Phoenix, AZ, Sep 24, 2012 Arizona schools nearly doubled math proficiency growth for 2011/12 using ST Math® -- a visually based, digital math program featuring the animated penguin named JiJi -- as a result of a recent partnership between education nonprofit MIND Research Institute and the Cisco Foundation.
Schools that participated in the ST Math pilot from 2010-11 to 2011-12 on average grew 6.9 points in the percentage of students who scored Meets Standards or Exceeds Standard on Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS), whereas the comparison group of schools not participating in ST Math grew an average of 3.6 percentage points. With an overall pilot performance of 61.1 percent in math compared to the state’s 66 percent, ST Math narrowed the achievement gap among a student population averaging 78 percent Hispanic or Latino, 81 percent low-income, and 29 percent English Language Learners.
Three schools in particular achieved significant gains: Pecan Grove and Gwyneth Ham (Yuma Elementary School District) experienced 20 and 19 percentile point growth, respectively; and Brunson-Lee (Balsz Elementary School District #31) saw a 17 point growth.
“Kids love ST Math, teachers are in awe, and our administrators praise the implementation and support,” said Dr. Darwin Stiffler, Superintendent of Yuma Elementary School District 1. “More importantly, ST Math has made a documented difference in the academic lives of students.”
In 2011, MIND partnered with the Cisco Foundation, which awarded MIND $250,000 to bring ST Math to 4,000 students in 14 Arizona schools in an effort to improve math achievement through innovative technology.
“Cisco Foundation is proud of its partnership with MIND and Arizona educators to deliver real impact and change the landscape of math education for students today,” said Peter Tavernise, Executive Director of the Cisco Foundation. “Together we are preparing Arizona students for brighter futures.”
Schools with students in grades three, four, and/or five who completed at least 50 percent of ST Math content for their grade level were analyzed. At least 85 percent of students in participating schools were enrolled in the program.
MIND Research provides the ST Math software, training and support for its research-based, blended learning approach to math teaching and learning. The software presents a yearlong curriculum of interactive, animated visual diagrams and puzzles for students to solve.
MIND and Cisco have a long history of philanthropic partnership, bringing more than $2.7 million in cash and in-kind donations from both Cisco and the Cisco Foundation to deliver ST Math, which has proven results in increasing math proficiency, to students across the country.
“This is the first year any students and teachers in Arizona have had access to ST Math. It’s the result of Cisco Foundation’s vision, generous support and strategic partnership in developing, improving, and field proving our cutting edge approach to math teaching and learning over the past decade. We are very pleased to recognize all our partners, and the schools’ accomplishments,” said Andrew R. Coulson, president of MIND’s education division.
For more information contact:
Abby Daniels
949-345-8637
adaniels@mindresearch.net
Download our corporate backgrounder here.
