Advanced Mathematical Decision Making
Factsheet for U.S. schools implementing AMDM in 2012–2013
A project of The Charles A. Dana Center at
The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with
The Texas Association of Supervisors of Mathematics
With generous support for development by the Greater Texas Foundation
TASM
What
is AMDM?
Advanced Mathematical Decision Making (AMDM), also known in Texas as Advanced Quantitative
Reasoning (AQR), is a mathematics course for high school seniors that follows Algebra I, Geometry, and
Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics 1, 2, 3. It builds on and extends what students have learned and
covers a range of mathematics topics that are not part of most school mathematics programs.
The course does not remediate skills from the first three years of high school mathematics, but it
reinforces needed skills as students study new topics in relevant, engaging contexts. The course also helps
students develop college and career skills such as collaborating, conducting research, and making
presentations.
The original AMDM course and supporting resources (including teacher professional development and
online support) were designed by mathematics and education professionals facilitated by the Charles A.
Dana Center at the University of Texas at Austin, working in collaboration with the Texas Association of
Supervisors of Mathematics.
How does AMDM fit with the Common Core State Standards?
AMDM is the kind of course called for in the Common Core State Standards as an appropriate, rigorous
fourth-year option to follow either the three-year integrated/international high school mathematics
pathway or the pathway organized around traditional course titles (Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II).
AMDM is in use or planned for implementation as a fourth-year option in several states that have adopted
the Common Core State Standards.
Materials
The Dana Center, in collaboration with the Texas Association of Supervisors of Mathematics and other
educators and mathematics experts, has developed materials for teachers and students that provide
comprehensive support for the course. Development grants from the Greater Texas Foundation have
enabled us to provide to the people of Texas a license for free use of the course’s 2010 edition pdf files for the
education of Texas students.
The use of these materials is optional; we offer them as a starting point so that teachers do not need to
develop their own materials, as is typical for a new course. We offer for sale printed copies of student
materials for schools that may prefer not to reproduce the materials locally.
Educators and schools outside Texas can contract for a license to use the materials (write us at
amdm@austin.utexas.edu to learn more).
www.utdanacenter.org/amdm
Factsheet for U.S. schools and school districts, April 2012
Page 2 of 2
Professional development
In-depth professional development is required for teachers outside Texas who wish to use the Dana
Center’s AMDM materials. AMDM professional development is extremely important because the unique
combination of content taught in this course is not likely to have been part of any teacher preparation or
mathematics program. And the course calls for teaching in ways that place a high level of responsibility
on students as they develop college and career skills requiring them to work together, prepare reports, and
make presentations.
Teachers new to AMDM should plan to participate in a three-day summer institute and, if possible, two
individual follow-up days during the school year. Several institutes will be conducted in summer 2012 at
various locations throughout Texas, with separate follow-up days scheduled in the same cities later in the
year. Teachers can also access a variety of online resources throughout the school year, provided by
project staff and shared by fellow teachers of the course via online communities.
Cost
Fees for professional development and online support for teachers outside Texas are designed to recover
costs for course delivery and support outside Texas, including providing each participating teacher
outside Texas with one copy of the student and teacher instructional materials in print and electronic
form, with rights to use this edition of these materials with students in the classroom.
For the 2012–2013 school year, the fee for the professional support package for teachers outside
Texas is $1,500 per teacher, including a three-day summer institute and access to an online
community providing additional resources and collegial interactions related to AMDM.
One follow-up session will be offered each semester of the school year directly following the summer
institute. Registration for follow-up sessions is separate from the initial three-day institute; for
teachers outside Texas, the fee for each follow-up session is $300.
Summer institute participants can register for one or both of the offered follow-up sessions, or they
may choose to opt out of these follow-up sessions completely. Schools should plan to cover costs of
reproducing student materials or purchasing bound copies of student materials for $30 per student.
Customized contract arrangements are also possible (write us at amdm@austin.utexas.edu to learn more).
Dates for the professional development summer institute and follow-up days
Three-Day Summer Institute locations and dates:
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
San Antonio, TX
Houston, TX
June 4–6, 2012
July 11–13, 2012
July 31–August 2, 2012
Follow-Up Day 1:
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
San Antonio, TX
Houston, TX
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Follow-Up Day 2:
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
San Antonio, TX
www.utdanacenter.org/amdm
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Factsheet for U.S. schools and school districts, April 2012