Math Placement Letters APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bill 2686 accelerated math

it will affect your kids math placement-much easier to be advanced

This is Bill 2686. Wasn't APS already doing all of this? APS is very transparent about math pathways and they allow parents to override the recommendation and enroll (or unenroll) kids. And they've always been transparent about the criteria they are using for math placement. What is the score required on SOL to be at 75th percentile?

This bill requires each school board in Virginia to develop and adopt a policy for advanced or accelerated mathematics enrollment for students in grades five through eight. The policy must automatically enroll students who score in the top quarter of the statewide Standards of Learning (SOL) mathematics assessment into advanced math classes for the following school year, while allowing parents to opt out of this automatic enrollment. Additionally, the policy must establish multiple alternative pathways for students to enroll in advanced mathematics, such as through teacher recommendations, parental input, student preference, or other evaluation methods like grades or standardized testing. Schools must also provide annual notifications to parents about mathematics course enrollment criteria, the importance of middle school math coursework, its impact on high school math sequences, and available mathematics courses. The bill further requires school boards to collect and submit detailed data to the state Department of Education, including enrollment numbers and assessment scores, broken down by various student subgroups like gender, race, income, special education status, and English language learner status. The Department must then publicly post this data in an easily accessible format on its website, promoting transparency in mathematics education opportunities.

There's no acceleration in math available in grade 5 right now. And far less than 25% of APS middle schoolers are currently in the advanced track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bill 2686 accelerated math

it will affect your kids math placement-much easier to be advanced

This is Bill 2686. Wasn't APS already doing all of this? APS is very transparent about math pathways and they allow parents to override the recommendation and enroll (or unenroll) kids. And they've always been transparent about the criteria they are using for math placement. What is the score required on SOL to be at 75th percentile?

This bill requires each school board in Virginia to develop and adopt a policy for advanced or accelerated mathematics enrollment for students in grades five through eight. The policy must automatically enroll students who score in the top quarter of the statewide Standards of Learning (SOL) mathematics assessment into advanced math classes for the following school year, while allowing parents to opt out of this automatic enrollment. Additionally, the policy must establish multiple alternative pathways for students to enroll in advanced mathematics, such as through teacher recommendations, parental input, student preference, or other evaluation methods like grades or standardized testing. Schools must also provide annual notifications to parents about mathematics course enrollment criteria, the importance of middle school math coursework, its impact on high school math sequences, and available mathematics courses. The bill further requires school boards to collect and submit detailed data to the state Department of Education, including enrollment numbers and assessment scores, broken down by various student subgroups like gender, race, income, special education status, and English language learner status. The Department must then publicly post this data in an easily accessible format on its website, promoting transparency in mathematics education opportunities.

There's no acceleration in math available in grade 5 right now. And far less than 25% of APS middle schoolers are currently in the advanced track.

thats top of virginia 25, so in arlington that would be more than half the kids.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think the placement letters are coming soon- my sons placement changed in the course requests (he’s going into algebra), and when u emailed they said that it was because the criteria for placement changed to make it more selective. That’s unfortunate, I’m not sure why they don’t just let kids take the advanced option if they want to

[Anonymous]

It would be nice if the process was more transparent and if the schools communicated with families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be nice if the process was more transparent and if the schools communicated with families.

The math placement letter typically does have the placement score expectations and who to talk to of you disagree. It's reasonably transparent. It just hasn't been sent out yet.

There's no way they're going to put 25+% of 6th graders in pre-algebra. Kids won't do well. My guess is that they're going to need to start offering Math 6 intensified to satisfy the new law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the placement letters are coming soon- my sons placement changed in the course requests (he’s going into algebra), and when u emailed they said that it was because the criteria for placement changed to make it more selective. That’s unfortunate, I’m not sure why they don’t just let kids take the advanced option if they want to

They make a recommendation but I think you can request going into the more selective option for algebra. Last yes my incoming 7th grader was recommended for math 7. I asked her to be placed in pre-algebra and it was no problem (and she got an A).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bill 2686 accelerated math

it will affect your kids math placement-much easier to be advanced

This is Bill 2686. Wasn't APS already doing all of this? APS is very transparent about math pathways and they allow parents to override the recommendation and enroll (or unenroll) kids. And they've always been transparent about the criteria they are using for math placement. What is the score required on SOL to be at 75th percentile?

This bill requires each school board in Virginia to develop and adopt a policy for advanced or accelerated mathematics enrollment for students in grades five through eight. The policy must automatically enroll students who score in the top quarter of the statewide Standards of Learning (SOL) mathematics assessment into advanced math classes for the following school year, while allowing parents to opt out of this automatic enrollment. Additionally, the policy must establish multiple alternative pathways for students to enroll in advanced mathematics, such as through teacher recommendations, parental input, student preference, or other evaluation methods like grades or standardized testing. Schools must also provide annual notifications to parents about mathematics course enrollment criteria, the importance of middle school math coursework, its impact on high school math sequences, and available mathematics courses. The bill further requires school boards to collect and submit detailed data to the state Department of Education, including enrollment numbers and assessment scores, broken down by various student subgroups like gender, race, income, special education status, and English language learner status. The Department must then publicly post this data in an easily accessible format on its website, promoting transparency in mathematics education opportunities.

