About the Study

As a follow up to the successful $3.3M IES/DOE grant-funded PALS study, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst (UMass), in collaboration with the Connect with Kids (CWK) Network, NYC Public Schools, Massachusetts Public Schools (MA), and Empirical Education (EE), is leading an innovative study aimed at improving access to individualized math instruction and academic mentoring. This initiative is part of the Early-Phase Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant program, focusing on enhancing STEM education and addressing the educational challenges posed by COVID-19.

Background and Previous Success

The PALS study, led by WestEd, aimed to conduct a randomized control efficacy trial (RCT) of MathSpring, an online tutoring platform that supports students' math problem-solving and responds to their emotions. The initial study involved 80 classrooms in Massachusetts and focused on 6th-grade math students.

Despite challenges posed by COVID-19, the PALS study successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of MathSpring in improving student outcomes. The study used rigorous data collection and analysis methods to ensure high implementation fidelity and valuable insights.

Goals and Implementation

Building on the success of the PALS study, the current initiative aims to further refine and implement MathSpring to provide intensive, AI-driven tutoring. The goals include:

• Recruiting and training teachers to effectively use MathSpring.
• Providing intensive, personalized tutoring sessions for students.
• Measuring the impact of MathSpring on student performance and attitudes towards math.
• Offering professional development to teachers, focusing on using data to enhance instruction.

Benefits for Participating Districts

Participating districts will receive several benefits, including:

• Free professional development for teachers.
• A stipend for participating educators.
• Access to advanced AI tools to support student learning and engagement.
• Valuable data and insights to inform instructional practices.

How to Get Involved

Superintendents are invited to support this study by filling out the support form or downloading and signing a letter of support. By doing so, you will help advance educational research and innovation, ultimately benefiting your students and teachers. Thank you for your consideration and support in this transformative educational initiative.