Our Story

To understand concepts, master skills, and find enjoyment in learning;
to be prepared for success in the classroom and beyond…

For more than thirty years, the folks at Key Curriculum Press have been dedicated to empowering students with these experiences.

In 1971, brothers Peter and Steven Rasmussen drew from their teaching experience to create workbooks that would help students who were struggling in mathematics learn the basics and build a foundation for success. With those first Key to…® workbooks, they launched Key Curriculum Press.

Today, Steve is publisher and CEO of Key, and Karen Coe is the company president. Still, our goal remains the same—to give you the very best tools for helping all students reach their potential in mathematics and science.

Our Commitment

Like its founders, Key staff includes many former classroom teachers. They understand the challenges teachers face and are passionate about their work. "At Key we strive to qualitatively change the dynamics in mathematics and science classrooms by supporting teachers with high quality materials that enhance the conceptual development of their students," Steve says. "We want to stimulate a lifelong interest in mathematics and raise achievement by crafting engaging and thoughtful learning experiences that exercise kids' brains in routine and non-routine ways.

"I not only worry about students who fall behind on the traditional measures, but I worry as well about all of the students who get A's and test well, but are not inspired to continue their mathematical studies. Developing materials that enhance learning outcomes across the board provides the joy in our work."

What We Offer

Our student-centered, inquiry-based textbooks and supplemental materials are proven effective. They span the mathematics curriculum, from middle school arithmetic through AP® Calculus and Statistics. Our dynamic visualization and exploration software programs have won awards from a range of educational organizations. They bring math and statistics to life for middle and high school students of all mathematical backgrounds. And our professional development workshops, institutes, and online courses provide teachers with training, experience, and support to help them incorporate the most effective techniques and strategies in their teaching.

How We've Grown

In 1996, Key Curriculum Press became affiliated with Springer, one of the world's largest and most prestigious scientific publishers, strengthening the breadth and depth of our publishing resources. KCP Technologies, created by Key in 1998, conducts educational technology research and is the developer of The Geometer's Sketchpad® and Fathom Dynamic Data™ software.

A New Frontier

In 2003, we expanded our scope to encompass science education with the publication of Living By Chemistry—a groundbreaking high school chemistry curriculum designed to engage and retain more students in the study of chemistry. In 2007, we added to our science offerings, partnering with the Museum of Science, Boston, on Engineering the Future, a project-based curriculum that exposes students to how engineers work and think, explores the basis of physical science, and provides a strong foundation in physics.