The RAND Corp. will study the effectiveness of Carnegie Learning's Cognitive Tutor algebra curriculum with a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

RAND announced the grant and the five-year study last week.

Cognitive Tutor, which is based in Pittsburgh where RAND has an office, uses a software program that adapts to each student's understanding of the subject.

John Pane, a research scientist at RAND who will lead the study, said the curriculum will be studied at more than 130 schools in six states: Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, Connecticut and New Jersey.

He said students will be randomly assigned to a course using Cognitive Tutor and one using traditional methods.

Carnegie Learning is a leading publisher of core, full-year mathematics programs, as well as supplemental intervention applications for middle school, high school and postsecondary students. The company's Cognitive Tutor programs are currently used by more than 475,000 students in 1,300 school districts across the United States.

The math programs of Carnegie Learning are based on cognitive science research done at Carnegie Mellon University, where researchers study how students think, learn and apply new knowledge in mathematics.

The algebra readiness, Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II curricula of Carnegie Learning are used in large urban school districts in Los Angeles, Miami-Dade County, Chicago and elsewhere.

Carnegie Learning was selected for the study because its Algebra I program is one of a few math courses that meet the Department of Education's grant requirement for strong prior evidence of effectiveness.

RAND researchers will examine how students using the Carnegie Learning curriculum fare on a standardized algebra assessment as compared with peers who receive traditional classroom instruction.

"This study will contribute to the evidence base that educators use when making math curriculum decisions," said Mr. Pane. "Improving math education is a priority for the United States, in part because our economy needs future graduates with strong math and science backgrounds. Finding ways to leverage technology is a strategic way to help get there."

Mr. Pane said RAND researchers will use rigorous experimental methods to examine what he called a "very promising technology-based math curriculum" and how well it works in a diverse set of public schools around the country.

Classrooms in participating school districts will be randomly assigned to use either Carnegie Learning Algebra I or the school's existing Algebra I course. The new study will show whether the Cognitive Tutor curriculum is effective for a wide range of students and environments.