WWC report: Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics: "mixed effects on mathematics achievement"

An updated What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) report provide new information about the effectiveness of Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics.

Report Summary

Effectiveness

Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics was found to have mixed effects on mathematics achievement for elementary school students.

Program Description

Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics is a core mathematics curriculum for students in prekindergarten through grade 6. The program aims to improve students’ understanding of key math concepts through problem-solving instruction, hands-on activities, and math problems that involve reading and writing. The curriculum focuses on problem-solving skills, assessments, and exercises tailored to students of different ability levels. According to its developer, Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics is aligned to the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) standards for the elementary grades.

Research

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) identified three studies of Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics that both fall within the scope of the Elementary School Mathematics topic area and meet WWC evidence standards. All three studies meet WWC evidence standards without reservations, and together, they included 9,547 elementary students from grades 1–5 in 120 schools. These schools were located in a mix of urban, suburban, and rural settings in 15 states. The WWC considers the extent of evidence for Scott Foresman–Addison Wesley Elementary Mathematics on the math performance of elementary school students to be medium to large for the mathematics achievement domain, the only domain examined for studies reviewed under the Elementary School Mathematics topic area.