AI teaching copilot MathGPT thinks it can fix the nation’s declining test score problem

Math education innovator Peter Relan’s company GotIt! Education has launched MathGPT, an AI-powered teaching assistant designed to provide personalized math support for college students while reducing educators’ workload.

The context: California’s education system faces significant challenges with math proficiency, as only 35% of K-12 students meet or exceed state standards, while recent legislation restricts remedial math courses in community colleges.

• Recent test scores show students are nearly 48 points below the math standard for college readiness
• Assembly Bill 1705 limits remedial math courses in community colleges, raising concerns about student success
• Educators worry that placing students directly into advanced courses without prerequisites could lead to higher failure rates

Product overview: MathGPT functions as both an instructor co-pilot and student tutor, offering comprehensive support for math education.

• The platform helps create assignments, quizzes, and course content with automated capabilities
• It employs Socratic tutoring methods, encouraging students to think through problems rather than providing direct answers
• The system has delivered over 109,000 tutoring sessions to more than 4,000 students across 30+ community colleges

Key differentiators: MathGPT distinguishes itself from general AI tools like ChatGPT through specific educational features and safeguards.

• The platform is designed to be cheat-proof and curriculum-aligned
• Students cannot simply request answers or step-by-step solutions
• The system has been tested and implemented in numerous California colleges, including De Anza, Fresno City College, and Pasadena City College

Accessibility and pricing: The platform adopts a freemium model to ensure wide accessibility.

• Basic features are available free of charge to instructors
• The paid version costs $25 per student per course
• Premium features include unlimited tutoring sessions on assignments

Future developments: GotIt! Education plans to expand MathGPT’s reach and capabilities.

• The company is exploring expansion into K-12 education
• Plans include developing support for additional STEM and business subjects
• Bay Area schools are being invited to participate in pilot programs

Behind the innovation: Relan’s development of MathGPT is influenced by personal experience and market observation.

• Born to refugees in India, Relan’s background as a math tutor in college shaped his understanding of education’s impact
• He identified the critical role of early college math success in determining students’ career trajectories
• His company aims to address both instructor concerns about AI reliability and student needs for accessible support

Looking ahead: The intersection of declining math proficiency and restricted remedial education creates both challenges and opportunities for AI-assisted learning tools like MathGPT, though their long-term impact on educational outcomes remains to be proven through continued implementation and assessment.