Recognizing the scope of the problem, SayTech is proposing to develop the RISE Math Online E-Tutoring Program (Math Online). The objective is to utilize the approach described in A Compact for Learning to bring parents, teachers, and supporters within the community together to provide students their math development. SayTech is proposing to bring a proven, successful math tutoring curriculum, The Sullivan Programmed Math Series, that promotes independent, self-paced math skill development with the delivery and convenience of telecommunications and the Internet. The Sullivan Programmed Math Series provides affordable and convenient additional math services to students. This program, Math Online, will be provided as a turnkey, easy to implement software program on a school district wide basis utilizing the Internet. SayTech's Math Online will offer school districts a cost-effective solution built on solid tutoring curriculum. Math Online allows students to receive extra practice, brings a convenient means for parents and community volunteers to be more involved with students' math development, and provides specific direction to teachers as to how they can better address the learning needs of the students during regular classroom time. SayTech will offer this program for implementation in school districts. Math Online is designed around "A Compact for Learning" handbook which requires 5% of Title I funds to be directed towards providing a source of funding for both the program itself and a stipend for teachers to support the program. Math Online is based on curriculum that has been evaluated in a variety of ED-sponsored activities with great success and integrated into an online delivery system based on curriculum criteria developed by the Department of Education's Mathematics & Science Expert Panel. Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications: The purpose of Phase I is to develop a fully functional, interactive RISE Math Online E-Tutoring Program. The program will include math curriculum that is matched against the Indiana Department of Education Math proficiency standards for 5th through 10th grades. The initial curriculum would be based on the Sullivan Programmed Math Learning Series with links to other school approved math web sites. The program will then be offered to the Indianapolis Public School System and Chicago Public Schools for use in a pilot program on a volunteer basis. This would be done to work through any technical problems within the administration system as well as the deployment procedures. In addition, SayTech will develop a school district Math Online implementation plan following the guidelines in "A Compact for Learning."
The handbook, "A Compact for Learning," which is an NCEE report, is tied to the ED's Title I program representing a total annual budget of $7.2 billion. As published in the handbook, 5% of Title I funds exceeding $5,000, must be directed toward implementation of a compact or a written commitment indicating how all members of a school community agree to share responsibility for learning. Utilizing a 1% market share adjustment for teacher stipends, administrative overhead, and other costs, this represents a $72 million market opportunity for SayTech.
