Backed by a grant from the National Science Foundation and developed in collaboration with the , the assessment has already been used in more than 25 schools, reaching over 2,000 students. It is also being implemented in ACE Teaching Fellows partner schools and through Tutor-ND.

The app reflects years of research on mathematical cognition and offers an easy, practical way for teachers to boost math understanding — right from their classrooms.

“The teachers and math educators we work with all tell us how important developing their students’ number sense is. However, they haven’t been able to efficiently see if their students are making any progress towards that goal,” said , assistant professor of the practice in the Institute for Educational Initiatives and lead developer of the app. “The Number Sense Assessment addresses that gap — and gives educators actionable insights, at no cost, without adding to their already full plates.”

Designed for real-world use, the app takes just 10 minutes to administer and provides immediate feedback. It presents students in third grade and up with mental math tasks that measure not just computational skills, but deep conceptual understanding and flexibility with rational numbers and operations. Teachers receive easy-to-read reports highlighting student strengths, misconceptions, and next steps — along with access to research-backed instructional resources.

A recent article from The Hechinger Report () underscores the growing importance of number sense in setting students up for long-term success in math.

“We’re proud to support this collaboration, which brings together interdisciplinary research and real classroom impact,” said , founding director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society. “The Number Sense Assessment app reflects how data-informed tools can empower educators and expand opportunity, especially for students who may otherwise struggle in silence.”

Whether used at the beginning of the year, mid-semester or as part of summer learning, the app helps teachers tailor instruction to student needs with minimal onboarding, no extra materials and zero cost.

Educators can email numbersense@nd.edu to request access to the free Number Sense Assessment app.

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Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu

All three are faculty fellows in 91łÔąĎ’s (IEI), which strives to improve PK-12 education through research, formation of teachers and leaders, and direct service to educational systems.

has been included on the list every year since 2015 for his groundbreaking contributions to literacy education. Morrell is the Associate Dean for the Humanities and Equity in the , the Coyle Professor in Literacy Education, and the Director of the within the IEI. He is a faculty member in the Departments of and and a faculty fellow in the .

Morrell’s research focuses on how the use of out-of-school literacy practices (e.g. popular culture and media) in the classroom can successfully engage urban youth in academic content and improve educational outcomes. He is also interested in collectively working with young people and their communities in collaborative research geared toward social change.

He was in fall 2024 and he is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and Director of the National Council of Teachers of English James R. Squire Office for Policy Research in the English Language Arts. Morrell also is a fellow of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and an elected member of the AERA council.

”I cannot thank the leadership at 91łÔąĎ enough for their support of my research program and my outreach to schools and communities,” said Morrell. “This recognition ultimately belongs to them for their faith in me and my work.”

is making his seventh appearance on the annual list, recognized for his impactful research on school effectiveness and education policy. He is a professor in the and a faculty fellow of the IEI’s and the .

Berends has written and published extensively on educational reform, school choice, the effects of family and school changes on student achievement trends, and the effects of schools and classrooms on student achievement and attainment. His research focuses on how school organization and classroom instruction are related to student outcomes, with special attention to historically marginalized students and school reforms aimed at improving their educational opportunities. Currently, he is conducting several studies on school choice, including an examination of the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program.

He is a member of the National Academy of Education and an AERA fellow. At 91łÔąĎ, he has served as the director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (), Associate Vice President for Research, Director of the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (), and founding director of 91łÔąĎ’s Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research ().

“It’s an honor to be selected with this incredible group of scholars, many of whom I have looked up to for years,” said Berends. “Having research recognized for its impact on policy and practice provides additional motivation to find new ways to make it happen.”

, who is new to the list this year, focuses his research on higher education economics and student outcomes. He is the Dillon Hall Associate Professor in the and a faculty affiliate of the . Denning is also a National Bureau of Economic Research associate, an IZA research fellow, and a CESifo research affiliate.

Denning’s recent work explores critical issues in education and labor economics, including the effects of increased student loan availability on long-term outcomes, the relationship between selective college access and labor market success, and factors contributing to gender wage gaps.

"It is an honor to be included on this list of scholars affecting education policy,” said Denning. “ I am grateful to my collaborators and the support I've received from 91łÔąĎ for my research on the economics of education."

“We are thrilled to see Ernest Morrell, Mark Berends, and Jeff Denning recognized for their significant influence on education policy and practice,” said , Hackett Family Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives. “I can think of no greater privilege than to work alongside such talented faculty whose research contributes significantly to the field, and even more importantly, helps shape policy and practice to foster even stronger academic outcomes for all young people.”

The full list of rankings can be found on .

Contact: Carrie Gates, Associate Director of Media Relations, c.gates@nd.edu, 574-993-9220