Idaho Extends Apangea’s Online Math Tutoring for Thousands of At-Risk Students as Math Skills Improve

PITTSBURGH, May 27 /PRNewswire/ — Thousands of struggling elementary, middle and high school students across Idaho will have access to Apangea Learning, an online supplemental instructional and tutoring program that a top state educational official says has improved student achievement and motivated students.

Apangea Learning Inc., (www.apangealearning.com), leaders in personalized, one-on-one online tutoring for students nationwide, said today that the Idaho State Department of Education has renewed its statewide contract to extend access to the Apangea Math program. The previous agreement provided access to middle school students, while the new agreement extends access to students in elementary, middle and high school. Terms of the contract extension were not disclosed.

During the current school year, more than 20,000 young Idahoans from 280 school districts have spent more than 100,000 hours improving their math skills through the Apangea service.

“We’ve seen great results with Apangea Math,” said Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna. “Over the past year, the program has helped thousands of Idaho students improve their math skills and prepared them to move on to more advanced mathematics. Our teachers have already noticed great strides in student achievement.”

Apangea’s live teachers, who are seamlessly integrated into the math instruction, help students improve problem-solving skills and apply math fundamentals to everyday life.

Idaho’s adoption of Apangea Math is part of the Idaho Math Initiative, a comprehensive effort to improve student achievement. The Initiative, which began this school year, focuses on professional development for teachers as well as providing additional tools, such as Apangea Learning, to students who struggle in math or need advanced opportunities.

Apangea’s rewards-based motivation program, in which students earn points and prizes for successful problem solving, also motivates them to work hard.

“The first step in getting students engaged is to make the process enjoyable. Apangea makes math fun for students. They enjoy the built-in avatars and real-time online interaction with certified teachers who are there to work with them individually,” Superintendent Luna said. “Today’s young people are comfortable working in a virtual environment, and with Apangea, they are motivated to be successful.”

Louis Piconi, Apangea’s founder and chief education officer, said the company is delighted to be able to continue working with the Idaho State Department of Education.

“The Idaho Math Initiative is a great role model for other states and school districts and we are grateful to be a part of it,” he said. “We look forward to helping Idaho students in the years ahead.”

To learn more about the Idaho Math Initiative, please visit http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/math/ and click on the “Idaho Math Initiative” link.

About Apangea Learning

Apangea Learning (www.apangealearning.com) is a pioneer in developing cost-effective, one-on-one online math and writing tutoring services for students in elementary through high schools across the United States. School districts purchase seat licenses for Apangea’s services and provide access to their students during the school day and after hours from home. Individual families and students may also subscribe directly. With its programs based on one of the world’s largest bodies of cognitive research originally conducted by the U.S. military, Apangea has both strong technical resources and a content-development prowess that enables it to harness advanced Web technologies and offer innovative instruction techniques. The privately owned company is based in Pittsburgh, PA.

    CONTACT:
    John Buckman
    Buckman Communications
    412-381-2900

SOURCE Apangea Learning