VMPI-ways to speak out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update from parent group:

We wanted to let you know that VDOE has just updated its VMPI website and it appears that there has been some shift in their approach toward VMPI which allows for greater local district autonomy in implementing VMPI and recognizes that a one-size-fits-all policy may not be the best for all students.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml#vmpi

In particular, VDOE included the following text:
"Local school divisions will still have plenty of flexibility to create courses aligned to the standards to meet the needs of all students; and provide opportunities for all students to advance through the curriculum based on their learning needs. School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses."

VDOE has not provided details yet on how the above statement will be integrated into the existing VMPI framework. VDOE holds its third community session on VMPI tomorrow night (Tuesday 4/27 at 6:30pm) focusing on the Essential Concepts courses Grades 8-10. This will be the first chance to potentially hear more information about this shift in approach. You can watch the presentation at the first link below (the session will be recorded as well) and there is an opportunity to submit questions ahead of time at the second link and in the chat box during the session itself.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrbxl9wHScrWKWIEoUWNIfQ
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSesz3YtqVqXtAioJKX0xtYbPxUW6l7dfpbwfdbQyEQ5eTgZMQ/viewform

Big question to ask is if they will continue to provide SOLs for algebra geometry, etc in 2023 prior to full implementation.
Not doing this contradicts the idea that nothing changes until 2025-2026.

[Anonymous]

The more I read about this the less concerned I am. Many states teach math this way. It still allows for differentiation within the curriculum, much like they teach reading/language arts now. Seems like it will be the best system for the vast majority of kids and will lessen the ultra-competitive parenting that happens in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you.

This is a serious issue for all students in Virginia.

Eliminating all levels in math through 10th grade, with no students allowed to take anything higher than Algebra 2 in 11th grade (usually taken in 9th or 10th in fcps and other NOVA districts) essentially eliminates calculus for all students.

This proposal is a travesty.

Virginia is trying to slip if through while everyone is focusing on closed schools.

They are hoping parents of elementary and middle school students don't notice what they are doing until it is too late.

I cannot believe the local and national media is not all over this.

It is an unexceptable dumbing down of Virginia's math curriculum.

Parents everywhere should be outraged.

Go to the va.gov site to see what they are proposing.

The VA department of education is putting a place that will make math education in Virginia among the worst in the country.

I don't see the problem. This was how my state was growing up (Ohio). No one took Alg 2 prior to 11th grade. Every student who wanted it went on to college. Kids who wanted more of a challenge did so in clubs and their own time (college classes).

Very few kids are truly gifted to the point they need to be on an accelerated track. That's my anecdotal observation. But, also, the observations of AAP teacher friends.

Really? I was in high school in Florida in the late 80s/early 90s and took Algebra 2 in 10th grade. And I wasn't a genius or anything.

Not taking Alg 2 prior to 11th grade is really a disservice to our kids. They will not be competitive. Do you really want to put our math kids so much behind the curve when it comes to their international peers? That makes zero sense.

I'm even older than you and took Algebra 2 in 10th grade. New York State late 70's early 80's. Tracking works - the issue that needs to be addressed is making sure you don't pigeon hole some students as unable to achieve so that they loose the opportunity to take advanced classes. We should be working to pull up challenged students not pull down ones that are achieving.

[Anonymous]

Ultracompetitive parenting is why they are in FCPS in the first place, and why the extra courses are offered there. With the changes, they will be trying to leave for private schools, and possibly Maryland, though I doubt Maryland will avoid following this dumbing down of curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Why does a student need dual enrollment MultiVar/Diff Eq? Isn't Calc BC enough for even engineering students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does a student need dual enrollment MultiVar/Diff Eq? Isn't Calc BC enough for even engineering students?

Are there statistics on how many FCPS students take Multi Var/Matrix or AP Calc or higher in their senior year?

[Anonymous]

New Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-advanced-math-classes-equity/2021/04/26/41f3dbd0-a6a3-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html

[Anonymous]

Just a quick question: are there actual math educators who teach aspiring engineers, mathematicians and scientist behind this plan? Is there buy in from the technical community? Or is it a bunch of English majors coming up with and advocating for this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New Washington Post article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-advanced-math-classes-equity/2021/04/26/41f3dbd0-a6a3-11eb-bca5-048b2759a489_story.html

This is encouraging! But also hard to believe a post referencing FCPS and also showing a stack of textbooks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a quick question: are there actual math educators who teach aspiring engineers, mathematicians and scientist behind this plan? Is there buy in from the technical community? Or is it a bunch of English majors coming up with and advocating for this?

Not sure, but one of the women on the webinars used to teach calculus in HS and college. And they are talking to VA colleges...

Sounds like they are aren't going to be taking things away - maybe just reorganizing and adding other math options. It's still early stages so not clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a quick question: are there actual math educators who teach aspiring engineers, mathematicians and scientist behind this plan? Is there buy in from the technical community? Or is it a bunch of English majors coming up with and advocating for this?

Not sure, but one of the women on the webinars used to teach calculus in HS and college. And they are talking to VA colleges...

Sounds like they are aren't going to be taking things away - maybe just reorganizing and adding other math options. It's still early stages so not clear.

I'm sure they've talked to some, but I don't know how broadly they've spoken. In their webinar for teachers, I think it was a majority of those voting said detracking was a bad idea. Additionally, there's at least one prof of engineering from a VA flagship school that's been asking questions during the webinars that indicates he doesn't think the homogenous classrooms/no acceleration is a bad idea, and I can't imagine he's alone in those views.

[Anonymous]

From latest VMPI website (4/26 @ 8:49pm):


* The VMPI initiative imagines math instruction for students that integrates existing math content into blended courses for students typically in grades 8-10.

* The content from Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 is not being eliminated by VMPI, but rather the content of these courses will be blended into a seamless progression of connected learning. This encourages students to connect mathematical concepts and develop a much deeper and more relevant understanding of each concept within its context and relevance.

* The foundation of VMPI’s integrated mathematics content approach is common in many countries, including in countries that are our chief global competitors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does a student need dual enrollment MultiVar/Diff Eq? Isn't Calc BC enough for even engineering students?

Are there statistics on how many FCPS students take Multi Var/Matrix or AP Calc or higher in their senior year?

Not sure on those particular stats, but it looks like, according to college board's numbers, there were over 13,000 students in Virginia who took the Calc exam last year. (https://research.collegeboard.org/programs/ap/data/participation/ap-2020)

You need dual enrollment if the school isn't offering Multivar and diffeq and you finished calc before senior year, so you don't let your math skills rust before college.

No, most engineering students don't need further math beyond Calc BC *to get into college.* But they do often need to be accelerated by the time they hit middle school so that they don't go out of their mind with boredom, disengage from math/school entirely, and become problem causers instead of achievers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From latest VMPI website (4/26 @ 8:49pm):


* The VMPI initiative imagines math instruction for students that integrates existing math content into blended courses for students typically in grades 8-10.

* The content from Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 is not being eliminated by VMPI, but rather the content of these courses will be blended into a seamless progression of connected learning. This encourages students to connect mathematical concepts and develop a much deeper and more relevant understanding of each concept within its context and relevance.

* The foundation of VMPI’s integrated mathematics content approach is common in many countries, including in countries that are our chief global competitors.

Seamless???

Hahahahaha!

Riiight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just a quick question: are there actual math educators who teach aspiring engineers, mathematicians and scientist behind this plan? Is there buy in from the technical community? Or is it a bunch of English majors coming up with and advocating for this?

I asked a friend who is an engineering professor at GMU if anyone he worked with had talked about it. Unfortunately he didn't know because the professor community is fairly out-of-touch due to COVID.