Revolutionary Digital Program From McGraw-Hill to Deliver Personalized Math Instruction to 1,200 Students

NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Students in Perry Township, Ind., will be going back to a different kind of school this fall – one where math class doesn't require a textbook and each day's lesson is tailor-made, based on the student's progress the previous day. After a unanimous school board vote this summer, Perry Meridian Middle School and Southport Middle School will be using McGraw-Hill Education's revolutionary Power of U, an all-digital math program that uses an adaptive, personalized model to drive student achievement.

"The Power of U program avoids the traditional 'one size fits all' approach to teaching," said Robert Bohannon, former principal of Southport Middle School. "We've seen that real-time feedback impacts not only students' achievement, but also their attitude toward math. We look forward to watching more of our students improve their grades, excel in the classroom, and raise their overall conceptual understanding of math as well as their problem-solving abilities."

Perry Township was the first district to pilot the Power of U, a first-of-its-kind program developed through the district's partnership with McGraw-Hill Education, its assessment arm, CTB and ActivProgress, a web-based data management and social learning solution, by Promethean. The summer pilot program grew from 26 participants in 2010 to 180 participants in 2011. Now that it is being fully implemented, more than 1,200 middle school students will participate in the program this fall. The expanded program will build on the success of the summer pilots – the 2011 Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP) showed significant improvements in math grades for Power of U pilot participants.  

The data-driven Power of U program creates learning groups based on an individual student's skill or content mastery, rather than traditional grade structures. Using key components from the assessment, data and information managements systems, teachers are given recommended instructional techniques and content that will challenge students to higher levels of achievement. The digital platform matches students with teachers and lessons focused on specific math skills. These skills are taught using the most appropriate instructional method (e.g., teacher-led instruction, small group instruction, one-on-one tutoring and independent study), and adapts to students' progress daily. The Power of U program also enhances the teacher's ability to guide students through the effective use of real-time data to inform and tailor instruction.

"We are pleased to expand our partnership with Perry Township and proud to collaborate with the district's educators to help drive student achievement in math," said Dan Caton, executive vice president of McGraw-Hill School Education. "Based on the district's commitment to Power of U and the success of the pilots, we are confident that this program will serve as a model for the effectiveness of data-driven, individualized instruction. We look forward to bringing Power of U to more schools and districts in the future."

"From ringtones to avatars on Facebook, today's students customize to fit their own personal preferences. With the Power of U, they can, for the first time, engage in learning activities that address their unique needs and in a way that leverages their strengths. This program challenges them to greater levels and gives teachers the tools they need to provide a rich learning experience," said Jim Marshall, President, Promethean North America. "We are delighted to support the continued success of this initiative."

About McGraw-Hill School Education

McGraw-Hill School Education, a unit of McGraw-Hill Education, is a leading global innovator in the development of 21st century teaching and learning solutions for K-12 education markets, offering traditional and digital instructional, assessment, and reference content and tools for teachers and students. McGraw-Hill School Education addresses critical areas in primary and secondary education through Learning Solutions Centers focused on improving student learning outcomes and promoting digital innovation in literacy, STEM, college and career readiness, and intervention and special needs education. All of McGraw-Hill's content for elementary schools and secondary schools is available in digital form. McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), has offices in 33 countries and publishes in more than 65 languages. Additional information is available at http://www.mheducation.com.

Contacts:
Tom Stanton
McGraw-Hill Education
(212) 904-3214
[email protected]

Paula Clegg
Communications Coordinator
Metropolitan School District of Perry Township
(317) 789-3976
[email protected]

SOURCE McGraw-Hill School Education