Did they change 3rd grade advanced math?

[Anonymous]

For anyone who wants to actually compare the standards of learning from 2016 to 2023 for grade 3 and grade 4 math (which in the past AAP kids would get half way through), here:

2016: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/mathematics/instruction (look at the tracking logs for the grades to get the standards)

2023: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/instruction/mathematics/standards-of-learning-for-mathematics

It does seem that VDOE lowered the standards between them - for example addition and subtraction problems in 3rd grade used to go up to 9,999 and now go up to a mere 1,000 (!). Multiplication facts were to be automatic through the 12 times table and now only have to go to the 10 times table. In 4th grade they used to be doing fraction math with like and unlike denominators and now it's just like denominators and they've limited the denominators to "easier" ones (no 7, no 9).

That said if you look at the grade 3 advanced math standards, it's tough to tell if they are getting through half of the new 4th grade math standards. As a PP mentioned the old grade 3 advanced math did fraction math. The new does not. Fraction math might be easier in the new VDOE grade 4 standards, but it's not just gone from them. 3rd grade AAP math used to do division with remainders, but it's not listed in the new standards. Addition and subtraction with decimals to the thousandths are still in the grade 4 standards, were in the old grade 3 advanced math standards, and decimals are nowhere in the new grade 3 advanced math standards.

So while the VDOE changes definitely happened I'd say they were minor compared to the FCPS advanced math changes.

[Anonymous]

I will note that doing the same comparisons for 5th grade shows far less change in the FCPS advanced math program of studies. It's very similar between prior years and current year. Looks like 5th graders should still be in a place to take the 6th grade SOL. How they get there I leave to people more in-the-know than I.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will note that doing the same comparisons for 5th grade shows far less change in the FCPS advanced math program of studies. It's very similar between prior years and current year. Looks like 5th graders should still be in a place to take the 6th grade SOL. How they get there I leave to people more in-the-know than I.

That is the potential pitfall. If you aren’t covering all of 5th grade by the end of fourth, how does FCPS address this gap when starting on 6th in 5th. It seems like a gap that kids will just magically make up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will note that doing the same comparisons for 5th grade shows far less change in the FCPS advanced math program of studies. It's very similar between prior years and current year. Looks like 5th graders should still be in a place to take the 6th grade SOL. How they get there I leave to people more in-the-know than I.

That is the potential pitfall. If you aren’t covering all of 5th grade by the end of fourth, how does FCPS address this gap when starting on 6th in 5th. It seems like a gap that kids will just magically make up?

A good number of schools start Advanced Math in 5th grade, there is nothing in 3rd or 4th. I don't know specific schools to be able to compare SOL results and the like but a child who is advanced in math should be able to handle 5th and 6th grade math at the same time. Instead of having spirals for the two grade they learn the fifth grade concept followed immediately by the 6th grade concept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

Have a link to that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

I appreciate what you said. MS math is simply whatever MS math is, so 7th H or Algebra 1 H might have been adjusted based on VDOE guidance but I don't know what that would have been. Geometry H is going to be Geometry.

Advanced Math in 5th should be grade level 6 math and Advanced Math in 6th should be grade level 7 math. Those might have been adjusted based on the VDOE changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

My guess would be 4th and up is grandfathered into the previous acceleration. Otherwise it would be backtracking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

Have a link to that?

The FCPS link referenced here is dead (you're welcome to try archive.org), but there's a quote from when E3 was first kicked off:

“Partner with the Advanced Academic Office to launch the Engaging, Enhanced, and Extended Mathematics (E3) Network, a group of 10 schools from across the division that will implement E3. The purpose of E3 is to broaden the access for all third and fourth graders to a more rigorous curriculum in elementary mathematics. E3 raises the rigor for all students through an enhanced program of studies that layers more opportunities for depth and complexity through flexible delivery of Advanced Academic extensions.
…
Write and obtain feedback on a five-year strategic plan to implement…the expansion of E3 in elementary schools. "
(https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1039315.page#22066101)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

At least you admitted FCPS quietly “piloted” E3, and has now, just as quietly, implemented E3 on the AAP program, with the result complained about by OP:


- the lowered the level and expectations of 3rd grade AAP math.

At least we all agree on that point.

The “E3 Alliance” - a group out of Texas - appears to be behind this lowering of standards / expectations.

