MSDE math acceleration guidance is up

[Anonymous]

It seems like this might formalize things MCPs is already doing, and force certain reluctant schools to get with the program. One of my kids was in compacted math CES, then was able to do Algebra 1 in 6th grade (after a lot of maneuvering), and is now in AP Calc BC in 10th grade. But she was bused to the high school in 8th grade for Alg 2, and her school has options for math beyond Calc BC. Can all schools do that?

[Anonymous]

I’m not understanding why the state is making these changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it seems like the real missing piece at MCPS is compacting that supports an on-ramp to acceleration at grade 5, right?

MCPS already has compacting that supports starting acceleration at grades 4 and 6, so I don't think you'd need many changes to those. And you could theoretically enroll in Pre-Algebra (which combines 7/8) in 7th coming off grade-level math in grades 4-6, so you wouldn't necessarily need a new course there either.

I guess if the "extensions" in grade 4 were significant, would that be enough to cover the part of grade 5 math that's covered in Compacted 4/5 and be ready to jump into the second half of grade 5?

I think they can just have those kids in regular grade 5 math plus the "extension to grade 6" add-on (then start AMP in 6th) and count that as their grade 5 on-ramp, since it would still get the kids to Algebra 1 in 8th.