In April, the Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University released a new case study titled “Beating the Odds,” highlighting breakthrough growth by 24 percent in mathematics proficiency among students in grades 3–8 in New York City Public Schools’ (NYCPS) District 7. Now in the second year of its partnership with the district, Bank Street Education Center is highlighted in the report for its role in supporting this progress.
Through the NYCPS NYC Solves program focusing on developing student math skills, Bank Street has provided on-site K–12 math coaching, teacher team learning, grade-level professional development at the school and district level, and leadership development to support the implementation of the research-based Illustrative Mathematics curriculum. NYC Solves is a citywide initiative focused on strengthening mathematics instruction and expanding access to grade-level learning for all students, particularly Black and Latinx students.
The partnership is grounded in deep collaboration focused on a systems-wide approach to instructional improvement and alignment across schools. As Tracy Fray-Oliver, Vice President, Bank Street Education Center, explained, “Our underlying theory of action is rooted in engaging every level of the system, beginning with the district senior leadership, to design a coherent and unified system of supports.”
The case study shows that grade-level math proficiency significantly improved, with the district currently nearing the highest level in its history. Third grade through eighth grade students experienced record-breaking gains, increasing math proficiency from 18 percent in 2022 to 42 percent in 2025. Math proficiency among key student groups also demonstrated substantial growth: students with disabilities increased 15 percentage points and English language learners increased 18 percentage points.
A key component of implementation, as highlighted in the report, was the establishment of Cycles of Support, which embeds coaching directly into school-based practice. In this model, Bank Street coaches and district team members are assigned to specific schools and work alongside educators in 90-minute cycles that include collaborative planning, co-teaching, and debriefing, ensuring that instructional support is continuous, practice-based, and closely aligned to classroom needs.
The district also shifted from school-level autonomy to a more unified system with a shared curriculum and norms.
Sinead Chalmers, Project Director, K–12 Math Education Team, Bank Street Education Center, said, “District 7 has set a culture of learning at every layer—at the district level, school leader level, and teacher level. Teachers are always excited to see our coaches. We are proud to help foster that culture of learning with our partners.”
As the district works toward long-term sustainability, Bank Street’s NYC Solves partnership offers a model for how districts and partners can work together to advance rigorous and equitable mathematics instruction and improve outcomes for all students.
Read the full case study (pdf)