Peer-Facilitated Math Enrichment: A Pilot Evaluation of Effects on Middle School Mathematical Reasoning

We evaluate the impact of a peer-facilitated, SEL-integrated after-school math enrichment program on middle school students' mathematical achievement, engagement, and affective outcomes. High school and college students (ages 15-22) lead twice-weekly, 2-hour sessions that combine: (1) social-emotional learning activities emphasizing collaboration over competition, (2) conceptual mathematics instruction building from student experiences, (3) Math Olympiad-style collaborative problem-solving, and (4) individualized skill remediation targeting diagnostic gaps. The program emphasizes peer teaching with rotating student roles, mathematical identity development, and reasoning over computational fluency.Study Design: Quasi-experimental matched-pairs comparison for Spring 2026 pilot semester (February-June). Treatment group includes all middle schoolers (grades 6-8) enrolling in the program (target n=20). Newark Public Schools will provide matched control students using district administrative data, matched on: grade level, prior math achievement, demographics, school, and socioeconomic indicators.Primary Outcomes: Classroom math grades, state standardized test scores (NJSLA), school attendance, and disciplinary incidents (between-group comparisons using administrative data). Math anxiety (Math Anxiety Rating Scale) and mathematical self-efficacy (Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale) measured pre-post within treatment group.Secondary/Exploratory Outcomes: Custom mathematical reasoning assessment (post-only, treatment group), Math Olympiad participation and performance. Analysis Plan: Difference-in-differences comparing treatment versus matched controls from baseline (Fall 2025) to post-program (June 2026) and 6-month follow-up (December 2026) for administrative outcomes. Paired pre-post analysis for affective outcomes within treatment group. Intention-to-treat analysis on all enrolled students; treatment-on-treated analysis accounting for attendance dosage. Subgroup analyses by baseline achievement level, grade, and demographic characteristics.Purpose: This pilot evaluation serves dual purposes: (1) estimating effect sizes and implementation feasibility to inform program refinement, and (2) establishing baseline evidence for future powered randomized controlled trial when program demand increases in subsequent cohorts.