Success in Algebra 1: Significantly Higher NWEA Map Scores for Courseware Students

Abstract

With growing demand for online courses, it is important to assess the efficacy of quality online virtual instruction. This study investigates the impact of Edmentum's Courseware Algebra I on student achievement using data on 1,205 ninth-grade students from a large urban school district in the Midwest during the 2020-2021 school year. Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the study compares the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Mathematics scores of students participating in online virtual instruction to those receiving traditional in-person instruction. The study findings reveal that students in the online Algebra I course demonstrated significantly higher mathematics achievement than their peers in in-person classes, with an effect size of 0.13. The positive outcomes associated with Courseware Algebra I highlight its potential as an effective option for high school students.