Saturday Math Program in Baltimore Draws Thousands of Students

By Frederick H. Lowe
The Baltimore City Public Schools, a majority African-American school system where the dropout rate is declining and the graduation rate is climbing, is offering 10 weeks of Saturday classes to help students improve their math skills. The classes end the same month students will have to sit for a state-wide examination that focuses on math and reading.

The Saturday math program, which the Baltimore City Public Schools call "Take 10" is being offered to 4th to 8th graders at 79 neighborhood schools and four other locations throughout the city, Ryan Reid Salta, director of the school system's math program, tells The NorthStar News & Analysis. Take 10 refers to the 10 weeks of Saturday classes, which began Dec. 3, 2011 and end March 10, 2012.

"We decided to extend math learning because it is harder for a person to catch up in math once they fall behind," says Salta, adding that it is less of a challenge to help students improve their reading skills.

Students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades attend classes at one of four citywide locations if their school does not offer a Saturday class. Salta said 480 students are enrolled in this program, which had a goal of 500. 

In addition, 79 neighborhood schools are offering Saturday math classes to 4,800 students in the 4th through the 8th grades. Schools have the option of offering additional math classes either on Saturday or after school. The school system had hoped that 3,000 students, who attended 60 schools, would sign up for Saturday classes, Salter said.

The school system selects students for the program based on their 2011 scores on the Maryland School Assessment, which is a two-day, state-wide examination that focuses on reading and math for students in the 3rd to the 8th grades. The Maryland School Assessment test is given in March.
Students who received a basic rating, the lowest score on the 2011 Maryland School Assessment, were encouraged to attend Saturday classes, Salter said. Other scores are proficient and advanced, which are higher scores than basic.
The Saturday classes begin at 8:30 am.

Students are fed breakfast before they begin studying a scope sequence of algebra, data statistics and probability. The schools feed the students lunch, and then they take "enrichment" classes.The classes include engineering, art, physical education and debating.  School ends at 1p.m.

"The parents really are excited about the extra help their children are receiving," Salter said.

The Baltimore City Public Schools enrolled 84,212 students during the 2011-2012 school year. African Americans comprise 86 percent of the students, compared with 11.8 percent whites, 4.6 percent Hispanics and 1.1 percent Asians.

Andrés A. Alonso, chief executive officer of the Baltimore City Public Schools, recently reported that 2011's graduation rate was up 12 percent, compared with 2007's graduation rate. In 2007, 4,118 students graduated from the Baltimore City Public School compared with 4,598 in 2011. 

Alonso also noted that school suspensions, truancy, dropouts, juvenile arrests and juvenile shootings/homicides also declined in 2011 compared with 2007.

"Our students are staying in school and graduating, not just staying out of trouble," Alonso said. "And our African-American male students are leading the way, with increases in graduation and decreases in dropout that outpace the district as a whole."