUpResources lies in its elimination of direct curriculum costs. Where traditional textbook adoptions typically require £60-£120 per student per book over a 5-7 year cycle, the entire K-12 mathematics curriculum is available completely free online as an open educational resource.

This represents massive potential savings for districts of all sizes. A mid-sized district with 5,000 students could save between £300,000 and £600,000 compared to traditional textbook purchases over a single adoption cycle. These savings compound over time since there are no recurring licensing fees or forced upgrade costs when publishers release new editions. Research from educational institutions demonstrates that switching to open textbooks can save students up to $30,000 per classroom of 100 students in subjects where traditional textbooks cost $100-$300.

However, it's important to understand that **"free curriculum" doesn't mean "zero cost implementation."** The savings from eliminated textbook purchases should be strategically reinvested into the areas that matter most for successful adoption.

Resource Allocation Requirements

Successful OpenUpResources implementation requires thoughtful budget planning across several key areas. Let's break down where your investment will deliver the greatest impact.

**Professional Development Investment**

Unlike traditional adoptions where professional development is often an afterthought, OER implementation success depends heavily on quality teacher training. This is where your primary investment should be focused.

OpenUpResources offers comprehensive professional learning services with custom pricing based on district size and specific needs. Districts must request direct quotes as pricing varies significantly depending on several factors, including:

• District size and number of participating staff
• Implementation timeline and intensity
• Specific training modules required
• On-site versus virtual delivery preferences

The professional development packages include virtual curriculum launch sessions, one-day and two-day on-site launches, and leadership training covering curriculum overview and observation techniques. Training components feature:

• Curriculum walkthroughs and hands-on lesson modelling
• Universal Design for Learning principles
• Support strategies for diverse and multilingual learners
• Specialised modules for instructional coaches and administrators

Districts typically require a minimum of two to four days of initial professional development per instructional staff member, with ongoing collaborative planning time strongly recommended through their embedded professional learning model. This isn't just about learning new content—teachers need support in adapting and customising the open resources to meet their students' specific needs.

The flexibility to modify OER materials is both a strength and a challenge. Teachers need training not just on the curriculum itself, but on how to effectively adapt, supplement, and localise the resources. **This professional development investment should be viewed as essential rather than optional.**

**Technology Infrastructure Considerations**

While the curriculum integrates with multiple learning management systems, successful digital implementation requires specific technical specifications that you'll need to budget for.

Infrastructure requirements include:

• Minimum bandwidth: 1 Mbps per student for interactive and content-rich lesson delivery
• Device specifications: Modern laptops, Chromebooks, or tablets capable of running current web browsers and accessing cloud-based platforms
• Reliable Wi-Fi networks throughout all instructional spaces
• Integration with single sign-on services (supported by most LMS partners)

OpenUpResources curricula are distributed through platforms including Kiddom for digital mathematics and ELA, with downloadable formats available for Google Classroom, Canvas, and other major learning management systems. Districts receive onboarding assistance, access to user guides, and for large adoptions, direct technical support through both the hosting platform and OpenUpResources.

For schools with limited technology infrastructure, hybrid approaches combining digital resources with strategically printed materials can provide a cost-effective pathway to implementation.

**Printing and Materials Services**

A critical budget consideration often overlooked is the cost of printing materials. While the curriculum is free digitally, many districts choose to print student workbooks, teacher guides, and lesson packs to support their specific implementation needs.

OpenUpResources provides both print and digital formats through their online shop for small orders and custom bulk orders for districts. Printing costs typically range from £15-£40 per student per year, depending on which materials districts choose to print versus keep digital.

For large orders, districts contact OpenUpResources directly for preferred vendor partnerships and volume pricing. This flexibility allows schools to balance printing costs with their technology capabilities and student needs, creating a customised approach that works within your budget constraints.

**Staff Time and Change Management**

One often underestimated cost is the staff time required for effective implementation. Teachers and administrators need dedicated time for initial training, ongoing collaboration, and periodic curriculum refinement.

OpenUpResources employs a Universal Design for Learning framework for both curriculum and professional learning, emphasising structured change management. Implementation support includes:

• Virtual and in-person launch workshops
• Leadership coaching sessions
• Ongoing embedded professional learning modules designed for sustainability

Typical district implementation timelines span six to twelve months from planning and decision-making to full classroom rollout. While staff time represents an investment in human resources rather than direct financial costs, it requires careful planning and potential coverage arrangements that should be factored into your overall budget.

