Even before the pandemic slowed learning for many, only 39 percent of California students demonstrated proficiency on the state math assessment. During the pandemic, the proportion of math-proficient students fell to one-third. At the same time, the STEM workforce faces shortages and a lack of diversity, which call into question the longstanding practice of filtering the majority of students out of advanced pathways in math, often from a young age. To address these problems, a committee of California math educators proposed changing the approach to teaching math based on what research has revealed about what will improve math achievement and engagement. In 2021, California started the process of revising the framework that guides math instruction.