Amplify, a publisher of next-generation curriculum and assessment programmes has recently announced the acquisition of Math ANEX, a pioneering math assessment provider renowned for its innovative asset-based approach, which focuses on analyzing students’ mathematical thinking, according to an official statement.
With this acquisition, Math ANEX will be integrated into Amplify’s mCLASS Math product as an essential component, enabling teachers to investigate deep analysis of students’ thinking, go beyond the constraints of binary score reporting, and expand on the resources kids present. This asset-based approach highlights students’ mathematical capabilities, showcasing evidence of what they can do rather than making assumptions about what they cannot.
Commenting on the acquisition, Amplify’s Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of STEM, Jason Zimba, said:
Amplify mCLASS Math is going to represent a new standard for mathematics assessment. We aim to provide educators with reliable measures of student achievement value, ID content priorities, and an asset-based system that analyzes student thinking and allows teachers to leverage their students’ mathematical strengths. The groundbreaking work of Patrick Callahan and his team at Math ANEX will help us develop assessments with unprecedented quality, relevance, and instructional value for teachers.
Math ANEX, short for ANalyzing EXplanations, was founded in 2021 by Patrick Callahan and Jeremy Thiesen to help districts and schools implement asset-based tools and procedures. The platform assessments analyze how students approach and think about mathematics, going well beyond just assigning correct or incorrect answers. Its objectives are to uncover insights into students’ thinking, pinpoint what students are doing well, and assist teachers in enhancing those patterns.
Math ANEX’s main product, District Essential Math Indicators (or DEMI), is a digital math assessment designed to analyze how students think about and approach mathematical problems sincerely. By identifying students’ often overlooked mathematical assets, DEMI helps inform more effective instructional action, empowering teachers to leverage and build on those existing student assets. The integration of DEMI into mCLASS Math will help Amplify further its ambitious vision for math assessments, including:
- assessment items that are carefully designed to prompt students to think about essential math;
- additional assessment items that cover the remaining skills and standards;
- the ability to tag and auto-score open-ended student responses to analyze student thinking and performance;
- detailed insights and actionable instructional recommendations for teachers and
- aggregate reports that inform district-level decision-making for administrators.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Math ANEX, Patrick Callahan, added:
When we founded Math ANEX, our goal was to revolutionize math assessment by extending beyond correct/incorrect reporting to a more comprehensive analysis of student thinking. We understood from years of previous work that equipping educators with rich insights into student thinking was one of the most powerful ways to catalyze learning in mathematics. Joining the Amplify team pairs us with the expertise and resources to share this significant paradigm shift in math assessment in ways that reverberate throughout the entire education system.
Amplify’s formative assessment products help teachers identify the targeted instruction students need to build a strong foundation in early reading and math. All of its programmes and services provide educators with powerful tools that help them understand and respond to the needs of every student. It serves more than 15 million students in all 50 states and six continents.
Math ANEX currently serves nearly 220,000 students across more than 15 U.S. school districts, including the San Diego Unified School District, the second-largest district in California. As part of the deal, the company’s founder and CEO, Patrick Callahan, will join Amplify to support the firm’s math suite.
