About the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP)

The University of Chicago School Math Project officially began in 1983 when the departments of mathematics and education received a grant from the Amoco Foundation (now the BP Foundation for a multifaceted project to improve mathematics education for students in grades K–12. The project brought together several faculty whose research laid the groundwork for UCSMP: the mathematicians Izaak Wirszup and Paul Sally, and the mathematics educators Max Bell and Zalman Usiskin. Education faculty Larry Hedges and Susan Stodolsky joined the project as evaluators.

In the 1980s, UCSMP examined curricula of other countries, developed textbooks and training programs for grades K–3 and 7–12, and engaged in extensive evaluations of its own work. Reflecting our belief that good ideas and research are not limited to our country, UCSMP hosted international conferences in 1985, 1988, 1991, 1998, and 2005.

In the 1990s, royalties from the secondary curriculum generated funds for research in mathematics education on campus. In 2002, funded by royalties from the sale of Everyday Mathematics, the Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education (CEMSE, recently UChicago STEM Education) was established at the university to conduct and support research and development for the mathematics and science education of children up to 14 years of age. Royalties from both curricula help to support the UCSMP administration and outreach. For detailed information about UCSMP, go to the UCSMP website.