In-school, round-the-clock math tutoring.

In an effort to improve math education at the Culture and Language Academy of Success in Los Angeles, co-founder Sharroky Hollie formed a first-of-its-kind partnership with the Mathnasium learning center. "In our first three years," says Hollie of the independent preK-8 charter school with 100-percent African-American students, "we noticed that many students lacked foundational skills in math and performed poorly on state tests."

Determined to turn math into a positive experience, Hollie contracted last year with Mathnasium to work with the lowest performing CLAS fourth- through seventh-graders. After two months, all of the children's math scores improved by 80 percent or more. Based on that success, he decided to implement the Mathnasium method permanently.

Starting this month, CLAS will have a dedicated Mathnasium space in the school, staffed by a CLAS teacher. Students' math skills will be pre-assessed. Those who need intervention will spend a few hours a week at the space; others can visit after school for help or for advanced lessons. Students from other schools in the county can use the Mathnasium space after school.

David Ullendorff, co-founder and executive vice president of Mathnasium, says that most Americans are unable to make change or understand percentages. The Mathnasium approach aims to stop math intimidation.

"If you ask a 9- or 10-year-old, their favorite subject is rarely math," says Tanika Evans, director of CLAS' Mathnasium center. "We want the students to have confidence and be successful in math."

www.cultureandlanguage.org 

www.mathnasiurn.com