Algebra 1 in 6th grade, followed by normal pace

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So less than half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race.

That's impressive so far. If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.

[Anonymous]

Dallas Independent School District decided to move from an opt-in model to an opt-out policy in the 2019-20 school year. Since then, all students who score well on state exams are now automatically enrolled in advanced mathematics, ... This policy change increased the number of Hispanic, Black & English learner children — the majority of Dallas students — without decreasing scores.

Although the topic of this thread is eliminating barriers to Algebra 1 in 6th grade, the Dallas policy change shows how students of all races benefit when hurdles to advanced math are eliminated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So less than half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race.

That's impressive so far. If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.

There aren't many FCPS kids who are ready for Algebra I in 6th grade. Placing unready kids in Algebra I would do more harm than good.

In principle, I agree with you, even if not in approach. Every year, FCPS does beginning and end of year testing for math. Kids who earn very high scores on the end of year test should be given the end-of-year test for the next grade up. If they meet a certain benchmark, they should be skipped ahead in math. It makes no sense to have kids sit in a class when they've already mastered all of the content being taught. More kids would end up in 6th grade Algebra and well prepared for it if they could skip some of the early elementary math levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Dallas Independent School District decided to move from an opt-in model to an opt-out policy in the 2019-20 school year. Since then, all students who score well on state exams are now automatically enrolled in advanced mathematics, ... This policy change increased the number of Hispanic, Black & English learner children — the majority of Dallas students — without decreasing scores.

Although the topic of this thread is eliminating barriers to Algebra 1 in 6th grade, the Dallas policy change shows how students of all races benefit when hurdles to advanced math are eliminated.

We do this too for algebra 1 in 7th. Everyone that scores above the cut offs is now opted in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So less than half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race.

That's impressive so far. If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.

6th grade Algebra 1 is not a barrier to calculus. You can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take calculus. And there is no real barrier to Algebra 1 in 8th grade, most the MS have a large number of students in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, so on track to calculus.

Most kids don’t take calculus because they are not interested in calculus and want to take a different type of math. Calculus is not required for most college majors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So less than half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race.

That's impressive so far. If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.

6th grade Algebra 1 is not a barrier to calculus. You can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take calculus. And there is no real barrier to Algebra 1 in 8th grade, most the MS have a large number of students in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, so on track to calculus.

Most kids don’t take calculus because they are not interested in calculus and want to take a different type of math. Calculus is not required for most college majors.

There is lack of straight forward process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade. Parent needs to know the multiyear plan and testing process starting from 4th grade, which is ridiculous. Only 30 or so kids' parents seem to know about it. URM kids are missing out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So less than half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race.

That's impressive so far. If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.

6th grade Algebra 1 is not a barrier to calculus. You can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take calculus. And there is no real barrier to Algebra 1 in 8th grade, most the MS have a large number of students in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, so on track to calculus.

Most kids don’t take calculus because they are not interested in calculus and want to take a different type of math. Calculus is not required for most college majors.

There is lack of straight forward process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade. Parent needs to know the multiyear plan and testing process starting from 4th grade, which is ridiculous. Only 30 or so kids' parents seem to know about it. URM kids are missing out.

The process is triggered by FCPS and not the parents. Parents don't need to know the plan, since they have no part in initiating the acceleration. It's triggered by the school for kids who meet the criteria. If a URM kid is at an AAP center that participates in this acceleration, and the URM kid meets the benchmarks, the URM kid will be skipped ahead, just like all of the other kids who qualify. There aren't necessarily that many kids with qualifying scores who lack access. One PP has stated that her kid meets the benchmarks but wasn't offered the acceleration, but if I remember correctly, the kid opted not to attend the center, where the acceleration was likely available.

There are many reasons to be concerned with the FCPS path toward Algebra in 6th. Using CogAT scores from the fall of 2nd grade, rather than retesting for math level at the end of 4th is absurd. Letting principals opt out of the program when they have qualifying kids is also bad. Making highly advanced kids slog through grade level math for 3 years and only mildly accelerated for 2 more before completely skipping a year is dumb. Keeping parents largely out of the process is no big deal.

[Anonymous]

There is a equity buffoon trolling these forums freaking out about advanced students taking advanced math courses when they should be worried about why bottom schools are failing to teach grade level courses and leaving those students significantly behind.

[Anonymous]

What is the point of children being so advanced in math? Are they going to MIT? This seems extreme and unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]What is the point of children being so advanced in math? Are they going to MIT? This seems extreme and unnecessary.[/quote]

Some people prefer learning to watching TikTok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the point of children being so advanced in math? Are they going to MIT? This seems extreme and unnecessary.

Why is math handled differently than everything else? If a kid is reading several years above grade level, people applaud it and want to give the kid advanced books to read. Kids who are talented in sports get private coaching and elite travel teams. Kids talented in music progress to concertos while still in middle school.

But kids who are talented in math are told to sit through remedial instruction, and that there’s no point in moving forward.

[Anonymous]

A common concern raised by equity proponents is that HS students may not be learning Calculus as thoroughly as they should. Instead, statistics is suggested as a better choice since students tend to learn it better in HS. Math educators who support equity efforts argue that postponing Calculus until college could lead to a more proficient learning experience. A big benefit of not allowing calculus enrollment in high school is it immediately addresses the math equity gap that is caused by Calculus students graduating HS with two additional math years compared to those who complete HS with just Algebra 2.

[Anonymous]

Statistics is recommended because nearly no one actually learns statistics and no one cares that most scientific research does statistics incorrectly, so it's easy to let people go through the motions of the class and then get on with their life.

The most famous and powerful modern math reformer, Jo Boaler, based her movement on research that was debunked and discredited as statistically invalid.

Statistics is not easier than calculus.

[Anonymous]

Calculus is taught far too late, not too early.

The roots of calculus are in basic algebra and geometry, s you can see in 3Blue1Brown's Essence of Calculus video.

If this would be introduced slowly, earlier, calculus be much more intuitive once it's time for the AP class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So less than half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race.

That's impressive so far. If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.

6th grade Algebra 1 is not a barrier to calculus. You can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take calculus. And there is no real barrier to Algebra 1 in 8th grade, most the MS have a large number of students in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, so on track to calculus.

Most kids don’t take calculus because they are not interested in calculus and want to take a different type of math. Calculus is not required for most college majors.

There is lack of straight forward process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade. Parent needs to know the multiyear plan and testing process starting from 4th grade, which is ridiculous. Only 30 or so kids' parents seem to know about it. URM kids are missing out.

The process is triggered by FCPS and not the parents. Parents don't need to know the plan, since they have no part in initiating the acceleration. It's triggered by the school for kids who meet the criteria. If a URM kid is at an AAP center that participates in this acceleration, and the URM kid meets the benchmarks, the URM kid will be skipped ahead, just like all of the other kids who qualify. There aren't necessarily that many kids with qualifying scores who lack access. One PP has stated that her kid meets the benchmarks but wasn't offered the acceleration, but if I remember correctly, the kid opted not to attend the center, where the acceleration was likely available.

There are many reasons to be concerned with the FCPS path toward Algebra in 6th. Using CogAT scores from the fall of 2nd grade, rather than retesting for math level at the end of 4th is absurd. Letting principals opt out of the program when they have qualifying kids is also bad. Making highly advanced kids slog through grade level math for 3 years and only mildly accelerated for 2 more before completely skipping a year is dumb. Keeping parents largely out of the process is no big deal.

What if the URM kid isn't at the center since their well-meaning parents trusted FCPS' claims that local LIV was the same? Then what?