A study of the effects of EXCEL Math on mathematics achievement of second and fourth-grade students

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the EXCEL Math program on student achievement in mathematics. The EXCEL Math program integrates much of what educators and psychologists believe improves student achievement. Immediate feedback, distributed practice and regular assessment are emphasized in the EXCEL Math program. Homework is regular and direct instruction is emphasized and supported.;The data supported the conclusion that second grade students in the EXCEL Math program made greater gains as measured by the Stanford Achievement Test in math concepts and total math when compared to students in the Heath Math program. The data also supported the conclusion that second grade Hispanic students in the EXCEL group scored significantly higher on the Stanford Achievement Test in math concepts and total math than Hispanic students in the Heath group.;The data supported the conclusion that there was not a significant difference in math achievement at the fourth grade level between the EXCEL group and the Heath group as measure by the Stanford Achievement Test.;The data supported the conclusion that students in the Heath group had a more positive attitude towards math than students in the EXCEL Math group. There was not a significant difference in the attitude of parents between the two groups.;This was a post hoc causal comparative study of students in second and fourth grade. Students in the treatment group received instruction with the EXCEL Math program and students in the control group received instruction with the Heath Math Text program. Test scores on the Stanford Achievement Test before instruction were compared with test scores on the Stanford Achievement Test after one year of instruction. Attitudes of students and parents in both groups were compared. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to test the significance of the pretest-posttest data. A t-test was used to test the significance of interaction effects when applicable. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to test the significance of the data related to student and parent attitude.