Ohio looks to boost math scores

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OHIO — Last April, nine Ohio High School juniors took the Prairie State Achievement Examination test, along with juniors throughout Illinois, and only three of them managed to meet or exceed state standards in math.

“We definitely have some work to do,” Principal Sharon Flesher told the high school board Monday.

To accomplish that, the board gave Flesher permission to sign up for Accelus, a computerized math supplement program.

Flesher said the program, which is all on-line, could be used in a number of ways, including supplementing the curriculum.

“The teacher teaches the lesson, and then the kids could use the computer to reinforce that lesson if they don’t understand,” Flesher said.

The program can also be used as homework, to allow students to practice problems at home, and as a summer school course, if necessary.

“When you have students who do not pass, say, an Algebra I class, rather than them being behind the next year and trying to double up and take two math courses at one time, we could require them to come in and take it over the summer,” Flesher said.

Flesher said the program would be helpful for more than just bringing the lower end students up to where they need to be.

“We’ve kind of got two areas that I’m concerned about,” she said. “The other is the accelerated students, and not to hold them back.”

Flesher said Accelus would allow accelerated students to advance at their own speed.

Accelus is a video-delivered curriculum, taught by master teachers, and aligned with state standards.

“It’s teaching what we are supposed to be teaching and teaching what we will be tested on,” Flesher said.

Another benefit of Accelus is that it identifies specific problems the students are having as they work through the material, and takes the students back through that section until they master the material.

Flesher said classes available on Accelus are fundamental math, algebra 1, algebra 2, geometry, trigonometry, college entrance math and AP calculus.

Superintendent Dennis Thompson said there’s a wide range of students in math classes, ranging from those who understand the material to those who are struggling.

“We have this gap created by five years of seven different teachers,” he said.

Last year, Thompson asked the seniors who had finished four years of math how competent they felt in math, and only one felt completely able to handle whatever college math classes might bring.

Flesher said grants would bring the cost of the program down. There would be a one-time charge of $1,500 to cover the server, teacher training and curriculum costs. After that, there would be an $850 annual maintenance fee plus $10 per student per course.

The material is appropriate for students in grades 6-12, and the grade school approved the purchase of Accelus at its April 17 meeting.

Flesher said math teachers Judy George and Angela Petrakis are excited about the project, and they feel it is something they could insert into the curriculum to help the students.

The board was unanimous in its approval of the purchase.

“This is what we’re all about, trying to improve the kids,” LaVerne Schultz said.

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