Long-term Sustainability and Return on Investment

The financial benefits of OpenUpResources extend far beyond initial cost savings, creating a more sustainable model for curriculum investment that builds value over time.

**Elimination of Recurring Costs**

Traditional textbook adoptions lock districts into expensive replacement cycles every 5-7 years. OpenUpResources provides **perpetual access with ongoing updates included at no additional cost.** This means your curriculum actually improves over time based on user feedback and educational research, rather than becoming outdated and requiring expensive replacement.

Districts frequently report cost savings within one to two years, primarily due to decreased textbook licensing fees and reduced costs of printed consumables. Research indicates that institutions have successfully implemented cost reductions of over 50% compared to traditional textbook adoption models. However, districts should budget for common unexpected implementation costs including additional bandwidth upgrades, staff stipends for training, and custom printing needs that may exceed initial estimates.

**Redirected Investment Opportunities**

The substantial savings from eliminated textbook purchases create opportunities for strategic reinvestment that can transform your overall educational approach. Districts typically redirect funds from legacy textbook contracts and print workbooks towards:

• Enhanced technology infrastructure
• Expanded professional development services
• Additional instructional coaching support
• Supplemental educational resources
• Educational technology initiatives that directly support teaching and learning

This reallocation often supports long-term capacity building that benefits students and staff across multiple subject areas and grade levels.

**Financing and Grant Support Options**

While OpenUpResources doesn't offer direct financing programmes, their nonprofit status enables districts to leverage various funding sources for implementation support.

Federal and state curriculum and technology innovation grants can offset initial investments in training and infrastructure. Districts are advised during consultation phases about grant support and application processes, helping you identify potential funding streams you might not have considered.

**ESSER funding and Title funding** have been successfully used by many districts to support initial implementation costs. Large adoptions can sometimes access discounted pricing tiers and extended payment plans depending on order size and scope.

**Scalability Advantages**

The OER model scales efficiently across district sizes, which is particularly valuable for large or growing districts. Whether you're implementing in a single school or across hundreds of schools, **the core curriculum costs remain zero.** This makes OpenUpResources particularly attractive for large districts seeking consistency across multiple sites without multiplying licensing costs.

**Evidence-Based Value Creation**

Beyond financial considerations, OpenUpResources implementation has shown measurable improvements in instructional quality and student outcomes. The curriculum's research-based design and built-in professional learning community support create value that extends well beyond cost savings, contributing to long-term educational effectiveness.

When planning your OpenUpResources adoption, think of the financial model as shifting from recurring content licensing to sustainable capacity building. The money you save on textbooks becomes investment capital for the professional development and support systems that ensure successful implementation and ongoing improvement.

This approach creates a more sustainable and educationally sound foundation for mathematics instruction while providing the financial flexibility to respond to changing educational needs and opportunities. Rather than being locked into expensive replacement cycles, you're investing in a system that grows and improves alongside your district's evolving needs.

Stakeholder Experiences and Perspectives

When you're considering any new curriculum, the real proof is always in how it actually works for the people using it every day.

With OpenUpResources, we've seen implementation stories from across the spectrum - urban charter schools, suburban districts, and rural communities - each facing their own unique challenges and celebrating different wins.

Educator Implementation Insights

Teachers are often the first to tell you when something's working (or when it's not).

The feedback from educators using OpenUpResources has been particularly interesting because it highlights both the immediate benefits and the genuine learning curve that comes with any significant curriculum shift.

**Classroom Transformation Stories**

At Nuasin Next Generation Charter School in the Bronx, the shift to OpenUpResources' problem-based instructional model created campus-wide changes that teachers hadn't anticipated. When they adopted the K-5 and 6-8 Math curriculum for their 2022-2023 rollout, teachers reported moving away from scrambling to create engaging activities to working within a coherent framework that naturally led to richer student discussions.

The transformation was particularly evident in how teachers approached lesson planning. Instead of lecture-based instruction, they found themselves facilitating student-driven inquiry and intentional peer discourse. This shift aligns with research showing that PBL teaching approaches are more effective than traditional methods in teaching mathematics. Nala Joseph, an 8th Grade Algebra Teacher at Nuasin who was recognised as OpenUpResources Teacher of the Month in January 2025, exemplifies how educators can not only adapt to the curriculum but become leaders supporting others nationally.

