Blended Learning

Idaho School Gets Grant to Boost K5 Math Learning

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 06/30/16

An elementary school in Idaho will be ramping up its use of mathematics curriculum from Origo Education after receiving a grant from the company, accompanied by a matching grant from its parent-teacher association. West Ada School District will use the funds to bolster its efforts to improve math teaching in underserved communities.

The school is part of the West Ada School District, which has 36,000 students in 52 schools. According to the district, it regularly out-performs state averages on the Idaho Standards and Achievement Test by 10 percentage points.

Origo's K-5 math program, Stepping Stones, uses print and digital materials, including "Step It Up!" an online program that encourages parents to walk their students through additional lessons already covered in class, and Origo Gauge, an online assessment tool with questions presented in the style of PARCC or Smarter Balanced tests.

The school obtained the grant through the company's grant initiative, which also made awards to Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, FL, and Fulton County Schools in Atlanta. The announcement came during the International Society for Technology in Education 2016 Conference, taking place this week in Denver.

"The majority of mathematics-related grants awarded these days are allocated for technology implementation," said Mary Ann Ranells, superintendent of the West Ada school system, said in a prepared statement. "This presents challenges for schools that are looking to complement their current curriculum with additional classroom resources and materials We are grateful for ORIGO giving us this opportunity to enhance mathematics instruction and achievement at River Valley."