A new math program that the State Board of Education has adopted
is known to raise test scores and bring a new style of learning the
subject.
A new math program that the State Board of Education has adopted is known to raise test scores and bring a new style of learning the subject.
Hollister School District Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Anita Franchi noted how the district is a year behind mostly because of money.
Most schools adopted the new program for the 2007-08 school year. Franchi said HSD schools won’t adopt it until the 2008-09 school year. It probably won’t be implemented until the 2009-10 year, she said.
The math program is similar to the one used in Singapore. It has three separate categories. According to a news release from last November, the State Board of Education adopted 22 basic grade-level programs, 8 algebra readiness programs and 11 intervention programs.
The basic grade-level program is designed to provide a full year of instruction in all the mathematics standards. Algebra readiness focuses on building and reinforcing skills necessary to succeed in algebra. The Intervention programs are designed to provide additional support to students who are struggling in mathematics.
“We are looking forward to start (the) program,” Franchi said.
Textbooks that the school uses now aren’t on the list of new books to be used, she said.
Some schools in the district might start the program next year, she said.
“By grade six, the Singapore texts are one to two years ahead of U.S. texts, and the students are extremely well prepared to start algebra,” said professor of mathematics at Michigan State University, Thomas Parker, in a statement.
The material will be for kindergarten through eighth grade. Each school that wants to begin this new program goes through its own process to determine which programs would best suit them.
