lewis freeberg is with california watch a nonprofit project of the center for investigative journalism. >> kids shouldn't be pushed into classes without more preparation or support while they are taking eighth grade math class. >> reporter: presidio middle school is part of a pilot program using ipads and algebra applications designed by a boston publishing company. three of classes study algebra study using a textbook but a fourth class they use ipads. >> there are supplementary videos there is a calculator on it. >> reporter: at the end of the year they will see if the students with the ipads learned more algebra. >> let's look at things from a kids' perspective. the book heavy lots of pages intimidating. the ipad light. the screen easy to read. not intimidating. >> when they are handed an ipad which everybody has heard about they are only look at the page that dealing with. they don't see the thousand pages. so emotionally they believe i can learn this. >> reporter: only a few schools in fresno and long beach and riverside are taking part in the program. lyanne melendez "abc 7 news"