The non-profit MIND Research Institute and the Anaheim City School District (ACSD) announced that district students increased math proficiency on the CST state standardized math assessment. Anaheim elementary teachers have steadily increased student math achievement over the last five years while gradually rolling-out MIND’s visual math education software program to K-5 elementary grades district-wide. Serving more than 19,000 students, the district’s K-6 schools have improved math proficiency every year since the initial launch of MIND Research Institute’s visual math program in 2006.
In 2005, the Anaheim City School District average math proficiency was 37%, 14 points below the California state average. One of the largest elementary school districts in California, ACSD students are 85% Hispanic and more than 80% are on the free and reduced lunch program. Language proficiency is an obstacle for many students, with over half classified as English language learners.
What started five years ago with two ACSD schools participating has grown through the community supported Orange County Math Initiative into 24 ACSD schools – now with 61% of students testing as proficient or advanced in math in 2011. Anaheim City School District has closed the gap with California’s average math proficiency from 14 points to just six percentage points.
The Orange County Math Initiative provided ACSD schools with licenses for MIND’s ST Math instructional software, professional development trainings from both MIND and OCDE, software updates, and real-time reports on student progress for teachers and principals.
“Our partnership with the MIND Research Institute has been a significant factor in the steady increase of math achievement in this district,” said Anaheim City School District Superintendent Jose Banda. “We are very excited to have 100% of our schools participating in this innovative program. The visual learning components and technology are especially effective for our English language learners to gain understanding and mastery of math concepts. In addition, the online learning pieces and parent trainings have encouraged parent participation and strengthened our school-family relationships.”
