U.S. Department of Education Researchers: University of Chicago School Math Curriculum Demonstrates Potential in Driving High School Student Achievement

NEW YORK, July 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) has reported it found the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project (UCSMP) 6-12 Curriculum to have a "potentially positive" effect on high school mathematics instruction.  The announcement of the potentially positive rating, the second highest possible from the WWC, reaffirms McGraw-Hill Education's commitment to research-based instruction.  McGraw-Hill Education currently offers three National Science Foundation-funded mathematics programs that have achieved the potentially positive rating, the third edition of UCSMP 6-12 Curriculum, Everyday Mathematics, and Core Plus Mathematics.

"We are pleased that the UCSMP 6-12 Curriculum is receiving this recognition from the What Works Clearinghouse," said Zalman Usiskin, director of the University of Chicago School Mathematics Project.  "This tremendous honor reaffirms what we at UCSMP have long suspected, that thoroughly researched, rigorously field-tested programs are more powerful and lead to better results when it comes to K-12 math instruction."

The WWC, which is part of the highly regarded Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, reviewed two research studies that met the WWC's stringent evidence standards with reservations.  The WWC used the studies, which included 251 high school students in five schools in five districts, to determine the potentially positive rating for UCSMP.  

The UCSMP 6-12 Curriculum consists of a series of yearlong courses including Pre-Transition Mathematics; Transition Mathematics; Algebra;, Geometry; Advanced Algebra; Functions, Statistics and Trigonometry; and Precalculus and Discrete Mathematics, all of which emphasize problem solving, real-world skills and the application of technology.  The program is designed for schools to provide students with an appropriate level of math instruction at any grade level.  

"McGraw-Hill is dedicated to offering reliable well-researched content, and has been for more than a century," said Dan Caton, executive vice president of McGraw-Hill School Education.  "The 'potentially positive' rating from the What Works Clearinghouse for the UCSMP 6-12 Curriculum validates that commitment."

The UCSMP 6-12 Curriculum third edition is distributed exclusively by Wright Group/McGraw-Hill.  More than 4 million students in elementary, middle and high schools use materials developed by the UCSMP.

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.

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

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Education