Check out page 28 of this thread from last year:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/405/1198653.page

FCPS has not been at all transparent on these issues. I no longer trust them. Glad my teens will soon be done with FCPS, their turn away from academics, and their secretive social engineering at our kids expense.

[Anonymous]

FWIW it appears the Virginia Run ES AART was aware this was coming as of AAP level IV orientations last spring: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/90/1042885.page#27561150

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

My guess would be 4th and up is grandfathered into the previous acceleration. Otherwise it would be backtracking.

In Virginia, acceleration is not defined at the state level. It is whatever the local divisions want to do.
VMPI did try to restrict this, though they pretended otherwise after it became public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

My guess would be 4th and up is grandfathered into the previous acceleration. Otherwise it would be backtracking.

In Virginia, acceleration is not defined at the state level. It is whatever the local divisions want to do.
VMPI did try to restrict this, though they pretended otherwise after it became public.

True. The VMPI backers constantly lied and tried to gaslight voters about VMPI’s actual goals. But judge for yourself:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^^^

It is also true that the FCPS local plan for the gifted in effect until 2027 says:

"Acceleration is used in to provide ongoing opportunities for continuous academic growth. Differentiated
pacing is used in multiple subjects and grade level acceleration is embedded in mathematics instruction.
Accelerated mathematics instruction is accessible through multiple entry points on the FCPS continuum of
services. Students identified for full-time AAP (level IV) services complete middle school mathematics by
the end of sixth grade. Students in grades K–6, who have a specific academic strength in mathematics,
may also participate in the advanced mathematics curriculum in the general education classrooms based
on classroom assessments. Students who complete the advanced mathematics six coursework, and who
take and achieve qualifying scores on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) and the 7th grade SOL, may
qualify for Algebra I in seventh grade."

If they are still accelerating kids in 5th and 6th that technically meets the above, but would still be disappointing to kids who need more.

Whether we like it or not, Public Education is meant to meet the needs of the masses. There is not enough money to meet everyones needs at their specific level. If you want that level of specialization you need to pay for it. Youc an do that through private school or enrichment. That is simply the basic truth of public education.

And while the parents here might feel like FCPS does not do enough, most school districts do not have programing that allows for 15% of the population to take Algebra 1 in 7th grade. Eight grade is still the national norm of accelerated math. I have freinds who teach across the US in a multitude of states and all of them are surprised that so many kids end up in Algebra 1 in 7th grade.

Umm, people are complaining because they have changed math instruction this year. It is slower now than it was last year. They are not comparing FCPS to any-other-school district, they are comparing it to FCPS 2023-2024.

VDOE addresses curriculum every 7 years, that is not FCPS. The math curriculum was shifted by VDOE. Blaming FCPS for that is silly. Even without the change, FCPS Advanced Math is not advanced for a small percentage of kids, you need to go to enrichment programs if you want more. Maybe that has gotten to be more obvious this year but it has been the case for a while. I strongly suspect most of the people complaining in this topic already have kids in enrichment but if you don't, that is what you need to do. We always told DC that school was mainly for practicing foundational skills but that he was going to be pushed, maybe challenged, through enrichment.

What is silly is you keep ignoring the FCPS-specific purchase and implementation of the Equity Cubed curriculum.

FCPS implemented the pilot and has now expanded Equity Cubed; it was not the state (actually we are a Commonwealth).

Stop gaslighting parents! FCPS lowered the 3rd grade AAP standards, just as OP and many other FCPS parents of AAP kids have observed.

Not PP. FCPS didn't buy Equity Cubed. They implemented something called E3 (which referred to 3 words that started with E) to pilot a new way of doing advanced math. It's not something I support, but you don't do yourself any favors when you spread partially false information.

And VDOE did water down some of the math standards, as mentioned above. Then FCPS watered some of the advanced ones down even more at least for 3rd, but not much for 5th. No word on 4th, 6th, 7th, or 8th.

My guess would be 4th and up is grandfathered into the previous acceleration. Otherwise it would be backtracking.

In Virginia, acceleration is not defined at the state level. It is whatever the local divisions want to do.
VMPI did try to restrict this, though they pretended otherwise after it became public.

True. The VMPI backers constantly lied and tried to gaslight voters about VMPI’s actual goals. But judge for yourself:

Thank goodness for Governor Youngkin’s victory. He put a stop to VMPI. His opponent, Terry Mcauliffe, would have rammed it through.