roject MIND was originally developed by Dr. Hui Fang Huang "Angie " Su in 1988 to help academically at-risk students improve their ability to solve math problems. Since then, the project has evolved into a nationwide program that can dramatically improve student skills in math and other subject areas.

Targeting Pre-K through 12th grade students, Project MIND is designed to complement and enhance the core curriculum being used through the incorporation of innovative teaching strategies. In Project MIND, students interact with one another, apply mathematics to real-world problems, and are taught simple strategies to solve complex problems.

Project MIND emphasizes the use of games, story telling, and strategic methods based on logic and intuition, making learning fun and exciting.

The program works because students learn by playing games. They also learn several different techniques for performing a task and can choose the one that works best for them.

Project MIND teaches content integration so that teachers in all subjects can utilize Project MIND strategies. Therefore, training is provided to all school-based instructional staff, principals, assistant principals, and administrators so that the concepts and strategies are reinforced throughout the day. At a minimum, teachers attend a three-day "Part I" workshop prior to implementing Project MIND.

Throughout the program year, Project MIND trainers are available to provide on-going technical assistance and mini refresher workshops as needed. A "Part II: Advanced Strategies" training workshop is offered during the second year.

Standardized test score gains are consistently high for students participating in Project MIND. Students who have been exposed to Project MIND find math exciting and gain self-confidence. They also display less anxiety about math as they participate in individual learning activities, mental math competitions, and teamwork projects. Longitudinal observations indicate that former students continue to apply methods they learned through Project MIND to advanced mathematical concepts encountered later in life.

Project Mind utilizes a multi-faceted evaluation system to measure formative and summative advancement. Approved state standardized tests are used to measure baseline and subsequent data. Students are also evaluated through portfolio assessment, teacher observations, criterion-referenced tests, and self-assessment. In addition, a Student Math Attitude Questionnaire is administered as a pre and post assessment at the beginning and end of the school year.

An initial objective for student achievement was a 3% gain; however, the actual gains ranged between 48% and 52% for the three initial project schools in Palm Beach County.

In Palm Beach County, Project MIND decreased the percentage of students scoring at level 2 of the FCAT* by 10% and increased the percentage of students scoring at level 3 and 4 by at least 10% in the first year of program implementation. More specifically, the number of students performing in Level 3 and above increased by 34%.

In Palm Beach County, ninety-six percent of students in project classes made at least a 10% gain on the Project MIND posttest. Total gains ranged from 48% to 52%.

Due to the program's success, the Palm Beach County School Board voted to implement Project MIND District-wide over the next three years in all elementary schools.
* Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.