What to do about the Algebra fiasco

[Anonymous]

I know we already have a couple of threads about the Algebra exam results but I think it is important enough to merit another thread on the imp. topic of how to move forward. If your child took the class in MS, they have the option of repeating the class as late as G9. I think this is an option more parents need to seriously consider.
It sounds like teachers were not adequately trained for the new curriculum and were receiving instructional materials and assessment guidelines 'just in time'. Additionally, it sounds like they spent weeks teaching topics on the old curriculum (prior to the HSAs) and lost instructional time due to the bad winter weather. This means that these children will be entering C2.0 Algebra 2 without a solid foundation in C2.0 Algebra 1. J. Starr has brought up the option of tacking the material they did not teach in Alg. 2 onto their Geometry class but that means that teachers who are teaching C2.0 Geometry for the first time (presumably with the same lack of prep and last minute rollout of curriculum materials) will have to also cover several weeks of Algebra 1.
Perhaps as parents we need to take our children off the Math bus MCPS has put them on and exercise our own discretion.

[Anonymous]

OP, is this what you're going to do with your child -- i.e., have your child repeat Algebra I?

Or is this something you think other people should do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know we already have a couple of threads about the Algebra exam results but I think it is important enough to merit another thread on the imp. topic of how to move forward. If your child took the class in MS, they have the option of repeating the class as late as G9. I think this is an option more parents need to seriously consider.
It sounds like teachers were not adequately trained for the new curriculum and were receiving instructional materials and assessment guidelines 'just in time'. Additionally, it sounds like they spent weeks teaching topics on the old curriculum (prior to the HSAs) and lost instructional time due to the bad winter weather. This means that these children will be entering C2.0 Algebra 2 without a solid foundation in C2.0 Algebra 1. J. Starr has brought up the option of tacking the material they did not teach in Alg. 2 onto their Geometry class but that means that teachers who are teaching C2.0 Geometry for the first time (presumably with the same lack of prep and last minute rollout of curriculum materials) will have to also cover several weeks of Algebra 1.
Perhaps as parents we need to take our children off the Math bus MCPS has put them on and exercise our own discretion.

My child isn't going to take Algebra for another two years, but what I would do in this situation is to simply go over the concepts during the summer using something like Khan. They probably have the majority of the concepts; you're just looking to fill in and reinforce what might have been missed or lightly covered. I would NOT make my child retake the class unless I really thought she hadn't learned anything.

[Anonymous]

My child got an A on the test before the additional 15 points. I don't actaully consider this a fiasco...a shame the state and county could not allign themselves but not a fiasco. He had some topics and not others. If he attended school in another area he would likely have had a somewhat different slant. He was a fairly strong math student before and still is. If there is a gap later on, we will find a way to deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Algebra 1, actual Algebra - not sure what MCPS was doing- is an very important foundational course for later math and science. Students need to address the missing concepts and lack of mastery. How to do this is less clear.

How can parents have any confidence that the repeat Algebra 1 will be better? Repeating a failed process often produces the same results. I worry that MCPS doesn't understand this. I also worry that MCPS doesn't know what they missed. They have not been forth coming in what was not covered in Algebra 1 that should have been covered. They have not been forthcoming in explaining which concepts were poorly covered by the new curriculum. How can parents trust them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Algebra 1, actual Algebra - not sure what MCPS was doing- is an very important foundational course for later math and science. Students need to address the missing concepts and lack of mastery. How to do this is less clear.

How can parents have any confidence that the repeat Algebra 1 will be better? Repeating a failed process often produces the same results. I worry that MCPS doesn't understand this. I also worry that MCPS doesn't know what they missed. They have not been forth coming in what was not covered in Algebra 1 that should have been covered. They have not been forthcoming in explaining which concepts were poorly covered by the new curriculum. How can parents trust them?

Would you like to answer your question, or was it a rhetorical question?

[Anonymous]

But there is no one definition of what is covered in an Algebra 1 class. Because MCPS's curriculum was different than a test the state is phasing out does not mean the course is a failure. And since more kids take Algebra in th grade..the vast majority 72% (?) passed the final before the bump up and even more passed the class.

