Math4ALL aims to eliminate the linguistic barrier to advancement in math for English language learners (ELLs). It’s a powerful, research-based, STEM math software program (in development). When it releases, Math4ALL will be accessible in the languages spoken by 99% of ELLs in U.S. schools. Math4ALL will help level the academic playing field, enabling ELLs to improve their math skills from their first day of school right alongside their English-speaking peers.
Addressing a Rapidly Growing National Challenge
Research shows that ELLs are the least educated students in U.S. schools and are critically underserved. ELL enrollment is soaring across the U.S. By 2028, ELLs are estimated to be one in four students. (They were one in 20 in 1990 and are one in nine today.) The percentage of 4th grade ELLs scoring in the lowest category in math ("below basic") is 44% but it increases to 69% by the 8th grade. The on-time high school graduation rate for certain ELLs has been as low as 49%. Such scores are significant predictors of future levels of academic achievement and outcomes in life.
Research shows that 100% immersion is not as effective in educating students as when they have access to educational materials in their native language while they are learning English. While some educational software products are available in Spanish, about one in four ELLs does not speak Spanish. In the Los Angeles Unified School District alone, 117 languages are spoken with 330,000 ELLs enrolled; 146 languages are spoken in the Clark County School District (Las Vegas and surrounding area and the fifth largest district in the U.S.). These students have access to few, if any, math products in their native language.
Far too many ELLs never have the chance to keep pace with their English-speaking peers, so they fall behind and stay behind. These students desperately need a high-quality, core STEM math tool (including assessment) in their native language. Math4ALL meets this need.
A Powerful STEM Solution Embracing ELLs and All Students
Math4ALL utilizes pedagogical best practices to put ELLs who are working below grade level in math (and all ELLs) on track toward achieving math fluency, proficiency, and speed while they learn English. The highly compelling and exciting format motivates students to progress through an incredible amount of math content quickly. Math4ALL builds students' confidence minute-by-minute by giving them constant proof of their progress. It’s a fully automated learning system needing minimal teacher involvement.
Plus, Math4ALL is not just for ELLs. It is equally appropriate for English-speaking students, pre-K through adult, and special ed through gifted. It is designed to be accessible to every school and home with access to technology — the ultimate in scalability — and for use both online and offline (using a downloadable application/app).
Math4ALL's Five Core Components
• Assessment module
• Math practice module
Its extremely compelling, high-productivity, research-based format will accelerate students’ ability to do math — a required ability that is foundational to achieving fluency, proficiency, and confidence in math.
• Student progress tracking
Dashboards will show robust performance metrics for daily improvement of individual students up to entire school districts in aggregate.
• Student comparative data
Educators and parents will see how individual students compare to their peer groups (school, district, state, and country) by percentile on a topic-by-topic basis and overall.
• Math competitions
Students will have the opportunity to participate in math competitions using the math practice format of the software — from class-wide, school-wide, and district-wide up to nationwide — in real time and over time.
Advancing ELLs in Math From Day 1
Math4ALL is a highly inclusive, much needed, and transformational product that will benefit the United States' least educated population and one of the most underserved. It can move ELLs toward toward excellence in math from their first day of school.