State of the Instructional Materials Market 2021: The Availability and Use of Aligned Materials

In 2021, the country experienced another year of challenges for families, educators and school communities. And again we saw educators’ and students’ indefatigable ability to adapt, and even thrive, during difficult circumstances. Through all the setbacks and accomplishments, we continued to hear from the field about the importance of high-quality instructional materials to accelerate student learning and help ensure all kids have the skills and knowledge they need to learn and grow.

Because of the critical role materials play in supporting teachers and students, it is vital for all stakeholders to have a better understanding of the materials market. Our 2021 State of the Instructional Materials Market: The Availability and Use of Aligned Materials provides insight into how the market is changing and how states and districts can support educators to use high-quality curriculum that makes a difference in classroom practice and the instruction students receive.

Specifically, the report focuses on the availability of programs that are aligned to college and career-ready standards, how regularly these aligned materials are used, and how often teachers are modifying or supplementing their lessons. Additionally, this year’s report explores the extent to which materials provide culturally relevant content and support a diversity of student needs, including those of multilingual learners.

We analyzed teacher perceptions of their materials, what they prioritized in the content they are using, and how they felt their materials measured up to those expectations. In addition, we explored important factors that influence the use of high-quality materials, such as support from school leadership and access to curriculum-aligned professional learning. 

This study draws upon data from EdReports reviews, copyright dates, and data from the RAND Corporation American Instructional Resources Survey (AIRS) on curriculum use, teacher perception, and school context.

Explore the full report >