Dive Brief:

• The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will dedicate $1.1 billion in grants over the next four years under a 10-year strategy to renew and deepen focus on math in K-12 education. The move represents a shift away from funding English language arts and other subjects to prioritize math instruction, said Bob Hughes, the foundation’s director of U.S. K-12 programs, during a press call on Monday. 
• Under this new strategy, the foundation plans to invest in strong teacher preparation programs to bring high-quality math curriculum to more students. The nonprofit will encourage districts and schools to accelerate continuous improvement in math instruction, as it helps develop instructional materials that improve student motivation, engagement and persistence, Hughes said.
• The foundation plans to build relationships across the country, but to particularly target four states — California, Texas, Florida and New York — for grants. Those states were chosen with an equity lens, Hughes said, given a vast majority of Black and Latino students live in those areas.

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