After one semester, Windham educators are calling a new math program for kindergarten through fifth grade a success.

During Tuesday night's school board meeting, Golden Brook School Principal Christi Michaud and Center School Principal Kori Becht shared a progress report of enVision Math, which replaced the controversial Everyday Math program at the start of the current school year.

Some Manchester schools use Everyday Math, and last October a group of parents in the state's largest school system approached district officials and said the curriculum was leaving middle school students ill-prepared for traditional math courses.

The curriculum, used in city schools through grade five, seeks to teach math concepts through patterns and games, rather than memorization of formulas and tables.

Parents have blamed Everyday Math for poor student performance in high school algebra and on state performance tests.

Hooksett officials have also cited issues with Everyday Math, saying in November the program doesn't have the "rigor" that helps students to meet the state's common core standards.

In Windham, a dozen district teachers tested enVision Math last year. The school board approved a permanent change this past spring, Superintendent Henry LaBranche said.

As the current school year began, district parents and teachers were encouraged to monitor the program's process online at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com, the program's accompanying website.

"I think this is a very exciting program," school board vice chairman Michelle Farrell said. "So far I've been hearing a lot of positive things."

aguilmet@newstote.com