Invitation to Express Interest in Study

Exhibit B

Invitation to Express Interest in Study

DATE: February15, 2007

TO: Chief School Administrators

School Principals Mathematics Supervisors

FROM: Regional Educational Laboratory – Mid-Atlantic

RE: Opportunity to Participate in Research Studies Examining the Effects of

Odyssey® Math Software on the Mathematics Achievement of Selected Fourth

Grade Students

The Regional Educational Laboratory – Mid-Atlantic invites eligible New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland and District of Columbia school districts to express their interest in participating in an upcoming study in 32 schools. The study design calls for the within school random assignment of 4^th grade classrooms to the intervention group or control group.

The intervention group will use Odyssey Math, a computer-based math curriculum that allows students an opportunity to work on both basic skills and to engage in more inquiry-based learning. The software provides differentiated direct instruction, and guided feedback. In our 4^th grade study Odyssey Math will be implemented as an adjunct to the math curriculum currently being used in your school. You may find additional information on the Odyssey® Math material by visiting their website at http://www.compasslearning.com/curriculum/math.asp and attending our upcoming awareness sessions at a data and time to be announced.

The Odyssey® Math research project includes a number of incentives for participating schools:

1. Schools will receive assistance from the publisher CompassLearning in implementing the Odyssey Math software, including a site visit.

2. Teachers will be paid to attend professional development for the Odyssey Math software in the summer of 2007 and the control group teachers can attend the professional development in the summer of 2008.

3. Odyssey Math software may be used for an additional year free of charge to help the teachers who were in the control group during the first year.

4. Teachers will use Odyssey Math in their regular math classroom for approximately 60 minutes each week, supplementing your core curriculum.

5. On-line resources will be provided for on-going professional development for teachers.

Please note that the school funding for implementation of this research project begins in the summer of 2007 and selection of schools must be confirmed by June. Because of the nature of this project, only schools new to Odyssey Math are eligible for the study. Additional details are provided in the accompanying research abstract.

REL – Mid-Atlantic is offering technical assistance sessions regarding this research program at times and locations indicated on the attached list. District staff may attend any of these sessions by making a reservation REL- Mid Atlantic will provide directions. If you are unable to attend these sessions we are also able to make on-site presentations.

This information packet is being sent to every Chief School Administrator and secondary principal in state and may be duplicated for distribution. Additional information and downloadable documents are also available from REL-Mid-Atlantic on our web site at http://edlabs.ed.gov/relmid-atlantic.

The federally funded Regional Educational Laboratory for the Mid-Atlantic Region serves Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The purpose of the Regional Educational Lab is to conduct applied research that meets the needs of educators and to communicate that research to educators in the field. This Regional Educational Laboratory is operated by a partnership that includes the Graduate Schools of Education at Rutgers University and Pennsylvania State University, and three consulting organizations, Caliber ICF, the Metiri Group, and ANALYTICA.

For any additional information, please contact 866-REL-MA FYI or email us at [email protected].

Enclosures

Cc: Chief State School Officers

Intermediate or County Offices (as applicable)