Should school push kids ahead without parental consent?
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Anonymous
| My son was at a center school and was pushed two years ahead in math - without my consent or knowledge. Now, I am ok with this because he can easily handle the material...but through some research have learned that FCPS is not so keen on this practice. Do you think they should have asked me if it was ok? |
Anonymous
| Huh? Do you expect the school to get your permission on each part of their curriculum too? |
Anonymous
|
It is just the curriculum they offer to kids who move through the math skills quickly.
It is done at both my one kid's center school and my other kid's non center school. Unless your kid is one of the ones getting bussed to the middle school for high school algebra, there is no need to ask parent consent. It is just the standard compacted math curriculum followed by FCPS. It is also not exclusive to AAP, so this is really not an AAP discussion and might be addressed in the general VA schools forum. |
Anonymous
| I do expect the school to ask me for permission when they are moving my child at a rate that is discouraged by FCPS. This is not 1 year ahead in math, but two years and as a result, down the road, I may have to transport him for algebra to the middle school. This is a decision I feel I should be included in... |
Anonymous
Moving two years ahead in math is not discouraged by fcps. In fact, they have an official name for it: compacted math. Lots of kids are doing this. You are getting worked up over a non issue. Just opt out of going to the middle school if you don't like that idea. |
Anonymous
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Not lots of kids - as a matter of fact only 32 sixth graders in FCPS are taking algebra this year. Not getting worked up, just asking questions.
I have spoken with many teachers who state that there are concerns with too many kids being pushed ahead too soon. Again, I think my kid can handle it, but wonder why they didn't ask me about it. My understanding was compacted math was placing the child one year ahead. Also, just "opting out" of going to the MS after my child has had all of the course work would mean that he would stall in his math education. Not a very appealing option. Thanks for your input 
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Anonymous
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Thinly veiled brag.
If you don't want your son accelerated, talk to his teachers. They will happily bump him back down. |
Anonymous
not so thinly actually. 
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Anonymous
If you are talking about AAP's math coverage, you agreed to it when you chose to accept a slot in AAP. If you are talking about 6th graders taking Algebra in MS, 5th graders' parents, not the school, are the decision makers via two permission slips to sign and return to school: one for IAAT and the other one for 7th grade SOL. |
Anonymous
Algebra I Honors in 6th grade is actually 3 years ahead of the official state curriculum. Algebra I Honors is a HS course. |
Anonymous
However, a large majority of non AAP kids take Algebra in 8th as both Math 7 and Math 7 honors prepare a kid for Algebra. Our middle school stated at their curriculum night that math 8 is for the kids who "still aren't ready" for Algebra. Taking algebra in 9th in FCPS is considered late in most schools. |
Anonymous
| No |
Anonymous
| Where did the poster find the statistics of 32 kids are taking algebra 1? |
Anonymous
| From instructional services. |