Math Powers the Mind: Math & Executive Functioning
The Hidden Key to Building Essential Life Skills
As a high school special ed teacher, I saw a student completely freeze when facing complex math problems. But watching him learn to break those problems into steps changed more than his math grade – it changed how he approached life's challenges.
Math isn’t just about numbers—it’s about training your brain to think smarter, faster, and more efficiently. For students with disabilities, it's daily training for the brain skills they need most. When a student solves equations, they practice holding information in mind – the same skill needed to remember a shopping list or follow multi-step directions at work.
Math problems require trying different approaches when stuck – building the flexibility needed when plans change or usual routines get disrupted.
Checking work in math teaches students to slow down and verify – essential for everything from double-checking medication to reviewing job applications.
The step-by-step process of tackling a challenging equation mirrors exactly how to approach any overwhelming task:
Figure out what you're being asked to do
Identify what you know that can help
Break it into manageable pieces
Work through one step at a time
Check if your solution makes sense
I've watched students apply these same steps to organize cluttered backpacks, plan morning routines, and complete multi-stage projects.
Math class is where many students with disabilities learn their most valuable lesson: any complex problem becomes manageable when broken into parts. This isn't abstract theory – it's practical training for independence.
When we help students to connect these dots, math becomes more than a required academic skill. It becomes the training ground for the flexible thinking skills that will determine their success long after they've forgotten the quadratic formula.
Math = Money: Math & Future Earning
Math = Money: Strong math skills directly correlate with higher future earnings. A 2024 Urban Institute study confirms children with better math scores earn more by age 30. In fields like medicine, tech, and engineering—where six-figure salaries are common—math opens doors to economic mobility. The math gap isn't just educational—it's an economic justice issue. When we invest in quality math education for all students, we invest in breaking generational cycles of poverty.
Want to Earn More? Get Better at Math.
As a math educator, I hear it every year without fail: “Why do we need to learn this?” or “When will I ever use this in real life?” I smile and reply, “Math is a gateway to opportunities that can change your life– especially financially,” said DC math teacher Brandon Frye.
And it’s true. Math + education = access to money. Access to careers with six-figure salaries. Access to economic mobility. Access to a future where financial stability isn’t just a dream, it’s a reality.
A 2024 Urban Institute study backs this up, finding that higher math scores in childhood directly correlate with increased earnings by age 30. Translation? Strong math skills mean bigger paychecks. And in fields where underrepresentation is overwhelming—medicine, tech, engineering—math is the key to breaking generational cycles of poverty.
Too many students, particularly those from under-resourced communities, lack access to effective math instruction. Lack of funding, systemic barriers, and inequitable resources leave students unprepared for careers that could change their economic trajectory. The math gap isn’t just an education issue—it’s an economic justice issue.
Here’s the good news: we can change this. When we invest in math education, we invest in futures. We equip students with the skills to enter high-paying fields, breaking down barriers that have existed for generations. If D.C. truly wants to create economic stability for all, the solution is clear—fund math education now.
The numbers don’t lie. If you want to make more money, get better at math.
On Pi Day, as Math4All DC screened 'Counted Out,' the documentary's message took on urgent meaning: DC students were literally being counted out of their own education budget. Our speakers connected the dots—$358 million in potential cuts to schools means fewer math opportunities, fewer pathways to success. The timing couldn't have been more powerful, or the call to action more clear.
Math4All DC's Pi Day Screening: When "Counted Out" Met DC's Budget Reality
On March 14th—Pi Day—the Math4All DC coalition hosted a screening of the powerful documentary "Counted Out" at a moment when mathematics and budgets converged in DC in ways we couldn't have anticipated.
Perfect Timing
As attendees gathered to watch a film about how strong math skills ensure students don't get "counted out" of future opportunities, DC residents were literally being counted out of their own budget. With Congress threatening to slash $1.1 billion from DC's 2025 operating budget—including $358 million from public education funding—the documentary's message couldn't have been more relevant.
The irony wasn't lost on anyone in the room.
Powerful Voices
The screening featured a panel of passionate advocates who connected the film's message to our current reality:
Nahla Ihoma, a student advocate, spoke powerfully about how high-impact tutoring creates pathways to success for students who might otherwise be left behind.
Letisha Vinson, representing parents and caregivers, shared personal insights about how family engagement strengthens math learning and creates advocates for the next generation.
Dr. Kelly Ivy brought expertise on teacher development and high-quality instructional materials, explaining how these elements work together to build strong foundations in mathematics education.
Each speaker reinforced what the documentary made clear: math equals power, and without it, students risk being counted out of educational, career, and economic opportunities.
Community Conversations
The event sparked meaningful dialogue among attendees, who shared their own experiences with mathematics education and discussed the potential impacts of the looming budget cuts on DC students. The conversations highlighted the community's commitment to ensuring every student receives quality math instruction regardless of zip code or background.
Our Path Forward
As Math4All DC continues advocating for mathematics education, we remain focused on our four key pillars:
High-Impact Tutoring - Supporting evidence-based, small-group intensive tutoring tailored to individual student needs
Math Teacher Pipeline - Strengthening teacher training and sustaining programs for educator development
Parent/Caregiver Support - Implementing family engagement strategies to support math learning
High-Quality Instructional Materials & Professional Development - Funding math coaches and implementing proven curriculum
Join Our Movement
This screening was just one step in our ongoing work to transform math education in DC. As we face unprecedented challenges to education funding, we need your voice more than ever. Join the Math4All DC Coalition to learn more about ways to get involved.
Together, we can ensure that no DC student is counted out of the quality math education they deserve.
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Math4All DC is a coalition of nine organizations and passionate community advocates working to transform mathematics education across Washington, D.C. Because everyone is a math person.