Teach Math Right - Stop "Investigating" in PWCS

The "Crisis" in PWCS Math Scores - or not....
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PWCS SOLs
Much has been said about the "crisis" in PWCS math scores on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.  At a 28 Sep 2007 meeting with the PWCS Area IV Associate Superintendent, Math Department Supervisor, and Elementary Math Coordinator it was explained that PWCS had to adopt "Investigations Math" in PWCS elementary schools because of a crisis of failing middle school SOL scores.  Again at a "Math Night for Parents" at Ashland Elementary School on 3 Dec 2007, the Math Department reiterated that failing middle school SOL scores and unacceptable elementary school SOL scores were the reason PWCS had to implement "Investigations Math" in all PWCS elementary schools.  Similar statements were made by PWCS officials at the 19 Dec 2007 public Board meeting during the "MI Year One Report" portion of the meeting.
 
PWCS approved the adoption of "Investigations Math" in January 2006.  SOL data available consisted of scores through the 2004-2005 school year.  The actual test score data, available to all citizens from the VA Dept of Education, and known by PWCS in during the decision process to adopt "Investigations Math" are presented below. 
 
There was no county-wide crisis in test scores under proven, quality, traditional mathematics instruction in PWCS

PWCS Elementary School SOL Stats 2003-2007 from VA Dept of Education

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/datareports/assess_test_result.do

 (VA SOL "Passing Scores" are "Proficient" or "Advanced" rankings; the aggregate and specifics are below for all students)

School Year
% Students Passing
% Students Proficient
% Students Advanced
2003-2004
Grade 3 - PWCS 90%
(VA Average 87%)
 
Grade 4 - SOL not given until 2005-6
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 79%
(VA Average 78%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 38%
(VA Average 38%)
 
Grade 4 - SOL not given until 2005-6
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 59%
(VA Average 58%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 52%
(VA Average 49%)
 
Grade 4 - SOL not given until 2005-6
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 20%
(VA Average 20%)
2004-2005
Grade 3 - PWCS 91%
(VA Average 88%)
 
Grade 4 - SOL not given until 2005-6
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 81%
(VA Average 81%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 31%
(VA Average 36%)
 
Grade 4 - SOL not given until 2005-6
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 57%
(VA Average 55%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 60%
(VA Average 52%)
 
Grade 4 - SOL not given until 2005-6
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 24%
(VA Average 25%)
2005-2006
Grade 3 - PWCS 91%
(VA Average 90%)
 
Grade 4 - PWCS 81%
(VA Average 77%)
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 85%
(VA Average 83%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 36%
(VA Average 38%)
 
Grade 4 - PWCS 43%
(VA Average 44%)
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 37%
(VA Average 38%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 55%
(VA Average 52%)
 
Grade 4 - PWCS 38%
(VA Average 34%)
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 48%
(VA Average 45%)
2006-2007
Grade 3 - PWCS 91%
(VA Average 89%)
 
Grade 4 - PWCS 84%
(VA Average 81%)
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 88%
(VA Average 87%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 43%
(VA Average 41%)
 
Grade 4 - PWCS 45%
(VA Average 44%)
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 39%
(VA Average 38%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 48%
(VA Average 48%)
 
Grade 4 - PWCS 39%
(VA Average 37%)
 
Grade 5 - PWCS 49%
(VA Average 48%)
The data clearly show that PWCS has consistently outperformed state averages using proven quality traditional math programs!  All scores were achieved using traditional math instruction and materials taught by quality PWCS teachers!  PWCS abandoned traditional mathematics and adopted the one elementary school program that least adequately supports the VA SOLs (IAW VA Dept of Ed)  There simply was no "crisis" in elementary math in PWCS.
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Similarly, here's the truth data for PWCS Middle School Math Scores...

PWCS Middle School SOL Grade 8 Stats 2003-2007 from VA Dept of Education

https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/datareports/assess_test_result.do

 (VA SOL "Passing Scores" are "Proficient" or "Advanced" rankings; the aggregate and specifics are below for all students)

 

The Middles School SOL scores considered "in crisis" by PWCS in their decision process to adopt "MI" were those grade 8 scores available through the 2004-5 school year.  VA testing of Grade 6 & 7 students did not begin until after PWCS adopted "MI" -- the "crisis scores" are as follows:

School Year
% Students Passing
% Students Proficient
% Students Advanced
2002-2003
Grade 8 - PWCS 76%
(VA Average 75%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 61%
(VA Average 57%)
 
