Irvine, Calif., March 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ST Math® has been selected by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) as an approved blended learning program for the statewide Math Innovation Zones (MIZ) initiative. MIZ supports Texas school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in the expansion of blended learning instructional models in math.
244 schools in 42 districts across the state are currently using the ST Math program to build lifelong learners prepared for success in STEM fields. In fact, schools using ST Math in Texas outgrew similar schools in a statewide rank increase of 9.1 percentile points as defined by performance on the STAAR - the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness.
ST Math, created by MIND Research Institute, is a visual instructional program that builds deep conceptual understanding of math through rigorous and creative problem solving to engage, motivate, and challenge Pre-K-8 students toward higher achievement. The program incorporates the latest in neuroscience research, promoting mastery-based learning and mathematical understanding. ST Math currently reaches over 1.2 million students nationwide, including over 100,000 students in Texas.
“ST Math prepares students for the future by growing their mathematical problem solving capabilities,” said Brett Woudenberg, CEO of MIND Research Institute. “Those skills contribute to, and will extend beyond, Algebra I readiness. They will give students the foundation needed for successful careers in a STEM workforce. Schools that have already adopted ST Math in Texas are seeing the evidence. We are excited about this opportunity through TEA to continue to expand the program’s reach and impact on student test scores throughout Texas.”
Math Innovation Zones schools that partner with ST Math from the list of approved vendors will receive a design-rich, blended learning experience. ST Math scaffolds and models math concepts through puzzles, helping students make connections to what they’re seeing and improve their number sense. Educators can use the program to follow up individual ST Math puzzles with group discussions, concept extensions, and/or to make explicit connections to curriculum.
“ST Math is a great complement to schools looking for innovative ways to personalize math in the classroom,” said Dashawn Glover, Instructional Specialist, Innovation & Redesign at Spring Branch ISD, part of the Math Innovation Zones Schools. “The software allows for mastery of skills through scaffolded lessons, and teachers are able to sit with a group of students to help facilitate their learning. Our teachers use the program daily, and have aligned its curriculum to match our district’s math scope and sequence. ST Math has provided a path for aligned math supplemental support that complements the instruction occurring in classrooms.”
Recently, ST Math was the subject of the largest study of its kind to evaluate an edtech math program nationally by independent education research firm WestEd. The study looked at 150,000 students at 474 schools in 16 states, including Texas, that started using ST Math between 2013 and 2015. Researchers found that schools consistently using ST Math could boost their state test scores enough to, on average, jump by as much as 14 percentile points in their statewide math ranking.
To learn more about ST Math and its impact, visit stmath.com.
About MIND Research Institute
MIND Research Institute is a neuroscience and education social impact organization, dedicated to ensuring that all students are mathematically equipped to solve the world’s most challenging problems. MIND is the creator of ST Math®, a Pre-K-8 visual instructional program that builds a deep conceptual understanding of math through rigorous learning and creative problem solving. MIND has also developed programs under MathMINDs to provide students, teachers and families dynamic ways to actively engage with math, and to close the experience gap for all learners. MathMINDs includes Family Game Nights, the national K-12 Game-a-thon and MathMINDs Games. For more information, visit mindresearch.org.
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