Getting Serious About
Closing the Math
Achievement Gap
Presented to Title 1 Coordinators
1/25/06
Presented by: Dr. Felicia Clark
Secondary Math Coordinator
Influences Impeding the
Progress of Mathematics
Education
NCTM’s Fourth Yearbook- 1930
 Tradition or feeling of satisfaction with
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the status quo
Thinking in terms of the subject instead
the students
Regarding the subject as something
permanent
Letting the curriculum become a sacred
thing
Establishment of "minimum standards,"
Students' dislike for mathematics,
Too many failures especially in Algebra
(20-40%),
Too many standardized tests,
Misuse of norms,
Too much emphasis on quickness, and
Poorly prepared teachers
Shared by Bill Hadley
Ron Edmonds – Effective
Schools
 “We can, whenever we
choose, successfully teach
all children whose schooling
is of interest to us. We
already know more than we
need to do that. Whether or
not we do it must finally
depend on how we feel about
the fact that we haven’t so
far” (1979, p.23).
What Works Clearing
House Study (see p.12)
 The math programs that were
proven to be effective and that
are a demographic match to our
student population are…
I
CAN Learn
 Connected Math
 Cognitive Tutor
I CAN LEARN
Contact: John Alvendia (888) 263-1390 jalvendia@icanlearn.com
 100% Computer Lab

(30-35 stations)
Lab can be configured for
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6th grade
7th grade
Algebra 1.0
CaHSEE preparation
Connected Math 2 (Prentice Hall)
Contact: James King (800) 435-3499 x1194

Connected Mathematics Project
(CMP) is an investigative
approach to learning 6–8 math.
that utilizes interactive problems
and everyday situations to learn
math.

(Middle Schools were provided with Connected
Math 1 TE’s)
Cognitive Tutor
40% Computer; 60% Direct Instruction using CT Text
National Contact: Bill Hadley (888) 851-7094 x 109
Local Contact: Carla Howells (310) 937-0205
 Bridge to Algebra

7th Grade standards

Laptops and 150 licenses
purchased for each middle school
 Algebra 1

Algebra 1 AB standards

Laptops and 150 licenses
purchased for each High School
 Also Available…


Geometry
Algebra 2
***I Highly Recommend that you purchase support from
Lesson Lab to do Study Groups
New Graduation
Requirements
 A to G Requirements: Every
student will need to successfully
complete three years of High
School Mathematics beginning
with Algebra 1 (impacts our current 6 graders)
 Nationally less than 50% of all
students meet this requirement
th
 75% of students who drop
out cite mathematics as
the reason
The Look of Accessible Instruction
Past
Practice
1) Identify Need:
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“The teachers say all of the
students need ….”
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Not data supported
Not researched based
identification of needs
that close the
achievement gap
2) Strategy:
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Give all of the students with low
grades (or that teachers refer)
remediation, repeat the class,
etc.
Curriculum is what people
make-up.
Recommended
Change
1)
Identify needs (by
student) based on
what the data tells you
1)
2) Strategy:
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3) Budget
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Parceled out “More (cheaper) is
better” or fund only personnel –
not curriculum or curriculum
support
(Computerized
instruction can
meet individual
needs)
Implement a
research based
program that is
effective and put
PD resources
towards that
initiative
3) Budget
1)
Fully Fund (and
commit) to the
initiative selected
and deny funding
for “off target”
initiatives.
Summary
 Small purchases that augment lessons is not
aggressive enough to change the 80+ year
trend of math being inaccessible.
 Purchase effective DESIGNED curriculum and
purchase the support (study groups) to help
teachers implement something foreign to them.
I
CAN Learn (888) 263-1390
 Cognitive Tutor (888) 851-7094
 Connected Math
James King (800) 435-3499 x1194

Study Group Support – I highly
recommend that teachers meet in small groups every 2
weeks (paid) to study curriculum. Lesson lab has a lesson
study protocol. Contact…
Lesson Lab Research Institute
3330 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90405
T: 310/581-2300
Questions:
 Felicia.clark@lausd.net