[Anonymous]

You know that any can write a test that 100% of the kids will fail and can also write a test that most kids will get 100 on. That doesn't have anything to do with what is taught in the class. If you are concerned about the class content..fine. But you can not use the first year of a test to prove anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Algebra 1, actual Algebra - not sure what MCPS was doing- is an very important foundational course for later math and science. Students need to address the missing concepts and lack of mastery. How to do this is less clear.

How can parents have any confidence that the repeat Algebra 1 will be better? Repeating a failed process often produces the same results. I worry that MCPS doesn't understand this. I also worry that MCPS doesn't know what they missed. They have not been forth coming in what was not covered in Algebra 1 that should have been covered. They have not been forthcoming in explaining which concepts were poorly covered by the new curriculum. How can parents trust them?

This. We have found the math teaching in middle school to be pretty mediocre and sometimes even bad. I wouldn't trust MCPS to fix this. I would teach/re-teach the concepts myself or hire a tutor. One important starting point is to email the school counselor (because teachers are away in the summer) and ask to make an appointment to see the Algebra 1 Sem. B final, so you know what the kid is missing. You have a right to see the score and your child's test (complete with test booklet and right answers) under FERPA.

I wouldn't put my child a year behind on the math track due to MCPS's screw up. Taking math later and later only means your child is in a class that is more disruptive and has fewer basic math skills.

[Anonymous]

J. Starr has brought up the option of tacking the material they did not teach in Alg. 2 onto their Geometry class but that means that teachers who are teaching C2.0 Geometry for the first time (presumably with the same lack of prep and last minute rollout of curriculum materials) will have to also cover several weeks of Algebra 1.

So are you supposed to take the summer school that is being offered or wait until the missing math shows up again in a later course? If MCPS is adding it all of sudden to later classes or just proposing this, what was the original plan? Just not teach it and assume its not important math?

Does anyone know which topics were not taught effectively and will be added later on?

[Anonymous]

This. We have found the math teaching in middle school to be pretty mediocre and sometimes even bad. I wouldn't trust MCPS to fix this. I would teach/re-teach the concepts myself or hire a tutor. One important starting point is to email the school counselor (because teachers are away in the summer) and ask to make an appointment to see the Algebra 1 Sem. B final, so you know what the kid is missing. You have a right to see the score and your child's test (complete with test booklet and right answers) under FERPA.

This is very good advice. I would not have my child repeat, but would tutor over the summer.

[Anonymous]

The first thing I would want to know (mostly if your child got an A) was is it a true A or is it a high C +5 points. My child got his score at the end of the school year so I know. His class must have managed to cover everything as he got an A and said most of his friends/classmates did as well...couple perfect scores. Granted this is 8th grade so the scores were much better. I would be interested in seeing a breakdown by school as well.

[Anonymous]

I believe MCPS requires middle school students who take Algebra 1 for high school credit to pass the final exam. High school students don't have to pass the final exam as long as they pass the course, they get HS credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe MCPS requires middle school students who take Algebra 1 for high school credit to pass the final exam. High school students don't have to pass the final exam as long as they pass the course, they get HS credit.

This is not true. My DC had a concussion last year while taking Algebra in 7th grade and was out of school for many months. DC was excused from semester finals. The school wanted to drop DC from the class, but DC wanted to continue. In the context of fighting the school, we found out that there is no requirement to get a certain grade in Algebra (above passing) and no requirement to pass the semester finals. The schools may informal encourage certain practices -- like having a C course grade overall to continue instead of re-taking Algebra, but it is not a "requirement" and parents can override it. There is no requirement to pass the semester finals. There is a requirement to pass the HSA, which is different from the semester final (probably easier). You have to get a certain score on the Algebra HSA to graduate from high school.

The requirements for high school Algebra in high school and Algebra I taken in middle school for HS credit are exactly the same. It is the same course, and the same requirements apply.