JEFFERSON TWP — As state assessment tests become more important to school districts, some textbook companies have created specialized books.

The South Butler School District is considering a new system of math text books that have been written with the Pennsylvania State System of Assessment tests in mind.

Students have been using the same math books for seven to 10 years.

The new textbooks for students in grades six to 12 incorporate computer technology and ask students to write out the process for solving math problems.

Lyn Logelin, assistant superintendent, said the choice of math books was made so teachers taught the same thing the state tested.

"Sometimes it was a leap for students when they got the tests," Logelin said.

The PSSA test results are important to school districts because the state bases some funding on the scores. If scores continually don't meet state standards, the state can take control of the district.

These books, most of them published by McDougal Littell, use math problems and vocabulary that the students will see on the tests.

"Sometimes students just get confused by the vocabulary used," Logelin said.

The textbooks also use more open-ended questions, she said. The PSSA tests ask students to write out the process they used to solve a math problem, giving partial points even if the final answer is wrong.

With the new books, algebra will be introduced in younger grades as well, she said, beginning in seventh grade.

As younger grades have more advanced math, the district has had to add more upper-level classes for high school juniors and seniors, Logelin said.

The district now offers discrete math and statistics, in addition to advanced placement calculus.

To see that students build each year on the math skills that were taught the previous year, district teachers can view the entire math curriculum using the Atlas software program.

"We're one of the only districts that use that program," Logelin said.

In addition to the district's software, most of the textbooks come with their own software for teachers and students.

Logelin said the textbooks come with different versions of final tests so that if a group of students is having a particular problem with one standard, the teacher can select more questions that apply that standard.

Logelin asked the school board to examine the textbooks at meetings this month. A vote on adoption is expected in March.

A committee began the process to choose new textbooks for students in grades six through 12 in August.

Kathy Voltz, math department chair, recommended the books for the high school and middle school students after three publishers presented at the schools in November.

McDougal Little textbooks were chosen for all math classes except consumer math, special education and computer program courses.

Glencoe Publishing's "Mathematics with Business Applications" will be used for consumer math.

AGS Publishing's "Pre-Algebra" will be used in pre-algebra for special education, and "Life Skills Math" will be used for regular math for special education students.

Lawrenceville Press books will be used in Visual Basic and Java courses.

The process to choose books began early so that the books can be ordered in the spring and arrive before summer, Logelin said. She found that giving the teachers the summer to look over the book works best, she said.

Ordering the books for most grades at the same time provides for continuity in the math education, Logelin said.

The district adopted new math textbooks for kindergarten through fifth grade in 2005.