Houston ISD and Carnegie Learning Partner to Prepare Middle School Students for Algebra Success

Texas Education Agency Grant Funds Three-Year
Algebra Readiness Program

PITTSBURGH, PA, September 9, 2010 – Houston Independent School District (ISD) is using funds from a $1.9 million grant from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to purchase Cognitive Tutor® Bridge to Algebra software for 4500 middle school students to build a strong conceptual foundation in preparation for Algebra I. The program objectives are to increase teachers’ math content knowledge, equip school leaders to facilitate more effective math instruction, and provide targeted intervention to prepare all students for success on state-level Algebra I End-of-Course assessments.

Middle schools in 33 districts across the state received the three-year TEA Algebra Readiness Cycle 1 grants to fund programs that prepare middle-school students to meet state academic standards and pass Algebra I assessments. In addition to Houston ISD, Carnegie Learning will be implemented in several other Texas districts with funding from the Algebra Readiness Cycle 1 grants.

“Math skills are crucial to reaching graduation and achieving success in college and the 21st century job market,” said Monica Kendall M. Ed., secondary curriculum and instruction math for Houston ISD. “We chose the Carnegie Learning Math program because it focuses on differentiated instruction, extends students’ thinking into higher levels, and provides strong professional development resources that enable teachers to prepare all students for success with algebra.”

Carnegie Learning® Math programs integrate adaptive learning technologies, ongoing assessment, and rich problem-solving activities into a comprehensive solution to strengthen conceptual understanding of mathematics. Carnegie Learning® Professional Services support teachers with a standards-based, student-centered curriculum. Throughout the professional development cycle, teachers, coaches and school leaders learn to integrate technology effectively into the classroom and use performance data to measure student progress and inform instructional strategies.

The seven Houston ISD middle schools implementing Cognitive Tutor® Bridge to Algebra are Cullen, Deady, Edison, Hogg, Holland, Long, and Williams middle schools.

About Carnegie Learning (www.carnegielearning.com)

Carnegie Learning, Inc. is a leading publisher of innovative, research-based math curricula for middle school, high school, and post-secondary students. Providing differentiated instruction to schools across the United States, Carnegie Learning is helping students to succeed in math, creating a gateway to graduation and preparing them for the 21st century. Founded by cognitive and computer scientists from Carnegie Mellon University in conjunction with veteran mathematics teachers, Carnegie Learning is helping to re-invent the way we teach math, empowering students to produce significantly improved math scores in a diverse spectrum of school districts. By constantly innovating and developing new ways for students to learn, Carnegie Learning is ensuring schools, teachers and students achieve greater success. Carnegie Learning, Inc. is located in Pittsburgh, PA.

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Contact:
Mary Murrin

Carnegie Learning, Inc.
(888) 851-7094 X176