In the last few years, CLEAR Math has been used in pre-algebra and algebra classes in several middle and high schools in Massachusetts. Teachers in two schools where CLEAR Math has been used intensively believe that student performance on the MCAS Mathematics Tests demonstrates the effectiveness of CLEAR Math.

This is an effort to evaluate the impact of CLEAR Math on student performance in MCAS Mathematics Tests. The data describes the performance of students in Grade Eight at Wayland Middle School and students in Grade Ten at Maynard High School in 1998 and 1999.

MCAS Failure Rate in Grades Eight and Ten at Two Schools. Comparing similar student classes from different years:  

DATA: MCAS Failure Rate for the Schools in the Study [Sample SIZE: 150 students in 2 schools.]

1998: 31% (no     CLEAR Math)
1999:   9% (used CLEAR Math)  

Although teachers told us CLEAR Math is doing wonders, scientifically, based on this data alone, we cannot attribute the improvement solely to CLEAR Math. There are other possible causes:

A. Better teaching by the same teachers in 1999 than in 1998 (Teachers agreed with a smile.)  
B. Better students in 1999 sample than in the 1998 sample (Teachers dismissed this possibility.)  
C. 1999 students better trained in test-taking than their 1998 counterparts (If so, it should show up in all groups.) 

Interestingly, one does not see a corresponding improvement in other classes in the SAME schools.

DATA: MCAS Failure Rate for the Schools in the Study [Sample SIZE: 264-270 students in 2 schools.]

1998: 15.9% (whole school)
1999: 15.6% (whole school)

The data on student performance and the opinions of teachers suggest that a combination of the use of CLEAR Math and better teaching (A) is responsible for increasing the MCAS pass rate in the groups that used CLEAR Math. 

This examination of the data and the opinions of teachers is not a scientific study. However, the CLEAR Math Team believes that CLEAR Math played a major role in the observed improvement in student performance. The subjective "confidence level" that the Team attaches to this conclusion is 85%.  

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