Wake schools will spend $1.4 million more to boost math and reading. Will it help?
The Wake County school board approved $1.4 million in coaching and tutoring programs this week to try to boost math and reading performance among students.
The school board approved a $937,901 contract with the National Training Network to coach math teachers in 15 high schools and 15 middle schools. The board also approved spending $485,786 to expand the WakeTogether program to provide intensive tutoring in reading to students at 30 more elementary schools.
The spending efforts come amid complaints about Wake’s math programs and continuing efforts to recover from pandemic learning loss.
Test scores for last school year have not been released yet. But as of the 2021-22 school year, test scores in Wake, North Carolina and nationwide were below pre-pandemic levels.
Math coaching
In 2017, Wake made a decision to dramatically change how it teaches math in high schools and later in middle schools.
Group work is a major part of the math programs from Open Up Resources in middle school and the Mathematics Vision Project (MVP) in high school. MVP Math is also used in middle schools by students who are taking high school level math classes.
Instead of hearing a lecture and memorizing formulas, the focus has shifted to students working in groups to solve problems while teachers act as facilitators. The programs use the concept of “productive struggle,” in which students learn through increasingly challenging problems.
Some parents complained that the new math curriculum has left their students behind, forcing their children to use tutors or take less-challenging classes. Protests were held at school board meetings, and hundreds of students walked out of Green Hope High.
Wake has admitted that the math implementation was not flawless. One of the complaints is that some teachers haven’t been sure how to use the new approach.
The Guilford County-based National Training Network will provide “intensive professional learning sessions to deepen math content knowledge, pedagogy, and understanding of critical math concepts.”
Drew Cook, Wake’s assistant superintendent of academics, said the program was used in four Wake schools in the spring.
“Individual school selections are being finalized with 15 middle schools and 15 high schools being initially identified to receive this support which we believe will have a significant and positive impact on teaching and learning in secondary math classrooms,” Cook told the school board.
Reading help
The school system and the YMCA of the Triangle partnered last school year to launch the WakeTogether program to provide intensive reading help to elementary school students. It was in 27 elementary schools last school year.
Volunteer tutors are trained to work with students on improving their literacy skills. Tutors use the Raleigh-based HELPS Education Fund, which uses strategies such as focusing on phonics.
Research has shown that “high-dosage tutoring” programs such as HELPS can be effective at helping students get caught up.
One of the complaints last school year was that it took too long to get tutors cleared and trained. Cook said they’ll be in a better position this school year to process tutors.
Cook also said the plan is to make WakeTogether a permanent program.
“This is a wonderful example of collaboration between partners and members of the community,” said school board member Tara Waters. “I’m very glad to see it expanded into additional schools.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2023 at 8:00 AM.