The Mathematical Language Routines embedded in the curriculum have been a game-changer for many educators. Teachers who previously struggled to get students talking about maths suddenly found their classrooms buzzing with mathematical discourse. After just one year at Nuasin, school leaders attributed **significant student math performance growth** directly to these consistent Mathematical Language Routines, which improved students' abilities to engage with and articulate mathematical ideas.

**Professional Empowerment Through Evidence**

One of the most consistent themes we hear is how the curriculum's evidence-based approach gives teachers confidence. They're not just following a script - they understand the research behind why certain activities work, which helps them adapt and respond to their students' needs more effectively. This evidence-based foundation directly contributes to teacher satisfaction and professional growth.

At Desert Mirage Elementary in Pendergast District, Arizona, teachers implementing the grades 3-5 curriculum have access to comprehensive assessment tools:

• District benchmark math tests
• Formal classroom observation rubrics for engagement
• Educator-administered student engagement surveys

This multi-layered approach helps teachers understand not just what's happening in their classrooms, but why certain strategies are working. Having this data gives educators concrete evidence to guide their instructional decisions rather than relying on gut feeling alone.

**The Learning Curve Reality**

Let's be honest though - there's definitely an adjustment period. Teachers accustomed to more traditional, lecture-based instruction often find the shift to facilitating student discourse challenging initially.

However, the comprehensive support systems built into OpenUpResources help offset these challenges. The organisation offers:

• Mathematical Language Routine workshops (both virtual and in-person)
• Phone an expert helpline staffed by instructional specialists
• Real-time curriculum and implementation support during the school year

The multi-tiered professional learning approach includes initial onboarding, scheduled follow-up training, peer learning communities like the HIVE annual conference, and certification programmes for teacher leaders and math coaches. Teachers consistently report that this ongoing support structure makes the transition manageable and actually enjoyable once they get into the rhythm.

Administrative and District Leadership Views

School leaders see the bigger picture - budget allocations, district-wide outcomes, and long-term strategic planning.

Their perspective on OpenUpResources often focuses on the practical realities of implementation and the measurable outcomes they can report to school boards and communities.

**Budget and Resource Impact**

Canyons School District's rapid district-wide rollout of OpenUp High School Math in the 2022-2023 academic year demonstrates how the curriculum addresses both quality and cost concerns. When you consider that the curriculum is freely available and includes comprehensive teacher supports, the budget flexibility becomes a real advantage for districts managing tight finances.

This is particularly important for rural districts participating in initiatives like North Carolina's Golden LEAF Schools Initiative, where a **$25 million grant** from the Golden LEAF Foundation supports not just curriculum adoption but also infrastructure upgrades, professional development, and digital connectivity solutions including mobile hotspots and increased broadband access for rural and low-income communities.

**Quality and Confidence Improvements**

Perhaps more importantly, administrators have observed measurable improvements in instructional quality. Canyons School District reported a **25% reduction in failing grades** in high school math courses after their first year of implementation, based on district data analyses. Students also saw an average gain of **58 points on the Math Inventory assessment** within the implementation year, indicating above-typical growth for secondary students.

These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet - they represent real improvements in teacher confidence and student outcomes that district leaders can actually see in their schools. District leaders specifically noted an increase in the number of students passing secondary math courses and being on-track for graduation.

**Implementation Strategy Lessons**

The most successful implementations have required careful planning and clear stakeholder communication from the start. Rural school administrators particularly emphasise the importance of building local support and addressing connectivity challenges for digital components before full rollout.

Early reports from North Carolina's implementation cite improved teacher collaboration, greater curriculum access, and fewer connectivity-related interruptions in learning. However, challenges included disparities in baseline broadband availability and training gaps for teachers new to digital-first curricula, highlighting the importance of comprehensive infrastructure and professional development planning.

Student and Community Reception

Students and parents often have the clearest perspective on whether a curriculum is actually working in practice.

Their feedback tends to be refreshingly direct - they'll tell you if lessons are boring, confusing, or genuinely engaging.

**Student Experience Feedback**

The interactive, inclusive lesson formats in OpenUpResources have consistently received positive feedback from students. The focus on mathematical discourse means students are actively engaged rather than passively receiving information.

Desert Mirage Elementary saw substantial improvements in student engagement and mathematical literacy after adoption, with students demonstrating stronger reasoning skills and more confidence in mathematical discussions. Alejandro Dogma, the 5th-grade educator at Desert Mirage who was named OpenUpResources Teacher of the Month in February 2025, has been instrumental in showcasing how the curriculum transforms student engagement at the elementary level.

