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STEM - Stepping Up to Algebra

Through a partnership with ALearn, we have brought together their Math Acceleration Program (MAP), which is designed to help incoming 7th graders successfully complete pre-Algebra, and SVEF’s Stepping Up To Algebra (SUTA) program which is designed to help incoming 8th graders successfully complete Algebra 1. We are also partnering with the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley to help leverage the two programs.

SUTA and MAP focus on the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for students to successfully complete algebra. The programs are offered at no charge for students and districts in Santa Clara County, and they include a teacher-training component that benefits every child with whom a teacher comes into contact. The programs include a strong college bound focus reinforced with college students teaching assistants, college field trips and college information sessions.
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Results – 20% Performance Gain

SUMMARY: Students taking part in the Stepping Up To Algebra (SUTA) summer program of 2008 achieved at 20% performance gain over the four weeks.

The Noyce Foundation evaluated the Stepping Up To Algebra (SUTA) summer program 2008 and concluded that the program was successful in positively affecting student achievement as measured by the performance gains on complex mathematics assessment tasks. The SUTA students came to the summer program knowing either less or about the same as an average 6^th grade student on two major rational number concepts (average 6^th grade student as measured by a history of performance on matched tasks from a large group of students from the San Francisco Bay Area). After participating in the SUTA program, they out preformed an average 6^th grade student on both of the rational number concepts. The differences in performances are significant.

The study indicates that the SUTA program was successful in raising the sixth grade students’ achievement in the two major mathematical concepts that were focused on during the summer program. The study also reinforces ongoing research that student performance is directly a function of teaching. Educational factors regarding the opportunity to learn and the effectiveness of specific teachers are supported in this analysis.