VA math changes - ways to speak out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

What is the difference between that & what we have now?

[Anonymous]

Reading is fundamental!

Speculators, go read the latest update from VDOE:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/VMPI%20for%20vdoe%20website.docx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

My younger kid will be thrilled to hear that while her older brother took precalculus/trig his sophomore year, she will get to accelerate through “math 10.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

What is the difference between that & what we have now?

Tough to say, except that there will no longer be pre-algebra through algebra II as separate courses? I am assuming "applications of advanced algebra" is not Algebra II.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

My younger kid will be thrilled to hear that while her older brother took precalculus/trig his sophomore year, she will get to accelerate through “math 10.”

Ask your kids to read this and explain it to you since you seem to be struggling.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/VMPI%20for%20vdoe%20website.docx

It does not dictate how and when students take specific courses. Those decisions remain with students and school divisions based on individualized learning needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

My younger kid will be thrilled to hear that while her older brother took precalculus/trig his sophomore year, she will get to accelerate through “math 10.”

Ask your kids to read this and explain it to you since you seem to be struggling.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/VMPI%20for%20vdoe%20website.docx

It does not dictate how and when students take specific courses. Those decisions remain with students and school divisions based on individualized learning needs.

Please answer this question then. Will kids be able to take Algebra in 7th and post-Calc in 12th? If so, what’s the difference between VPMI and what we have now?

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

My younger kid will be thrilled to hear that while her older brother took precalculus/trig his sophomore year, she will get to accelerate through “math 10.”

Ask your kids to read this and explain it to you since you seem to be struggling.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/VMPI%20for%20vdoe%20website.docx

It does not dictate how and when students take specific courses. Those decisions remain with students and school divisions based on individualized learning needs.

Please answer this question then. Will kids be able to take Algebra in 7th and post-Calc in 12th? If so, what’s the difference between VPMI and what we have now?

Algebra will no longer be a separate class - it will be integrated/spiraled with geometry & algebra 2.

VA DOE did not say that kids can’t start algebra concepts in 7th. And they did say advanced math courses are not being eliminated.

The exact course offerings will vary by district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

My younger kid will be thrilled to hear that while her older brother took precalculus/trig his sophomore year, she will get to accelerate through “math 10.”

Ask your kids to read this and explain it to you since you seem to be struggling.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/VMPI%20for%20vdoe%20website.docx

It does not dictate how and when students take specific courses. Those decisions remain with students and school divisions based on individualized learning needs.

Please answer this question then. Will kids be able to take Algebra in 7th and post-Calc in 12th? If so, what’s the difference between VPMI and what we have now?

Algebra will no longer be a separate class - it will be integrated/spiraled with geometry & algebra 2.

VA DOE did not say that kids can’t start algebra concepts in 7th. And they did say advanced math courses are not being eliminated.

The exact course offerings will vary by district.

That's not what they said at first though, and everyone who has been reading the threads knows it. While they never outright said they would eliminate tracking for sure, Tina Mazzacane from VDOE responded about detracking with this, according to someone who posted on the AAP thread:

The Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative proposals support the vision that all students are capable of making sense of and persevering in solving challenging mathematics problems and should be expected to do so. Many more students, regardless of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, need to be given the support, confidence, and opportunities to reach much higher levels of mathematical success and interest. VMPI proposals do promote equity and that the practice of isolating low-achieving students in low-level or slower-paced mathematics groups should be eliminated.

Sincerely,
Tina Mazzacane
K-12 Mathematics Coordinator
Virginia Department of Education

Bolding mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

You keep quoting these things that *have just come out* from VDOE and *are in direct contradiction* from what VDOE has been saying for months, then berating people for speculating in an attempt to shut down discussion. You have no idea if this is an about-face, or if this is just that the spokesperson has no idea what he's talking about.

We'll hopefully find out more tomorrow night on the next webinar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Please answer this question then. Will kids be able to take Algebra in 7th and post-Calc in 12th? If so, what’s the difference between VPMI and what we have now?

As far as we know, there will no longer be post-calc options (unless you're taking summer school on your own.) Obviously, that could change, but right now everything we have seen indicates that VMPI precludes post-calc math in K-12 schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

You keep quoting these things that *have just come out* from VDOE and *are in direct contradiction* from what VDOE has been saying for months, then berating people for speculating in an attempt to shut down discussion. You have no idea if this is an about-face, or if this is just that the spokesperson has no idea what he's talking about.

We'll hopefully find out more tomorrow night on the next webinar.

It appears that document came out in direct response to Sen. Petersen's letter asking for a clear explanation of the changes, FWIW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

My younger kid will be thrilled to hear that while her older brother took precalculus/trig his sophomore year, she will get to accelerate through “math 10.”

Ask your kids to read this and explain it to you since you seem to be struggling.
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/VMPI%20for%20vdoe%20website.docx

It does not dictate how and when students take specific courses. Those decisions remain with students and school divisions based on individualized learning needs.

Please answer this question then. Will kids be able to take Algebra in 7th and post-Calc in 12th? If so, what’s the difference between VPMI and what we have now?

Algebra will no longer be a separate class - it will be integrated/spiraled with geometry & algebra 2.

VA DOE did not say that kids can’t start algebra concepts in 7th. And they did say advanced math courses are not being eliminated.

The exact course offerings will vary by district.

That's not what they said at first though, and everyone who has been reading the threads knows it. While they never outright said they would eliminate tracking for sure, Tina Mazzacane from VDOE responded about detracking with this, according to someone who posted on the AAP thread:

The Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative proposals support the vision that all students are capable of making sense of and persevering in solving challenging mathematics problems and should be expected to do so. Many more students, regardless of gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, need to be given the support, confidence, and opportunities to reach much higher levels of mathematical success and interest. VMPI proposals do promote equity and that the practice of isolating low-achieving students in low-level or slower-paced mathematics groups should be eliminated.

Sincerely,
Tina Mazzacane
K-12 Mathematics Coordinator
Virginia Department of Education

Bolding mine.

So they encourage it, but don't require it.

It is part of the larger national math reform so bringing it up for districts to consider seems like a good idea...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can’t you bring the bottom up without limiting options for the top? I think that’s the root of the problem. No one (or most normal people) don’t mind bringing the bottom up. It’s when you limit the options at the top that people get upset.

You are speculating that there will be “limited options”.

It's not speculation. One track of heterogenous classes up through 10th grade. That's the very definition of limited options, and guaranteed it will be focused on bringing up the bottom.

School divisions will also be able to offer advanced sections and acceleration through the courses.

You keep quoting these things that *have just come out* from VDOE and *are in direct contradiction* from what VDOE has been saying for months, then berating people for speculating in an attempt to shut down discussion. You have no idea if this is an about-face, or if this is just that the spokesperson has no idea what he's talking about.

We'll hopefully find out more tomorrow night on the next webinar.

Agree - hopefully they hash it all out and share concrete plan to cut down on the speculation.

Discussion is great. Ask questions. Get informed. Be engaged. All great. Freaking TF out over assumptions? Not so much.

[Anonymous]

It certainly looks like they are backtracking, because the current documents directly contradict everything they put out before. I guess the best way to backtrack is to pretend you were never advocating what you previously said you were advocating - which was eliminating all tracking and placing kids in lockstep through 10th grade.