At Nuasin, school reports highlighted **increased student engagement, higher-level thinking, and a buzz of excitement around math** across all observed classrooms - outcomes that were directly measurable within just one academic year.

Students particularly respond well to the problem-based approach because it gives them ownership over their learning rather than making them feel like passive recipients of information.

**Parent and Community Understanding**

One unexpected benefit has been how accessible the materials are for parents. Unlike some curricula where parents feel completely lost when trying to help with homework, OpenUpResources materials are designed to be understandable for families.

This accessibility has helped build community support because parents can see exactly what their children are learning and why certain approaches are being used.

**Community Acceptance and Growth**

Community acceptance has grown as outcomes demonstrate effectiveness. When parents see their children more engaged with mathematics and developing stronger reasoning skills, initial scepticism often transforms into support.

The transparency of the curriculum materials and the clear connection between classroom activities and mathematical understanding helps parents feel more confident about the educational approach their children are receiving.

District-Level Success Factors

Looking across all these implementation stories, certain patterns emerge around what makes the difference between struggling and thriving with OpenUpResources.

**Local Context Matters**

The most successful districts have taken time to assess their local readiness before scaling implementation. This includes evaluating:

• Teacher preparedness and current skill levels
• Infrastructure capabilities and technology access
• Community support systems and parent engagement
• Existing professional development structures

Canyons School District's approach of implementing across all high schools simultaneously worked because they had the infrastructure and professional development systems in place. However, the North Carolina rural districts needed the additional infrastructure support from the Golden LEAF Foundation grant to address connectivity challenges before successful implementation could occur.

**Equity Impact Achievements**

Multiple districts have reported measurable reductions in equity gaps. Both Canyons School District and Nuasin Next Generation Charter School documented **significant reductions in math proficiency gaps** for historically marginalised student populations after OpenUpResources implementation.

Improvements were especially notable among Black and Hispanic students, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities. At Nuasin, achievement gains across all grade levels and demographic groups outpaced expected growth, with school leadership crediting the problem-based design and Mathematical Language Routines for lifting outcomes for at-risk and underserved students.

This equity improvement data is measured using standardised assessment data compared to pre-implementation baselines, providing concrete evidence of the curriculum's impact on closing achievement gaps.

**Professional Learning Infrastructure**

Strong building-level professional learning programmes have been crucial for sustained success. This isn't just about initial training - it's about ongoing support systems that help teachers continue developing their practice. Research demonstrates that teacher self-efficacy and motivation directly influence job satisfaction, making comprehensive professional development essential for long-term success.

Districts benefit from:

1. Embedded coaching - ongoing support from instructional specialists
2. Teacher leader networks - peer-to-peer learning communities
3. Continuous access to digital resources - on-demand support materials
4. Regular professional development - scheduled workshops and training sessions

The "phone an expert" support systems and regular Mathematical Language Routine workshops have been particularly effective in helping educators overcome implementation challenges.

**Long-term Sustainability**

Perhaps most importantly, sustained positive outcomes require ongoing educator support and community engagement. The districts seeing the strongest results are those treating implementation as a multi-year journey rather than a one-time switch.

The North Carolina initiative's planned multi-year support and scaling approach recognises this reality, providing sustained funding and support rather than expecting immediate transformation.

When you combine evidence-based curriculum design with comprehensive support systems and careful attention to local context, the stakeholder feedback suggests OpenUpResources can deliver meaningful improvements in both teaching quality and student outcomes.

The key is approaching implementation strategically, with realistic expectations about the learning curve and strong commitments to ongoing professional development and community engagement. Success isn't just about adopting new materials - it's about building the systems and culture that allow those materials to work effectively for everyone involved.

OpenUpResources: Your Key to Evidence-Based Education in 2025

What struck me most whilst researching OpenUpResources was how they've managed to combine rigorous educational quality with genuine accessibility — something that's often missing in the world of curriculum publishing.

The fact that 3.6 million students are now benefiting from these evidence-based materials, whilst districts save significant money, really demonstrates how the traditional textbook model doesn't have to be the only option.

If you're considering OpenUpResources for your school or district, I'd suggest starting with their professional learning communities to get a real feel for how other educators are implementing these materials.

Remember, the curriculum itself is free — the real investment is in the professional development and planning time needed to make the transition successful.

• Yaz