JACKSON, Miss – Starting this school year, all Mississippi public school districts will be able to implement the Algebra Nation program, which is designed to help students perform better in the Algebra I course.

Piloted in approximately 30 districts over the last two years, the Algebra Nation program includes custom-developed Algebra I resources, supports, student performance reports and professional development for teachers. The program also extends learning outside of the classroom by providing a virtual community of teachers and students that collaborate and learn online.

Algebra Nation pilot program districts experienced a 7.2 percent increase in the percentage of students scoring at proficient or advanced on the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) compared to a 4.8 percent increase for non-Algebra Nation pilot program districts on the spring 2017 Algebra I assessment.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) Office of Secondary Education content staff and the Research & Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University validated the effectiveness of the Mississippi-developed Algebra Nation resources.

“Mississippi students are benefiting from the instructional support Algebra Nation provides,” said Dr. Marla Davis, MDE bureau director and mathematics content specialist. “The program’s flexibility allows each district to use it in a manner that fits their individual needs and capacity.”

Algebra Nation staff, in partnership with the MDE, are hosting approximately 10 regional trainings for teachers around the state during the months of August and September.

The Algebra Nation program is being extended to all school districts through a $500,000 appropriation from the Mississippi Legislature.