Math Badging
The old ways of teaching math are failing our students. That’s why XQ and our partners are pioneering a ground-breaking new approach: Badging.
Gone are the days of trudging through a rigid, pre-set progression from unit to unit—only to hit a snag on a topic and fall behind. Instead, we’re empowering students to follow their own learning pathway, earning a “badge” every time they demonstrate mastery of a set of core concepts. And each badge counts for credit toward graduation, so you don’t have to retake an entire course just to nail down one topic.
Not only does this new approach lead to deeper learning, greater engagement, and better outcomes—it will revolutionize the way we teach in our high schools.
A Better Measure of Learning
In 1906, America established the Carnegie Unit, also known as the “credit hour.” Designed to standardize secondary education for a rapidly industrializing nation, it set minimum instructional hours in each subject that every student had to meet in order to graduate.
For a time, this rigid regimentation improved student performance. But more than a century later, our high schools continue to operate under this same industrial-age system—even as new research in learning science disputes that time in the classroom equates to learning achieved.
The results of this flawed status quo speak for themselves.
In 2024, high school seniors logged the lowest math and reading scores in the history of the Nation’s Report Card. Disengagement is soaring, as students tune out curricula they don’t see as relevant to their lives and absenteeism rates soar. And employers are struggling to find candidates equipped with the problem-solving and logical reasoning skills to thrive in the modern economy.
That’s why the XQ Institute has partnered with educators and experts to lay the groundwork to replace seat time with true demonstrations of learning, through Badging.
What is Badging?
Badging empowers students to work with their teachers to create their own learning pathway through a course, tailored to their individual strengths and interests. Instead of working toward a single, all-encompassing credential at the end of the term, students work to acquire a set of “badges.”
Bigger than a standard but smaller than a course, badges break down the curriculum into key concepts—and earning a badge requires mastery of those concepts. Unlike traditional grades or diplomas, badges are flexible and offer more clarity into the skills students have acquired. They help learners show the full range of what they know and can do—whether in school, at work, or in life.
This approach sets the stage for deeper, more meaningful learning. Offering more flexibility in the classroom doesn’t just boost student engagement; it fosters a genuine interest in the subject and motivates them to excel in their studies. At the same time, this modular model also unlocks more engaging learning experiences. Earning a badge requires students to apply the theory to real-world scenarios, which studies show helps lessons stick more effectively.
To be clear: this new approach doesn’t sacrifice rigor and accountability. In fact, our approach enhances it. Badge assessments require students to demonstrate their proficiency through cognitively demanding tasks and real-world applications, rather than rote answer-getting.
Starting Where It’s Hardest: Math
Badging can apply to any subject area, but we started with math—a course that, for many students, can mean the difference between success and failure in high school.
Students often get stuck on a single topic and fall behind in the entire course. And falling short in math in high school can set students off on the wrong track long after graduation.
Not only is there a need for a fresh approach, but math is well-suited to a modular teaching method. Each course is made up of core concepts that are discrete enough to demonstrate mastery in isolation, but build on the others to compound learning.
So that’s why XQ and our partners are leading the way with our Math Badging initiative.
How Math Badging Works
XQ’s Math Badging System is made up of 23 “badges,” each representing a set of key concepts aligned with state standards. The badges break down a single course, like Algebra I, into individual topics like linear functions, exponential functions, and one-variable statistics.
Students can work with their teachers to chart their own pathways through the course. So if they hit a snag on, say, the quadratic formula, they wouldn’t have to repeat all of Algebra just to figure it out.
Gina's Story
Take a hypothetical student named Gina. She’s a freshman in high school and enrolled in Algebra I. She struggled in eighth grade with proportional relationships, and fell behind. But this year, her math class is broken down into five badges.
Gina was successful in completing four out of these five math badges. However, she couldn’t quite get a handle on quadratic functions.
So instead of being held back and repeating all of Algebra I, Gina could focus on just the one badge during summer school—keeping her on track with the rest of her class for her sophomore year.
Meanwhile, Gina’s classmate, Samantha, had no trouble with quadratic functions, but hit a snag on exponential equations. With a little after-school tutoring on the topic, she was able to catch up and earn the badge before the semester ended.
Math Badging in Practice
XQ Math Badging is currently being piloted in Kentucky, Idaho, Illinois, and in select Bureau of Indian Education schools, where it’s already clear that Badging resonates with students and teachers.
Here’s how students in Idaho are responding to Math Badging:
The Future Is Here
For too long, we’ve let our high school students suffer through an educational system that can’t match this dynamic moment.
It’s time for a more rigorous and student-centered approach to math class, and to every class. Badging is the future of high school education—and the future is here.
Educators
If you are interested in bringing Math Badging to your school, contact us to learn more!
Are you already a Badging school?
Share your Math Badging story with us.
Curriculum and Assessment Designers
If you are interested in aligning your curriculum or building badge-aligned assessments, please contact us.
