Carnegie Learning(TM) Blended Math Solutions Contribute to Improved FCAT Math Scores in South Florida Charter High Schools.

Teacher Enthusiasm, Student Engagement, and Research-Based Instruction is Formula for Success

PITTSBURGH -- Carnegie Learning, Inc., publisher of research-based math curricula for middle schools, high schools, and the higher education market, today released a research report indicating that Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) results in four Miami-Dade County charter high schools using Carnegie Learning Blended Math Solutions were 14-18% higher than the Miami-Dade County averages over three consecutive years. The four schools implemented the Carnegie Learning programs as their sole math curriculum, continuously, beginning in the 2005-2006 school year, and completed the third year of implementation in the 2007-2008 academic year.

Specifically, the number of students Making Math Gains in these charter high schools exceeded the Miami-Dade County averages from 2005 through 2008. The Making Math Gains classification is a component of the FCAT, and the primary measure of student achievement of the Sunshine State Standards.

"The Carnegie Learning Cognitive Tutor solution is the best mathematics program that we have seen," said Francisco Jimenez, Principal of Doral Academy Charter High School, in Miami-Dade County. "One of the most important problems that the curriculum addresses is the motivation of both teachers and students. The students enjoy the computer time and they are viewing math through a different instructional strategy, which broadens their ability to read math problems and convert them to mathematical equations."

"Our analyses indicate that students in schools using Carnegie Learning Math Solutions score higher on the math portion of the FCAT than do students in schools in Miami-Dade County with comparable Free and Reduced Lunch and minority demographics," said Dr. Steve Ritter, Chief Scientist for Carnegie Learning, Inc. "We are encouraged to see, as well, that implementations improve over time, with an increasing percentage of students using Carnegie Learning curricula excelling in math in each successive year."

Carnegie Learning Blended Math Solutions combine textbooks, software, and collaborative classrooms to present real-world problems that emphasize connections between verbal, numeric, graphic and algebraic representations. The Cognitive Tutor[R] software component, which typically represents 40% of the instructional time, allows students to work at their own pace. Built on cognitive models, the software continuously assesses the mathematical knowledge of students on a step-by-step basis, and presents curricula tailored to their individual skill levels.

"We are proud of our partnership with charter schools in South Florida," said Dennis Ciccone, Chief Executive Officer of Carnegie Learning, Inc. "The teachers and administrators in these programs recognize that their students are capable of grasping abstract mathematical concepts when immersed, engaged, and motivated, and we are pleased that they are working with Carnegie Learning to provide the tools to help make this happen."

Data on FCAT performance were analyzed from the Florida Department of Education website at http://www.fldoe.org/evaluation/.

About Carnegie Learning, Inc. (www.carnegielearning.com)

Carnegie Learning, Inc. is a leading publisher of research-based math solutions for middle school, high school, and post-secondary students. Our curricula - Bridge to Algebra, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and Integrated Math programs - provide differentiated instruction to 500,000 students in nearly 2600 schools across the United States, helping them to succeed in math as a gateway to graduation and preparation for 21st century skills. Carnegie Learning[TM] Blended Curricula Solutions integrate interactive software, text, and collaborative classroom activities for core, full-year math instruction. Carnegie Learning[TM] Adaptive Math Solutions feature Cognitive Tutor[R] software lessons that may be easily customized for supplemental and Response to Intervention programs. All solutions are supported by Professional Development services that ensure successful implementation and align teaching to learning. In numerous independent studies, Carnegie Learning curricula consistently show a significant effect on student learning resulting in improved academic achievement in mathematics. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Learning was founded by cognitive science researchers and computer scientists from Carnegie Mellon University in conjunction with veteran mathematics teachers.