Principal Investigator
Jessica Guide – MIND Research Institute
Project Description
This is a matching study with retrospective data, conducted by a researcher at the MIND Research Institute, which leverages data from 2018-19 through 2021-22 to estimate the impact of ST Math, a game-based, instructional software designed to boost math comprehension through visual learning, on third, fourth, and fifth grade students’ math performance in California, measured at the grade level. After accessing historical data on students’ standardized test scores in California, the researcher used propensity score matching to match full grades (e.g., third grade, fourth grade, fifth grade) that had adopted ST Math to grades that had not adopted the software for their classrooms. The researcher then compared changes in math proficiency and scaled test scores between the grades implementing ST Math and those in the comparison group.
Research Questions
- What is the estimated association between ST Math participation and math performance among third through fifth graders in California?
- How do associations between ST Math participation and math performance vary across grades and school years?
Key Findings
Findings revealed that grade-level adoption of ST Math was associated with a statistically significant improvement in the percentage of students meeting or exceeding expectations on math standardized test scores across third, fourth, and fifth grade. There were also positive effects of the program on math standardized test scores.
Study Citation
Guise, J. (2024). ST Math California Math Outcomes Analysis 2021- 22. Mind Institute Internal Report.
The Key Findings above were reproduced from the published report and do not necessarily reflect interpretation of Overdeck Family Foundation staff.
