Missouri District Implements Algebra Intervention Program

• By Scott Aronowitz
• 08/04/09

Hazelwood School District, located in the suburbs of St. Louis, has announced the implementation of the Carnegie Learning Bridge to Algebra program, including textbooks and software, for 900 ninth-grade students in its three high schools. The program is designed to prepare students who lack the skills and/or preparation to enter Algebra I.

The program combines the Bridge to Algebra textbook with the company's Cognitive Tutor software. Based upon an artificial intelligence model, the software can evaluate and analyze students' strengths and weaknesses and allow for differentiated instruction targeted to individual needs. It also offers such features as concrete, real-world examples, multiple representations of each problem, interactive examples, automated assessment, and immediate feedback. The lessons contained in the text are integrated with the software to optimize the impact of both tools.

"Our goal is to graduate each of our students prepared to compete professionally or in continuing education," said Cathy French, Math Coordinator for Hazelwood School District. "We evaluated several math programs and found that Carnegie Learning provided the engaging, real-world application of concepts that we believe will motivate our students to get excited about math and be successful in higher-level math courses required for graduation."

Hazelwood's current license for use of the Bridge to Algebra system runs through 2014.