Most of the off-the-shelf mathematics programs used in middle schools across the United States have little or no rigorous evidence attesting to their effectiveness. The U.S. Department of Education analysis based on a review of studies undergirding 44 math programs used in grades 6-9, including some of the nation's most popular textbooks for those grade levels, found only five that had a research record strong enough to meet their standards. Of those, just two--a pair of computer-based algebra programs called I CAN Learn Mathematics and Cognitive Tutor--had studies showing that students actually learned more with their programs compared with other programs. The department was eager to trumpet the findings because the report was the first broad topic review to come out of its new What Works Clearinghouse. The clearinghouse vets research on educational programs, policies, and products, and publishes the results on a Web site where practitioners and policymakers can easily find them.