MCPS is ending math acceleration??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:15:19 here. I think it's bad that 4th-grade students in advanced math at CCES are being asked to attend a three-week summer math camp at the cost of $350 to prepare for advanced (7th-grade) math next year when they are 5th-graders. This is *public* school, yet we have to pay $350? It's a camp being offered privately by one of the school's math teachers. This camp is not sponsored by the PTA or by CCES. What if some parents can't afford the $350? Would their child not make it to advanced math next year? I think that if the MCPS schools can't teach enough math during term-time to keep up the advanced pace, then just stop pushing acceleration in math. Why try to get students ahead in math by two grade levels if it's not possible to do without three weeks of summer camp at $350?

My child is at CCES in 4th grade doing 5th grade math. DC was asked by school if she was interested in skipping to 7th grade math next year instead of following on to 6th grade math (thus being 2 years ahead of grade instead of 1 year ahead). DC was very excited to be asked and immediately agreed to do math camp. I don't think that all 4th graders in the accelerated math track were asked to do math camp. This would be for 4th graders who (in either the GT program or regular program) had demonstrated a strong understanding of the math year that they were working on (most likely 5th), and who also demonstrated in the "challenge" section of the exams that they already had a strong understanding of the 6th grade math concepts.

The math camp IS PTA sponsored. I wrote my check to the PTA. I am low income, so I thought hard about writing the check, but I also have wealthier parents, so I wrote it and figured I'd ask my parents to help with something else if I needed it. I also wouldn't want to take funds away from another low-income family who didn't have any broader access to financial resources thru family like I do. Although I don't have the original form in front of me to confirm it at the moment, my sense is that I could have asked the PTA for scholarship. Almost all after school activities sponsored by the PTA come with a note that scholarship is available, etc. I know this is the same for field trips. I have never had the sense that money would be a reason not to participate in anything at CCES. That said, I know it is never easy to ask for scholarship money and in a perfect world, there would be no additional fees for anything in public school.

The reason we were given for the math camp is that in skipping 6th grade math entirely, the school wanted to make sure that the kids who skipped were solid in all aspects of 6th grade math. 3 weeks of mornings only math is not that much time to brush up, so I think that means that the kids who are skipping DID in fact learn a significant amount of the 6th grade math already.

I am happy that it is sponsored by the PTA and taught by one of the CCES teachers. That teacher will know exactly what these children did this year and exactly what will be expected of them next year, and if any of them falter, she will also be there to help them.

One thing that my daughter and I are happy to see is that a lot of girls were invited to skip. My daughter has already noticed that the math class which is 2 years ahead of grade is very boy-heavy. She was happy to see the school affirm by its offering that girls are capable of being that far ahead in math and was very happy to know that she would have a lot of female company.

[Anonymous]

PP, I asked the current PTA president about this math camp, and she told me that it is definitely NOT sponsored by the PTA. To enroll, I was asked to make my check payable to the teacher who would teach the camp, and I did. Perhaps we are talking about two different programs? I cannot see why you would be asked to pay the PTA if I was asked to pay the teacher. Our respective DCs are in the 4th grade at CCES, so we should be talking about the same program. Curiouser and curiouser!

In any case, even though the program is optional, the letter I received suggested that this camp would be a prerequisite to placement of 5th-graders in 7th-grade-level math next year. It's not right that public school should impose a prequisite that requires payment of a fee that not everyone can afford. Does anyone else think this does not pass the smell test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I asked the current PTA president about this math camp, and she told me that it is definitely NOT sponsored by the PTA. To enroll, I was asked to make my check payable to the teacher who would teach the camp, and I did. Perhaps we are talking about two different programs? I cannot see why you would be asked to pay the PTA if I was asked to pay the teacher. Our respective DCs are in the 4th grade at CCES, so we should be talking about the same program. Curiouser and curiouser!

In any case, even though the program is optional, the letter I received suggested that this camp would be a prerequisite to placement of 5th-graders in 7th-grade-level math next year. It's not right that public school should impose a prequisite that requires payment of a fee that not everyone can afford. Does anyone else think this does not pass the smell test?

I posted the above, and I would like to add that when my son went through CCES (regular program but accelerated math) foru years ago, he was as a 5th-grader placed in 7th-grade-level math without any of this summer-camp prequisite and without our having to pay any money to anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I asked the current PTA president about this math camp, and she told me that it is definitely NOT sponsored by the PTA. To enroll, I was asked to make my check payable to the teacher who would teach the camp, and I did. Perhaps we are talking about two different programs? I cannot see why you would be asked to pay the PTA if I was asked to pay the teacher. Our respective DCs are in the 4th grade at CCES, so we should be talking about the same program. Curiouser and curiouser!

In any case, even though the program is optional, the letter I received suggested that this camp would be a prerequisite to placement of 5th-graders in 7th-grade-level math next year. It's not right that public school should impose a prequisite that requires payment of a fee that not everyone can afford. Does anyone else think this does not pass the smell test?

NP here. It seems fair to me that parents be asked to pay for an optional camp. The camp is not required, it is simply a prerequisite to being place in math two years ahead of grade level. Students can still be at grade level or one year ahead without this camp--my point is that it is hardly akin to being asked to pay for textbooks or something like that. It is optional.

