Mathematics

Test Scores Reveal Pittsburgh Students Excel With McGraw-Hill's Treasures Reading and Everyday Mathematics Curricula

  2008 NOV 24 - (VerticalNews.com) -- Pittsburgh students continue to make substantial gains in reading and mathematics achievement on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA), according to the 2007-2008 student achievement results for the Pittsburgh Public Schools. The District adopted the Macmillan/McGraw-Hill K-6 reading and language arts curriculum, Treasures, in 2005-2006 and has used Wright Group/McGraw-Hill's Everyday Mathematics program for approximately 14 years.

  The annual Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) is a standards-based criterion-referenced assessment used to measure a student's attainment of the academic standards while also determining the degree to which school programs enable students to attain proficiency of the standards.

  Reading Success with Treasures

  Before Pittsburgh adopted Treasures in the 2005-2006 school year, just 48.7% of Grade 3 students scored proficient and advanced in reading. After three years with the program, that figure has reached 64.0% (2007-2008). This is an increase of 15.3 percentage points. In addition, Grade 3 students showed significant progress in moving out of the below basic level, with 21.4% fewer students at that level this year compared to last year.

  "These results are a testament to the commitment of the Pittsburgh Public Schools leadership to drive student achievement," said Steve McClung, president of School Solutions Group, which includes Macmillan/McGraw-Hill. "We are extremely pleased that Macmillan/McGraw-Hill's program, Treasures, has contributed to this student success."

  Pittsburgh's Grade 4 students also showed progress in the advanced level for reading proficiency from the 2005-2006 school year to 2007-2008: a 3.2 percentage point increase.

  Students in Pittsburgh also outperformed student reading scores across the state of Pennsylvania. Between 2002 and 2008, students in Grade 5, for example, had a gain of 7 percentage points in reading, compared to a statewide gain of 4 percentage points.

  "We are pleased that Treasures has provided us the opportunity to also integrate our early childhood reading program with our elementary program," said Bill Isler, board president of Pittsburgh Public Schools. "Little Treasures is being used to provide critical early literacy skills to more than 2,000 Pre-K children served by Pittsburgh Public Schools."

  Math Success with Everyday Mathematics

  Keywords: Wright Group/McGraw-Hill.

  This article was prepared by VerticalNews Mathematics editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, VerticalNews Mathematics via VerticalNews.com.