Equitable access to advanced math
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Anonymous
This only means that your school either has a great principal who works hard to make sure kids have the appropriate acceleration, or there aren't really any outliers. That isn't always the case. |
Anonymous
The bolded is the key issue. Kids should not be plunked into Algebra I honors in 6th or even in 7th if the kid doesn't want to do so. There are some kids who would thrive in Algebra I honors in 6th, but aren't given the chance due to the FCPS gatekeeping. There are other kids in Algebra I honors in 6th who don't want to be there and only are because the parents are pushing it. FCPS would rather err on the side of keeping kids out if there's any chance at all that the kid would struggle. They also gatekeep pretty extensively, because they know that a lot of parents would push their kids into the highest track, even if the kid doesn't belong there and doesn't want to do it. I would rather err on the side of letting more kids into the advanced class, as long as they show enough basic proficiency that they're unlikely to fail, and as long as they understand that the class will not slow down for them if they're struggling. |
Anonymous
At the risk that they get a C in 6th grade (GPA 2.5 instead of GPA 4.5) in a course they would have gotten an A on in 7th or 8th? Really? |
Anonymous
As long as the parents and kid understand the risks and have accurate information about the likelihood that their kid will struggle, I see no reason to deny them the choice. Gatekeeping might protect some kids from their parents' poor choices, but it also holds back some kids who would thrive with more acceleration. If FCPS changed their policies to make Algebra I open enrollment for 7th grade, but forced parents to sign something stating that they understand that if their kid didn't score 91st percentile+ on IAAT or didn't get a pass advanced on the 7th grade SOL, their kid is likely to struggle in Algebra I, I'm not sure how many parents would push their kids into it anyway. Of the ones who would push their kids in, I'm not sure how many of those kids are fully supported by their teachers for Algebra I, but had an uncharacteristic off day on one of the tests. |
Anonymous
You're talking about 2 6th graders in the entire county. Do you realize that? The current system is fine. It is equitable in that every student is given an appropriate education. Some people dislike that, someone is always unhappy about something. |
Anonymous
The district is not keeping any kids out of Algebra 1 in 6th grade. There no district policy that says a student should be placed in Algebra 1 if they pass certain criteria. It’s left to the latitude of the principal, because they need to figure out if they have the critical mass of students, qualified teachers etc. You are complaining that there’s no default policy of placing 6th graders in Algebra! How do you not see the insanity of this approach, that’s appropriate for less than 1% of the students. For such kids it always was about parents working with the school to find an acceptable solution for the math placement of the students, because there’s too few of them. You could be bothered to do some research on it or talk to the principal, but somehow you think it’s unfair. If your kid is indeed that advanced, work with the school to figure out a way to accelerate to their appropriate level through summer classes, doubling up, taking additional math as elective etc. in the vast majority of cases there’s a huge disconnect between how bright parents think the kids are and reality, and often schools need to say no to tiger parents inappropriately pushing their kids to advanced classes. Start by taking an independent evaluation like MAP and take the results to the administration to advocate for your kid, make a case and be persistent, friendly and gracious. Whining on DCUM about it will not help your kid’s cause. |
Anonymous
Wrong. Transcript is optional. https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/is104.pdf |
Anonymous
No way. It's probably closer to 50 or 100, if you include all of the kids who missed the CogAT Q benchmark by one question as well as all of the kids who met the benchmarks, but are in schools that won't let anyone accelerate. Many of these kids have already started taking Algebra or beyond through RSM, AoPS, or chinese school by 6th grade, so they wouldn't have any trouble whatsoever with FCPS honors algebra. People may not realize this, but only 5 or 6 AAP centers allow kids to skip up to 6th grade AAP math while in 5th. If your kid doesn't attend one of those centers, you're out of luck. |
Anonymous
OK, so after the fact you can opt-out if you know the right form or your counselor cares to point you to it. |
Anonymous
| It seems disappointing that the major of AAP kids do not get into Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Shouldn’t that have been the aim of AAP? Here’s this set of kids (many whom have had Kumon classes since Pre-K) not able to perform well enough to get Algebra in 7th. |
Anonymous
How many of those 100 kids did not prep for the Cogat (thus invalidating the score)? FCPS knows what they are doing. They've been around the block a few times. |
Anonymous
I think it's reassuring that FCPS is not just accelerating for the sake of accelerating but only allows the appropriate kids to take Algebra in 7th grade. And even still, many of those kids will still end up taking calculus as a 12th grader, one way or another. |
Anonymous
This is always being claimed on here, but it ignores what Loudoun implemented after close discussion with Tina Mazzacane and the VMPI group. They published a new math pathways chart, with a video titled introducing VMPI. They eliminated 6th grade algebra, and county staff said their goal was to eliminate 6th grade prealgebra, and that they believed it was important to eliminate tracking for equity reasons. Somehow Tina Mazzacane didn't respond as you are doing that there is nothing here about eliminating acceleration. |
Anonymous
DP. You're flat out incorrect with the bolded, and since this has already been explained in this thread, I question your basic reading comprehension. The district actually does have a policy, and they've set forth specific criteria for Algebra I placement. It's left to the latitude of the principal, not due to any critical mass of students or qualified teachers, but rather because everything in FCPS is at the principal's discussion. They are the lord of their little kingdom. The ones who don't participate are doing so to dodge pushy parents or because they don't want to figure out the minimal logistical concerns required of them, or because they just can't be arsed to do so. Critical mass of students and qualified teachers are irrelevant, because the ES is not providing any of that. Kids who take Algebra in 6th must either do the online class or the parents must transport the kid to the middle school for 1st period, and then back to the ES for the full ES day. The principal doesn't need to do anything. Also, while 6th grade Algebra is appropriate for less than 1% of the kids, it is appropriate for a much larger percent of the kids in AAP attending an AAP center. My large sized, mid-SES center generally has around 8 kids per grade level take Algebra in 6th. If they widened access to any kid who scored 140+ on the CogAT Q and likewise has iready scores showing readiness for Algebra, they'd likely have 15-20 kids. |
Anonymous
At the time Jay Matthews assumed the changes would not pass. |