[Anonymous]

I think this would be a good thing. I'm a parent to very math oriented kids and the whole acceleration approach struck me as breadth not depth. This is a disservice to kids that are truly interested in math. The value of math is understanding the concepts, being able to apply the principals to problem solving, not memorizing how to do something and passing a test to get to the next level. My main concern would be whether the teachers have the training or skills to really teach it at a deeper level or if they will be filling the time with repetitive busy work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, I asked the current PTA president about this math camp, and she told me that it is definitely NOT sponsored by the PTA. To enroll, I was asked to make my check payable to the teacher who would teach the camp, and I did. Perhaps we are talking about two different programs? I cannot see why you would be asked to pay the PTA if I was asked to pay the teacher. Our respective DCs are in the 4th grade at CCES, so we should be talking about the same program. Curiouser and curiouser!

In any case, even though the program is optional, the letter I received suggested that this camp would be a prerequisite to placement of 5th-graders in 7th-grade-level math next year. It's not right that public school should impose a prequisite that requires payment of a fee that not everyone can afford. Does anyone else think this does not pass the smell test?

NP here. It seems fair to me that parents be asked to pay for an optional camp. The camp is not required, it is simply a prerequisite to being place in math two years ahead of grade level. Students can still be at grade level or one year ahead without this camp--my point is that it is hardly akin to being asked to pay for textbooks or something like that. It is optional.

If the camp is the only means by which children can be placed in the 2-years-ahead math class, then it is exactly like being asked to pay for textbooks. It means that only those who can afford the camp will be in the advanced class the following year. This can and will have a domino effect (e.g. those kids will be better situated than their couldn't-afford-the-camp peers for purposes of applying to the Takoma Magnet program).

It is contrary to MCPS guidelines and is in opposition to the nature of public education.

[Anonymous]

Well put, PP. If the prerequisite for advanced math is a math camp that costs $350, students will not have equal access to advancement and that is inequitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP, I asked the current PTA president about this math camp, and she told me that it is definitely NOT sponsored by the PTA. To enroll, I was asked to make my check payable to the teacher who would teach the camp, and I did. Perhaps we are talking about two different programs? I cannot see why you would be asked to pay the PTA if I was asked to pay the teacher. Our respective DCs are in the 4th grade at CCES, so we should be talking about the same program. Curiouser and curiouser!

In any case, even though the program is optional, the letter I received suggested that this camp would be a prerequisite to placement of 5th-graders in 7th-grade-level math next year. It's not right that public school should impose a prequisite that requires payment of a fee that not everyone can afford. Does anyone else think this does not pass the smell test?

I posted the above, and I would like to add that when my son went through CCES (regular program but accelerated math) foru years ago, he was as a 5th-grader placed in 7th-grade-level math without any of this summer-camp prequisite and without our having to pay any money to anyone.

Have you discussed this with the principal?

Asked that your child be skipped to the grade recommended w/o camp? Asked to be placed in camp w/o fee?

If principal can't resolve the problem, then the next level up is the community superintendent, which is Sean Bulson, and getting help about placement from MCPS/AEI department.

Agree that fee should not keep anyone out of acceleration. Have you asked for fee to be waived for your child? What was response?

[Anonymous]

I have been so completely discouraged by the math acceleration in MCPS elementary schools. The math curriculum is a mess. I have a feeling that ten years ago "they" will be looking back at the way these kids were educated in math and will choose to approach the teaching of math in an entirely different way. What a mess.

[Anonymous]

OP Here. My child is at College Gardens. Maybe now WTOP will write about our misguided curriculum instead of our "bullying problem" There is a PTA meeting on Tuesday night to reveal the details of the new curriculum. Interesting to know what is going on at CCES. I don't think the demographics at our school would allow for a $350 charge for math camp as a prerequisite to 7th grade math...instead they will just not offer it. I'll report back on Wednesday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:. Does anyone else think this does not pass the smell test?

Oh, yes. That would be because it doesn't:

Tutoring (See also Regulation COA-RA, School Visitors)
1. No tutoring by employees for which a remuneration is received, which is in addition
to his/her salary by MCPS, shall take place on the public school property of
Montgomery County.
2. No regularly employed staff member in a school or center shall tutor, for a
remuneration either during the school year or in the summer, any student who is
enrolled in the school or center in which the staff member is employed, except
during the summer in programs for disabled children where the number of
specialized staff members are few. Any written requests from parents/guardians for
such summer tutoring must be approved by both the community
superintendent/designee and the associate superintendent for student and
community services/designee.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/gcara.pdf

[Anonymous]

15:19 here again. PP, I can't thank you enough for posting these regulations. Very good to know. I will follow up with the school to see whether they even know about this summer camp. The PTA president knew nothing about it. And the letter I received said that this camp was not being offered by CCES. Once again, thank you!

[Anonymous]

Last year my 5th grade kid did 7th grade math at a different MCPS school. No camp required.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that a parent or some parents at CCES are displeased with the rate of math acceleration at CCES and are trying to pay a CCES teacher to tutor their kids for a fee this summer. This has got to violate the MCPS regulations about employee conflict of interest that a PP at 13:18 cited. This is typical of some CCES parents: the attitude that whatever they want they can get because they can afford it. It does not matter that other students at this school weren't invited to join this camp, that some students who were invited might not be able to afford it, that the teacher's tutoring some of her students creates a conflict of interest that raises the question whether she can fairly grade ALL her math students and not favor those she has tutored. The MCPS Board of Education should investigate this summer camp.

[Anonymous]

Accelerate math, or don't accelerate math. But there shouldn't be a class system where students who can afford a pricey, by-invitation, summer camp get to accelerate beyond grade-level math while others don't get the choice or the chance.