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Clovis Municipal School District

"Looking back at the success our students have had over the last five years with SuccessMaker, we made a great choice in purchasing the software and implementing the program at our most challenging Title I schools. The software coupled with quality classroom instruction has helped all of our Title I schools meet and exceed standards. The results speak for themselves."
     David Briseno, Federal Programs Director
     Clovis Municipal School District

Highlights

• Since Clovis implemented Pearson Digital Learning SuccessMaker®, reading scores have steadily increased throughout the district. For 2002, Clovis elementary students averaged half a year’s gain in only 8.75 hours of instruction.
• In 2002, students gained almost half a year (.42) after only 9.64 hours of instruction in math with SuccessMaker.
• Barry Elementary School has been ranked as a "High Performing School" by the state of New Mexico for the past three years in a row.

School/District Profile

The student population at Clovis is 47 % European American, 40 % Hispanic American, 11 % African American, 2 % Asian American, and 1 % Native American. The nine elementary schools using the SuccessMaker program have the highest minority populations and poverty levels in the district. In six of the nine elementary schools, 80 % of the school population falls into the low income category. The mobility rate has increased over the last three years, and five of the nine elementary schools are at 50-68 %. There are 253 Limited English Proficient (LEP) students involved in the SuccessMaker program.

Challenges

Clovis was challenged with low test scores and increased pressures to improve accountability. In addition, the district had difficulty finding programs that would provide the data and support needed to help teachers and students prepare for testing.

The computer labs at Clovis previously had several curriculum-based programs, but had more of a game-like atmosphere. Along with a true electronic curriculum, the district needed a management system in place that would collect valid data to help teachers.

Solution

Clovis explored using SuccessMaker based on a recommendation from its new superintendent, Dr. Neil Nuttall. Since that time in 1998, the District has been using the program in all of its Title 1 elementary schools. The program was implemented in seven elementary schools in November of 1998, and two more elementary schools have started using the software within the last three years.

In grades K-6, 2,154 students use SuccessMaker to enhance reading and math. Courses include Discover English, Reading Readiness, Initial Reading, Readers Workshop, Math Concepts and Skills, and Math Concepts and Skills, Spanish. The district goal is to utilize SuccessMaker software to help students increase test scores. Clovis currently has grades 3-6 take the Terra Nova Test visiting the lab four days a week, working a minimum of 12 minutes in reading and math per session.

SuccessMaker software combines research-based instruction with a multimedia presentation to create a comprehensive, interactive curriculum. Students are enrolled according to STAR testing based on 1) the previous year’s state testing levels, or 2) by the previous year’s final grade level reached in SuccessMaker. Once enrolled, the software goes through a 2-3 week placement period and places the students at the appropriate functional level. With ongoing assessment and adaptation to student needs, learning is completely individualized.

Teachers spend their lab time monitoring students, reviewing reports, planning interventions, and utilizing the courseware to support teaching in the classroom. Administrators monitor progress through visiting labs throughout the school year and reviewing data twice a year—once at mid-year and once at year’s end. As they become more familiar with the SuccessMaker courses, teachers gain more and more facility in leveraging instructional strategies back and forth between the classroom and the lab.
Along with advancing student learning, students simply enjoy using SuccessMaker courseware during their school day. Teresa Falk, Title 1 Technical Specialist for Clovis, says, "SuccessMaker has benefited the students and has helped them increase their reading comprehension and problem solving skills with the various presentation styles in the program. Students like the speed games the most," says Falk.

Falk says the planning for and implementation of SuccessMaker were key factors that have made the program successful at Clovis. "We had strong support from the district and Pearson Digital Learning: a district person in place to maintain the computers and conduct teacher training, and a lab manager in place for each lab. This created a more relaxed atmosphere for the teachers because of the overall support in place for them."

Results

SuccessMaker has helped raise math and reading scores across the district.

• In 2002, Clovis elementary students averaged a .49 gain in reading after 8.75 hours of instruction.
• In 2002, elementary math scores improved district-wide, resulting in a .42 year gain after 9.64 hours of instruction.
• Barry Elementary School has been using SuccessMaker for five years. For the past three years, the state of New Mexico has ranked Barry as a "High Performing School."

The 2002 reading gains for Clovis Municipal School District show fourth graders making substantial gains in reading. Total gains across the grades were achieved in less than nine hours of instruction.

In 2002, math students at Clovis demonstrated more increased gains through grade level with sixth graders making the highest gains. Overall, this was accomplished in less than 10 hours of instruction.

Contact us for additional information on how Pearson Digital Learning can help you achieve results with SuccessMaker Enterprise.