Investment in Quality Elementary Math Program Pays Off at Kansas District

Andover Public School District has been a consistently high-achieving district. After implementing Wright Group/McGraw-Hill's Everyday Mathematics® in Grades K-5, the percentage of elementary students passing the Kansas Math Assessment has improved even more, often out-performing the state average.

Each Spring, Grades 4-5 students take the Kansas Math Assessment, and each year since piloting Everyday Mathematics, the percentage of students scoring Proficient, Advanced, or Exemplary has increased, and those scores have been higher than the state average.

In 2008, 91.4% of Andover's Grade 4 students passed math, compared to 86.6% statewide, and up from 84.6% in 2006. Likewise, 92.4% of Grade 5 students passed math, compared to 87% statewide, and up from 73.6% before use of Everyday Mathematics.

A Thorough Curriculum Review

During the 2005-2006 school year, the district's textbook review committee dedicated a full year to researching curriculum options and aligning programs to meet their standards.

The following year, Andover Public Schools piloted three textbook series in its elementary schools, including Everyday Mathematics. In March, pilot teachers evaluated the textbooks and overwhelmingly selected Everyday Mathematics.

One Grade 1 pilot teacher told the committee that by December, the students were learning much more with Everyday Mathematics than they ever had before. And, students liked it!

In 2007-2008, Everyday Mathematics was implemented district-wide and teachers and staff received professional development.

Dr. Andy Koenigs has been with Andover Public School District for 19 years and coordinated the textbook review committee efforts. Currently, he serves as the district's Associate Superintendent for Academic Affairs, a position he has held for nine years.

According to Dr. Koenigs, "When we read research about how children learn math, what stood out was the need to teach conceptual learning, and that's something Everyday Mathematics does well."

"What I really like about Everyday Mathematics is that students don't have to cram for state assessments any more," Dr. Koenigs said. "The distributive practice where students return to concepts repeatedly helps them know it."

A Family Commitment

From the beginning, Andover Public Schools embraced parents in the learning process. The district held an informational meeting for parents led by pilot teachers to explain the program's pedagogy and methods.

The district also purchased the Family Game Kit supplement, which provides a variety of resources and activities caregivers can use at home to support in-class learning.

The district also utilizes the Everyday Mathematics eSuite, an online component of the curriculum that includes games and practice for students as well as letters teachers can send home to parents to inform them of homework.

About Andover Public Schools

Serving roughly 4,700 students in Grades K-12, the Andover Public School District is a fast-growing school district located just outside of Wichita, Kansas. In 1998, the city passed a bond issue allowing the school system to double in size. Andover grew to two high schools, two middle schools, and four elementary schools. Overcoming the challenges that growing districts face, Andover Public Schools was awarded #1 in the nation in the medium sized category in the 2008 Digital School Survey. This award is given to districts that effectively use technology to improve learning.

The student demographics in the district are 90% Caucasian, 4% Hispanic, 3% Asian American, 2% African American, and 1% Native American. For more information about Andover Public School, please visit www.usd385.org.

About Everyday Mathematics

With more than 20 years of history, Wright Group/McGraw-Hill's Everyday Mathematics for Grades Pre-K-6 helps students measure up to the demand for greater mathematical competence and problem-solving ability. Everyday Mathematics was developed by the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project. The research-based curriculum is used in nearly 185,000 classrooms across the United States by more than 3 million children.

The Everyday Mathematics eSuite includes an online lesson planner with digital access to all teacher materials, an interactive online student edition, animated games for additional fact practice, an assessment management system to monitor student progress, and multilingual family letters in nine languages to support the home-school connection.

Visit EverydayMathSuccess.com to read about the program's efficacy and to see videos of the program in use in the classroom. See WrightGroup.com/Parent_Connection/index.html for parent resources.

About Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

Wright Group/McGraw-Hill publishes innovative core and supplemental literacy and mathematics programs for differentiated instruction and teacher training in Grades Pre-K-8. The research-based approach, anchored in real-world applications, is based on the assessed needs of students, combining developmentally appropriate materials with explicit outcomes.

Wright Group is part of McGraw-Hill Education, a leading global provider of print and digital instructional, assessment and reference solutions that empower professionals and students of all ages. McGraw-Hill Education has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 60 languages. Additional information is available at MHEducation.com. For more information on Wright Group's products, call 1-800-648-2970 or visit WrightGroup.com.

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SOURCE: Wright Group/McGraw-Hill

CONTACT: Amy Tillinghast, Wright Group/McGraw-Hill, +1-614-750-7285,
amy_tillinghast@mcgraw-hill.com; Melina Metzger, Paul Werth Associates,
+1-614-224-8114 Ext. 236, mmetzger@paulwerth.com, for Wright
Group/McGraw-Hill

Web Site: http://www.mheducation.com/
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