Compacted 4/5 math

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Schools tested students and sent the data in to MCPS. MCPS ran all the data and determined benchmark scores based on all of the students tested. That is the information that went back to schools last week. Schools now have to use the benchmark scores along with three other criteria to determine who will be in their compacted classes. That is why parents haven't been notified yet--the schools use those scores as just one piece of the data to make the decisions. Parents will have the ability to say they do not want their children in the compacted class if they so choose.

What are those three other criteria?

[Anonymous]

They will be spelled out in the parent letters that will go home soon (to all parents of students who were tested).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools tested students and sent the data in to MCPS. MCPS ran all the data and determined benchmark scores based on all of the students tested. That is the information that went back to schools last week. Schools now have to use the benchmark scores along with three other criteria to determine who will be in their compacted classes. That is why parents haven't been notified yet--the schools use those scores as just one piece of the data to make the decisions. Parents will have the ability to say they do not want their children in the compacted class if they so choose.

What are those three other criteria?

I think that this may vary by school. Our school had everything ready before they received the benchmarks. Once they received the benchmarks they could immediately tell parents whether their children would be in the compacted curriculum.

Our school didn't test everyone. After testing, the teachers gave their recs to the principal. The school then waited until they received guidance from MCPS (which they received on Tuesday). Based on this guidance they were immediately able to tell which students made the cut-off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools tested students and sent the data in to MCPS. MCPS ran all the data and determined benchmark scores based on all of the students tested. That is the information that went back to schools last week. Schools now have to use the benchmark scores along with three other criteria to determine who will be in their compacted classes. That is why parents haven't been notified yet--the schools use those scores as just one piece of the data to make the decisions. Parents will have the ability to say they do not want their children in the compacted class if they so choose.

What are those three other criteria?

I think that this may vary by school. Our school had everything ready before they received the benchmarks. Once they received the benchmarks they could immediately tell parents whether their children would be in the compacted curriculum.

Our school didn't test everyone. After testing, the teachers gave their recs to the principal. The school then waited until they received guidance from MCPS (which they received on Tuesday). Based on this guidance they were immediately able to tell which students made the cut-off.

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It doesn't vary by school. The 4 criteria are the same at every school. It's possible a school could have had everything ready, because the benchmark scores are the only piece that come from central office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Schools tested students and sent the data in to MCPS. MCPS ran all the data and determined benchmark scores based on all of the students tested. That is the information that went back to schools last week. Schools now have to use the benchmark scores along with three other criteria to determine who will be in their compacted classes. That is why parents haven't been notified yet--the schools use those scores as just one piece of the data to make the decisions. Parents will have the ability to say they do not want their children in the compacted class if they so choose.

What are those three other criteria?

I think that this may vary by school. Our school had everything ready before they received the benchmarks. Once they received the benchmarks they could immediately tell parents whether their children would be in the compacted curriculum.

Our school didn't test everyone. After testing, the teachers gave their recs to the principal. The school then waited until they received guidance from MCPS (which they received on Tuesday). Based on this guidance they were immediately able to tell which students made the cut-off.

\

It doesn't vary by school. The 4 criteria are the same at every school. It's possible a school could have had everything ready, because the benchmark scores are the only piece that come from central office.

Sorry I didn't mean tha tthe criteria varied- only that our school had everything else ready so they were only waiting on the benchmark scores. Since they received them, they now know which students qualified.

[Anonymous]

If the benchmark score is only one of the criteria for selection does that mean that a child who comes close (but does not pass the benchmark score) may still be a good candidate if they performed well with the other criteria? Or is the benchmark score an absolute cut off?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the benchmark score is only one of the criteria for selection does that mean that a child who comes close (but does not pass the benchmark score) may still be a good candidate if they performed well with the other criteria? Or is the benchmark score an absolute cut off?

Not sure but the principal at my child's school suggested that appeal was possible.

[Anonymous]

Can someone explain what compacted 4th/5th grade math is?? I assume this is for rising 4th graders?

My child is currently in 4th grade, and I heard that there would be two levels of 5th grade math next year, but I haven't heard any more details or about any testing this year.

[Anonymous]

The compacted curriculum is 4/5 in 4th and 5/6 in 5th so that students are ready for IM in 6th. It is the exact same curriculum but they get through it in a shorter time frame. So it's 12 quarters of math in 8 quarters.

[Anonymous]

Also, the MCPS website explains the options for current 4th graders. I don't remember what it says though.

[Anonymous]

Interesting that advanced kids will end up in exactly the same place as they did pre 2.0. I can't help but wonder why they don;t condense some of the early years rather than the later ones which have more challeging concepts. Many/some kids pick up the early skills easily..but it seems harder to race though fractions and more complex topics. My Ker could skip units on more/less and counting to 10.

[Anonymous]

Actually, some kids are being held back in comparison to before. I've got a current 5th grader finishing up grade 7 math. Still taking IM next year at a magnet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting that advanced kids will end up in exactly the same place as they did pre 2.0. I can't help but wonder why they don;t condense some of the early years rather than the later ones which have more challeging concepts. Many/some kids pick up the early skills easily..but it seems harder to race though fractions and more complex topics. My Ker could skip units on more/less and counting to 10.

Maybe it's less clear who needs acceleration when they are that young?

[Anonymous]

MD has adopted the Common Core State Standards. Common Core is firmly opposed to any compacting before middle school. MCPS developed its own compacting path extending back to 4th grade, but has not pushed the "firm opposition" any further yet. Judging from Dr. Starr's comments, he views even this much compacting as a reluctant concession to parents who "see something wrong with being on grade level" rather than a curriculum option needed to meet actual student needs.

[Anonymous]

Some of this has nothing to do with 2.0. Our school NEVER had any math acceleration before second grade.