What is the name of your organization?
Learn Fresh Education CO.
What is the name of your solution?
NBA Math Hoops App
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
The NBA Math Hoops App leverages the NBA & WNBA brands to empower the STEM learning, particularly math literacy of underserved students.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Philadelphia, PA, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlights ongoing math proficiency challenges for U.S. students, particularly post-pandemic. While 39% of fourth graders now meet proficiency—a 4% increase from 2022—it remains 3 points below 2019 levels. Eighth-grade proficiency stagnates at 27%, with declines in basic-level achievement.
Globally, math and STEM education in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa lag due to limited resources and support. Only 41% of students in these regions complete lower-secondary education. In Latin America, higher education receives the bulk of funding, benefiting just 10% of the population. In Sub-Saharan Africa, high education costs drive dropout rates, disproportionately affecting low-income, rural, and female students. Educational inequity remains a pressing global issue, demanding innovative interventions to expand access and improve outcomes.
What is your solution?
Learn Fresh provides innovative STEM learning experiences that make math engaging and culturally relevant for students of color, girls, and those from low-income communities. Our flagship program, NBA Math Hoops, is the only league-adopted education program in the NBA, using a physical and digital board game—along with an interactive app—to teach fundamental math skills through real NBA and WNBA player statistics.
The NBA Math Hoops app, accessible on any mobile device or desktop, reinforces lessons from the curriculum through interactive gameplay. Students can compete in "teams" and "class" modes, challenging their peers in or out of school. Parents and educators can also use the app to support learning beyond the classroom.
The program includes a 10-lesson curriculum aligned with Common Core and 21st Century Learning Standards, building students’ algebra readiness while strengthening critical thinking, strategy, and executive function. Educators receive training to implement the program each fall, and students participate in activations with NBA team partners, including STEM workshops and regional tournaments.
With proven impact—30% math achievement gains and 93% of educators reporting improved engagement in STEM subjects—NBA Math Hoops is making math and STEM education more accessible for students across a multitude of backgrounds.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Learn Fresh serves a diverse student population, with over 80% students of color and 93% of educators working in low-income communities. Our student demographics include 6% Asian-American/Pacific Islander, 27% Black/African-American, 22% Hispanic/Latinx, 11% Multiethnic/Multiracial, 12% Native American/Alaskan Native, and 22% White. More than 90% of students live in lower-income communities, and our programs maintain a near-equal gender split (47% female, 53% male).
Our impact extends across the U.S. and globally, with programming in South Africa, Australia, Colombia, Belize, Brazil, and Mexico. Our mobile apps further expand access, reaching users in over 125 countries.
For over a decade, Learn Fresh has worked to close STEM opportunity gaps for middle school girls, students of color, and lower-income youth by leveraging their passion for sports and entertainment. With the academic achievement gap widening, students and educators increasingly rely on supplemental programs that transcend language and cultural barriers. Research shows success in middle school STEM directly impacts high school graduation and entry into STEM careers. By providing engaging, culturally relevant programming during these formative years, Learn Fresh is transforming long-term student outcomes and reshaping the STEM landscape.
