By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Hooksett school officials are hoping a switch in mathematics curriculum will boost a three-year trend of sub-par math scores that have landed the district on the “in need of improvement” list, under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

At the school board’s Tuesday, April 4, meeting, representatives of the district’s Math Task Force – formed last year – recommended the district use Everyday Math, a standardsbased math program used in about 35 percent of New Hampshire schools.

Standards-based curricula, which have been gaining in popularity throughout the nation in the last decade, typically promote an interactive approach to learning, in which students gain conceptual understanding through concrete experiences.

Math Task Force Co-Chair Ellie Stetson said the group recommended Everyday Math after visiting a number of districts using different standards-based programs.

“The kids were very engaged with everything they were doing,” said Stetson. “It’s evidently been a very successful relationship between the parent, the school and what the student is learning.”

SAU 15 Assistant Superintendent Gail Kushner cited the recently disclosed results of the New England Common Assessment, or NECAP, test, which showed that Hooksett’s thirdthrough eighth-grade students tested below state averages in mathematics.

Using statewide third-grade data, her determination was that New Hampshire school districts that have used standards-based math curricula for the last three years overwhelmingly performed better on standardized tests, with some districts bucking trends related to poverty levels or population.

Kushner also noted that Hooksett’s reading scores on recent standardized tests have well exceeded state averages.

“We know when we can do better,” said Kushner. “When I look at our poverty rate and our reading scores, Hooksett should be up there.”

Last year, the traditional math program at Cawley Middle School was replaced by the standards-based program, Mathscape.

“I have seen a positive change,” said Cawley math teacher Carleen Bergquist. “It hasn’t been easy – it hasn’t been perfect – no program is in its first year.”

School board members seemed to favor the recommendation of Everyday Math, but requested administrators to contact school districts that continue to show low math scores despite using the program.

School Board Joanne McHugh questioned how well the program – which encourages students to discover multiple ways to work through problems – will cater to advanced students.

Kushner suggested the success of such curricula ultimately depends on teacher training.