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NYS P-12 Learning Standards by Content Area

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Statewide Mathematics Tournament

WHO

  • NYSED and First in Math (FIM) are joining forces to bring a Statewide Mathematics Tournament to New York State.

WHAT

  • The Statewide Mathematics Tournament consists of 10 Virtual Regional Contests (Qualifying Round) and an in-person Statewide Championship Event.
  • The Virtual Regional Contests will focus on the popular 24® Game series featured in the FIM online program Skill Sets®. These games test fact fluency, automaticity, problem solving, procedural fluency, and other critical math skills. As children practice, the games' simple structure allows learners to engage quickly, seek out higher levels of challenge, and increase confidence in mental-math abilities.
  • At the Statewide Championship Event, students will use game cards (representing online activities they can practice), competing in a group setting to demonstrate through modeling their conceptual understanding.

WHEN & WHERE

  • ALL New York State students in grades 1 to 8, who are enrolled in the FIM program, will be invited to participate in the Virtual Regional Qualifying Round: Thursday, March 19, 2026.
  • Winners of the virtual qualifying round will advance to the Statewide Championship Event: Saturday, June 13, 2026, at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, NY.  
  • To participate, NYS districts/schools need to be signed up for the FIM program.

AWARDS

  • Students who participate at both competitions (Regional & Statewide) will receive Certificates of Participation. Winners will receive trophies.
  • Regional Contest Winners: the winning school at each grade level (grades 1-8) will receive a plaque and $1000 award, and
  • Statewide Event Winners: the winning school at each grade level (grades 1-8) will receive a plaque and $5000 award.

Interested in participating in the Statewide Tournament?

  • Sign up for the free FIM program using this request form.
  • For more information on the FIM program or the Statewide Mathematics Tournament, please visit the FIM Tournament webpage.

ADDITIONAL TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

  • The Virtual Regional Qualifying Round will take place during school hours. A link will be visible in each student's FIM notifications mailbox during the designated window of time.
    • Students from each region** who correctly solve the most Skill Set problems in the allotted time will advance to the Statewide Championship Event. For the qualifying round, students will receive grade-appropriate challenges. 
  • After the Virtual Regional Qualifying Round is complete, FIM will contact the winning students’ principals with details about the Statewide Championship Event.
    • For the Statewide Championship Event, teams of 24 students per region** will compete for top honors and prizes.
      • Teams of 24 students per region**: 3 students from the same school and the same grade level, (one team each from grades 1 through 8).
      • Students must have parental permission to participate in the Statewide Championship Event. A signed Photo Release form will be requested for each participating student.
  • Chaperones: For the Statewide Championship Event, each child may bring one parent and each team must be accompanied by one teacher or school administrator.
  • Travel Reimbursement will be available of participants who live more than 90 miles from Statewide Championship Event location.

**For purposes of this competition there are 10 regions, as determined by NYSED.

PREPARATION FOR THE VIRTUAL REGIONAL QUALIFYING ROUND

  • The optional, supplemental math practice offered through participation in FIM provides support to assist students in meeting grade-level fluency expectations. As your students "play math games" on the FIM site in preparation for these events, they will be building multiple fluencies needed for future success.
  • Early on, Just The Facts helps students identify where practice is needed, and is then followed by Very Important Facts and GYMS to increase fact fluency.
  • When they are ready, students move on to grade-appropriate Skill Set games to familiarize them with the type of math challenges they will see at the Virtual Regional Qualifying Round! Preview the skills tested in Skill Set games here.
  • Encourage students to play the Skill Set Game(s) available for their grade. Students will compete with others at their grade level.

Students should be given adequate access to FIM to attain multiple fluencies needed for success prior to the Virtual Regional Qualifying Round; if they qualify for the Statewide Championship Event, they will be competing in a round-robin, tournament-style event against other students at their grade level.

Sign up for the free FIM program using this request form.

For more information on the FIM program or the Statewide Mathematics Tournament, please visit the FIM Tournament webpage.