APS definitely offers nothing in 5th grade.

Surprised this wasn’t communicated about more in the spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think the placement letters are coming soon- my sons placement changed in the course requests (he’s going into algebra), and when u emailed they said that it was because the criteria for placement changed to make it more selective. That’s unfortunate, I’m not sure why they don’t just let kids take the advanced option if they want to

They make a recommendation but I think you can request going into the more selective option for algebra. Last yes my incoming 7th grader was recommended for math 7. I asked her to be placed in pre-algebra and it was no problem (and she got an A).

+1. Same.

[Anonymous]

To the person saying APS is transparent— are you kidding? They change the criteria every couple of years and never advertise it until after the placements are done. I tried to ask my kid’s 5th grade teacher & the ES math coach what the cut-offs are, and they don’t know. The information is not shared with them, and their recommendation is not considered.

And APS doesn’t advertise the fact that you can parent place. We got a ton of pushback and initially refusal to move the kid when we tried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the person saying APS is transparent— are you kidding? They change the criteria every couple of years and never advertise it until after the placements are done. I tried to ask my kid’s 5th grade teacher & the ES math coach what the cut-offs are, and they don’t know. The information is not shared with them, and their recommendation is not considered.

And APS doesn’t advertise the fact that you can parent place. We got a ton of pushback and initially refusal to move the kid when we tried.

You want to know the cut offs so you can berate/coach your kid?

I don't think parents should be able to place kids. They don't advertise it because pushy people try to get their kid in the advanced math which dilutes the class and causes problems down the road. I think there could and should be some other data-driven way of kids demonstrating they belong in the class. But mom and dad want me to be in the class shouldn't be a method.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person saying APS is transparent— are you kidding? They change the criteria every couple of years and never advertise it until after the placements are done. I tried to ask my kid’s 5th grade teacher & the ES math coach what the cut-offs are, and they don’t know. The information is not shared with them, and their recommendation is not considered.

And APS doesn’t advertise the fact that you can parent place. We got a ton of pushback and initially refusal to move the kid when we tried.

You want to know the cut offs so you can berate/coach your kid?

I don't think parents should be able to place kids. They don't advertise it because pushy people try to get their kid in the advanced math which dilutes the class and causes problems down the road. I think there could and should be some other data-driven way of kids demonstrating they belong in the class. But mom and dad want me to be in the class shouldn't be a method.

No, not so I could coach my kid. Just so I could have some idea when the SOL and MAP scores come. And the kid I parent-placed has gotten a high A in every math class so far (through 10th) & is definitely on the right path for him.

[Anonymous]

ditto, i parent placed and now one of the rare kids that got a 5 in BC Calc in junior year in their school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the person saying APS is transparent— are you kidding? They change the criteria every couple of years and never advertise it until after the placements are done. I tried to ask my kid’s 5th grade teacher & the ES math coach what the cut-offs are, and they don’t know. The information is not shared with them, and their recommendation is not considered.

And APS doesn’t advertise the fact that you can parent place. We got a ton of pushback and initially refusal to move the kid when we tried.

The letter absolutely has contact information if you want to discuss placement. I had a kid who wasn't initially placed in pre-algebra last year, but had a very high MAP score and an SOL score 1 point below the cutoff (but still pass advanced). Kid had been sick the week of the SOL. I emailed, spoke with someone, and they immediately suggested changing the placement.

I could see pushback if they had lower scores. But shouldn't APS push back if they don't think the kid is ready? They do tell you the score cutoffs they used when they tell you the placement. That seems transparent to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To the person saying APS is transparent— are you kidding? They change the criteria every couple of years and never advertise it until after the placements are done. I tried to ask my kid’s 5th grade teacher & the ES math coach what the cut-offs are, and they don’t know. The information is not shared with them, and their recommendation is not considered.

And APS doesn’t advertise the fact that you can parent place. We got a ton of pushback and initially refusal to move the kid when we tried.

The letter absolutely has contact information if you want to discuss placement. I had a kid who wasn't initially placed in pre-algebra last year, but had a very high MAP score and an SOL score 1 point below the cutoff (but still pass advanced). Kid had been sick the week of the SOL. I emailed, spoke with someone, and they immediately suggested changing the placement.

I could see pushback if they had lower scores. But shouldn't APS push back if they don't think the kid is ready? They do tell you the score cutoffs they used when they tell you the placement. That seems transparent to me.

I agree with this and sorry the stories of my kid didn't get placed but is now a math genius in Calc BC junior year in high school are the outliers.

[Anonymous]

For HB, it's in Parent Vue under Course Request although the opening screen says it's in Documents.