Grade 8 - PWCS 16%
(VA Average 18%)
2003-2004
Grade 8 - PWCS 83%
(VA Average 80%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 61%
(VA Average 58%)
Grade 3 - PWCS 22%
(VA Average 22%)
2004-2005
Grade 8 - PWCS 84%
(VA Average 81%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 60%
(VA Average 59%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 24%
(VA Average 22%)
2005-2006
Grade 8 - PWCS 78%
(VA Average 76%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 36%
(VA Average 40%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 43%
(VA Average 36%)
2006-2007
Grade 8 - PWCS 83%
(VA Average 77%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 36%
(VA Average 36%)
Grade 8 - PWCS 47%
(VA Average 41%)
The data clearly show that PWCS has consistently outperformed state averages using proven quality traditional math programs in our middle schools!  Notably the percentage of PWCS grade 8 students scoring "advanced" on the SOLs has accelerated above the VA average in the last two years!  And again, all scores were obtained using traditional math instruction and materials taught by quality PWCS teachers!  Thank your middle school teachers - given great conventional materials - for making this happen with our children!!   As with the elementary school scores, there simply was no "crisis" in middle school math in PWCS that demanded the county adopt a "fuzzy math" program.  The numbers do not add up!
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A Study In Contrasts - MI "Success Story"
Greece Central School District, New York
WARNING - These Results May Cause You To Think...
According to the MI Publisher's Sales Brochure (also considered "research and validation" by pwcs and provided on the pwcs websitehttp://www.pwcsmath.com/Investigations.htm) Greece adopted MI in the fall of 2000.  The MI marketing guide touts the success of Greece's rising numbers as evidence of MI success.  The real story is what is not told by the MI publisher -- that Greece CSD NY plummeted to the bottom of suburban Rochester NY school system math performance in Monroe County NY...thanks to 6 years of "Math Investigations."  Did "numbers" rise?  Yes.  Did PERFORMANCE relative to all other districts DROP?  Absolutely.  The below scores are readily available on the NY State Dept of Education Website for anyone to view.  A synopsis is presented below.

Greece Central School District NY State Math Scores 2006 Grades 3 through 8 http://www.nysed.gov

 (NY State "Passing Scores" are "Level 3" or "Level 4" rankings; the aggregate scores of Greece NY, for all students, relative to suburban Rochester New York School Districts in Monroe Countyspecifics are below)

 

Prior to adoption of "Math Investigations" Greece CSD performance was in the ~upper third of 17-18 suburban school districts in the Rochester, NY county of Monroe.  6 years of "Math Investigations" resulted in a horrible decline in mathematics performance for Greece CSD compared to surrounding districts.

Monroe County NY
Suburban School Districts
Grade 3
% Pass
Grade 4
% Pass
Grade 5
% Pass
Grade 6
% Pass
Grade 7
% Pass
Grade 8
% Pass
Greece Central School District
79.2
 
79.4
 
64.9
 
66.0

58.9

62.1

Brighton

93.0

92.9
 
82.1
 

78.9

83.7

82.1

Brockport
87.4
 
85.7
 
71.5
 

74.2

75.9

70.8

Churchville-Chili
88.6
 
86.9
 
80.8
 

86.9

77.2

79.0

East Irondequoit
89.0
 
86.4
 
76.3
 

50.9

54.8

53.8

East Rochester

90.1

--

83.3

68.2

74.7

57.6

Fairport

85.3

89.1

78.8

70.5

79.8

78.8

Gates-Chili

85.0

85.5

78.8

68.4

68.4

77.1

Hilton

83.9

82.6

83.2

74.6

76.6

79.9

Honeoye Falls-Lima

94.7

94.0

93.6

73.3

78.8

76.3

Penfield

88.8

93.2

79.1

74.5

58.8

59.0

Pittsford

94.8

95.9

94.0

88.4

87.7

89.3

Rush-Henrietta

89.0

83.5

77.6

67.7

64.0

62.7

Spencerport

86.3

83.7

75.8

78.0

75.3

81.5

Webster

91.2

86.5

78.9

76.0

81.7

82.5

West Irondequoit

83.9

88.0

93.8

82.9

83.3

71.0

Wheatland-Chili

80.8

88.5

69.0

54.4

71.6

64.8

What the data show:  6 years of "Math Investigations" brought Greece CSD NY to Dead Last in elementary math performance among 17 suburban school districts in Monroe County NY.  Similarly it dropped to 3d from last in middle school performance
 
- But the publisher calls this "evidence for success"... and so does PWCS.
 
- Notably, the current PWCS Superintendent was the Greece CSD Superintendent during the implementation of MI and the plummet in math performance using this curriculum
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