How Incarcerated Youth in Colorado Jumped Two Grade Levels in Math

Sometimes it’s nice to pull back the curtain and share a bit more about my work as a math consultant, and really a math intervention specialist, for the schools and districts I support across the US. This post contains a case study for you to view to get ideas about how to use a math consultant or get to know me and my services more to determine if I might be the right fit for your school or district. 

Meet Division of Youth Services, Colorado

Taken from the Division of Youth Services, Education website:

“The Division of Youth Services provides educational services to adjudicated youth committed to the Department of Human Services in six state operated secure commitment youth centers. The educational programs in place meet the complex needs of a diverse student population and include both general and special education services. The programs are varied and comprehensive with a focus on leading a youth to achieve a diploma, obtain a G.E.D, or access career/technical education and training. The education program service delivery system includes State employed educational staff, contracts for services with local school districts, and contracts with private providers.” (cdhs.colorado.gov)

Math Consultant Goals

I’ve been supporting the Division of Youth Services in Colorado on and off since 2021. Previously, our work focused on providing professional development for math teachers. However, with the math teacher shortage hitting Colorado hard, many facilities struggled to hire enough math teachers. In 2023, we shifted our approach. Instead of focusing solely on professional development, we added direct support by creating a Scope & Sequence for their newly adopted Algebra 1 curriculum, Illustrative Mathematics. The goal was twofold: to provide on-demand virtual professional development and to equip teachers with a clear, practical Algebra 1 Scope & Sequence to begin using in 2024.

Scope of Work

This work took place over two school years

2023-24 Algebra 1 Scope & Sequence work

In 2023-24 I wrote a customized Scope & Sequence for Illustrative Mathematics (IM), Algebra 1 for Division of Youth Services. Our Scope & Sequence provided pacing suggestions, lessons and tasks from IM to cut, and most importantly it provided lessons teachers could use immediately to provide the just in time intervention their students need. The thing about high quality curriculum like IM is that it is often out of touch with where students actually are in their math abilities. High quality math curriculum often has guidance for helping teachers understand what was taught the year before, but the reality is that many students (and teachers) need guidance on 3, 4, 5 years back. I know as a high school math intervention teacher myself my students didn’t even really know how to multiply, but I needed to get them mastering quadratic equations. The only way to do this is with an unwavering belief in your students ability to do math at high levels AND a just in time approach to intervention and supporting them. For each IM Algebra 1 lesson I brainstormed the gaps students might have and created lessons and linked resources teachers could use immediately before getting to grade level content. 

2024-25 Instructional Coaching & Individual Curriculum Support

Once the Scope & Sequence was complete in Spring of 2024, it was time to roll it out and implement the new Algebra 1 program. The Scope & Sequence was ready to use and many teachers found it so helpful and accurate that they didn’t need additional support with implementation. However a few teachers took their administration up on the ability to have one on one coaching sessions with me to provide guidance and individual thought partnering on their unique classrooms. 

Incarcerated Youth Math Scores Results

Year after year after year Colorado Division of Youth Services incarcerated youth seemed stuck at a 5th grade math level on their NWEA interim assessments. In 2024 that number began to rise. In 2025 it continued to rise. At the end of the 2024-25 school year Colorado Division of Youth Services incarcerated youth math scores are consistently reaching a 7th grade level. That’s two years of additional growth for students. Incredible!

Further Work

I look forward to continuing this ongoing partnership in the 2025-26 school year and continue to cheer on their amazing teachers!

How About You?

Could your whole department or district use this kind of support? Contact me today or download my services menu and let’s come up with a customized plan for your unique needs.