In Smithfield the results speak plainly. After the Fall 2000 district-wide rollout of TERC Investigations, only 67% of 4th graders meet state standards in math skills. This compared with 80% meeting the standard the year before.
At Gallagher skills dropped from 73% to 51%. This is after starting STEM's MathThematics in the Fall of 2000.
At the HS, IMP was made mandatory for incoming freshman in Fall 1999. That group was tested in 10th grade last Spring. Needless to say math skills dropped like a stone from 65% of students meeting skills standards to only 47%.
Looking deeper into the Achievement with Honors percentages you see drops of 15% K-5, 32% 6-8th, and 7% at the the HS. The retention of a traditional Math Honors program at the HS kept the top achievers more stable.
Unfortunately the lesson is not being learned by the schools administrations. The HS principal has gone on record saying it's the students' fault because they don't take the testing seriously. Anyone can tell you that might be true for total scores but not year to year differences.
I invite any RI parent that knows when these new math programs were started in your district to email me with date and program. I will post the results.
RIPAEE