Carnegie Learning Curricula and Cognitive Tutor: mixed effects on HS math achievement

Carnegie Learning Curricula and Cognitive Tutor® is a secondary math curricula that offers textbooks and interactive software to provide individualized, self-paced instruction based on student needs. The program includes pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry.

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviewed 11 studies that investigated the effects of Carnegie Learning Curricula and Cognitive Tutor® on math performance for high school students. Three of these studies are randomized controlled trials that meet WWC standards without reservations, and three are randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental designs that meet WWC standards with reservations. Together, these six studies included 2,553 high school students from 39 schools.

Based on these studies, the WWC determined that Carnegie Learning Curricula and Cognitive Tutor® has mixed (inconsistent) effects on mathematics achievement for high school students.

See the full report at http://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/interventionreport.aspx?sid=88.