VMPI-ways to speak out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

The VA DOE is doing this because they are following the priorities of the blue administration.

Math Pathways Initiatives are happening all across the US, including in red states like Indiana, Utah, Tennessee, etc.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

[Anonymous]

Email your school board members: https://www.fcps.edu/school-board/school-board-members

Email your state delegate and state senator: https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

Feel free to copy/edit. This is just a starting point:

The VMPI website uses abstract terms without a concrete understanding of the practical implications for our school district. Parents need your help to get clear answers from the reps at VMPI. Perhaps with your position, you would be able to help get clear answers to the following:

1-the program calls for detracking and "heterogeneous" classrooms. What are the practical applications of that for AAP in FCPS? Will that end advanced math in the AAP program? Or other honors math tracking in elementary and middle school?

2-With the VMPI in place what is the maximum track a student can fulfill in high school in both science and math?

3-How will this affect the International Baccalaureate high schools in FCPS? The standards are set internationally. Will students still be able to achieve this diploma in IB high schools.

4-How many AP classes would a student be able to take in math and science with the VMPI in place? How is that different from the current standard? Please remember that many students count on these classes to defray the cost of college.

I appreciate your time and attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

You sound like my kids fcps principal trying to justify my kid with a 52% average in math and still receiving a C on their report card.

Me "My kid is failing math. How on earth do they have a C?!"

Principal "We are finding with the new district standards, grades across the board are actually going up, with more kids receiving As in math than in past years."

W

T

F

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

Just because you set the bar on the ground, does not mean that more kids are achieving.

It just means that anyone who can walk, crawl or roll can make it over the bar, even if they don't learn a single thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

Just because you set the bar on the ground, does not mean that more kids are achieving.

It just means that anyone who can walk, crawl or roll can make it over the bar, even if they don't learn a single thing.

+1

Lowering the bar is not an achievement (or at least should not be considered one)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

Just because you set the bar on the ground, does not mean that more kids are achieving.

It just means that anyone who can walk, crawl or roll can make it over the bar, even if they don't learn a single thing.

The standard is the standard. Today, many students don’t meet those standards. And many others accelerate right past the standards.

If we can rework the system to help more kids meet the standard while the accelerated kids can still get AP calculus, then why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

Just because you set the bar on the ground, does not mean that more kids are achieving.

It just means that anyone who can walk, crawl or roll can make it over the bar, even if they don't learn a single thing.

+1

Lowering the bar is not an achievement (or at least should not be considered one)

“The bar” isn’t changing. The change is having kids work together to get more kids to the bar together. And then gifted kids can still exceed.

[Anonymous]

There is a thread on this in AAP forum that is 50 pages.
Top of 3rd page in this thread(ways to speak out) links to an e-mail to send to people to raise awareness.

Ask your school board members about this, see if they will pass a resolution against detracking.
Even if VA DOE passes these standards eliminating acceleration, there is nothing stopping local school boards to give testing and having different classes that are on the same curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So if this is starting in 2025, are they just going to make kids repeat concepts? My second grader will be starting 7th grade that year. If he's been in advanced math, working a year ahead of grade level, what's the plan?

Loudoun County has removed algebra already for 6th graders. Any 6th grade student in Math 6 next year will be on the new pathway in high school taking integrated math 9 and 10, not algebra and geometry.
If they can get to algebra by 8th grade(previously 6th graders in math 6 could jump up to algebra by 8th grade, and many have done so), then they could go to the integrated pathway or take geometry/alg 2/etc.
The seventh grader will probably be put in integrated math 7, though perhaps there would be an exception if they got algebra by 6th grade, which is no longer an option in Loudoun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if this is starting in 2025, are they just going to make kids repeat concepts? My second grader will be starting 7th grade that year. If he's been in advanced math, working a year ahead of grade level, what's the plan?

I believe it will be a gradual implementation, with your 2nd grader losing the option for asvance math fairly soon after the plan is adopted.

Somewhere says that full implementation for all grades is either 2025 or 2026. The current 7th grade is the class of 2026.

Anyone 7th grade or lower needs to prepare to have a decimated math curriculum in the next year or two.

Another consequence is that a lot of the high school 9th and 10th grade math teachers will leave the profession if they have to teach Algebra and Geometry with all levels in one class.

There won't be classes called algebra and geometry. There will be integrated math 9 and integrated math 10, with the syllabus to be worked out. It looks like they are planning to have topics from algebra and geometry in both classes, with maybe some algebra 2 and trig as well. With all levels in once class, the teacher will probably have to either let the weaker kids fail or go really fast thru the harder topics or drop them entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Here is a summary:
https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/615/959398.page#19810196

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Complaining here does nothing. I called my Delegate's office and the staffer clearly new nothing about the plan and just repeated two bullets of information. I said -- the plan seems to eliminate all tracking and honors courses. If you understand differently, please let me know. And if that is the case, please ask the Delegate (also the Speaker) if she supports the elimination of honors classes across the state. Waiting to hear back.

My State Senator asked me to tell him more about the proposal.

I asked our principal how it would effect AAP and she didn't even understand the question. It seemed like she was either out of the loop or ducking.

You need to call your reps. The VA DOE is moving this without explaining the implications to elected officials.

https://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/

it kills AAP. Do you really think gen ed parents watching their kid's standards plummet won't be quick to point out to the state DOE if there is a subset allowed to flaunt the new rules? It should make TJ hilarious too if the math needed for the science classes can't legally be offered

The standards aren't lowered. More kids will meet them.

Just because you set the bar on the ground, does not mean that more kids are achieving.

It just means that anyone who can walk, crawl or roll can make it over the bar, even if they don't learn a single thing.

+1

Lowering the bar is not an achievement (or at least should not be considered one)

“The bar” isn’t changing. The change is having kids work together to get more kids to the bar together. And then gifted kids can still exceed.

Its not the students job to help other students pass. Poppycock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, I'm one of the people referenced in the first page of posts who thought it sounded so crazy I didn't believe it. I appreciate all the links and info which I'm checking out now.

My 5th grader just moved into advanced math this year (doing the 6th grade curriculum and essentially skipping 5th grade math) and I've never seen him as engaged or excited about math. It is the first thing he tells me about each day. It would be a shame if this isn't an option any more for kids who are ready for it.

I don't see why everyone has to be in one class for the kids who are less quick with math skills to be challenged. It sounds like they want to push the lower end harder than they need to be pushed and hold back the kids who are quicker with it. Are they doing this for reading skills as well?

Please share this proposed change with anyone who will listen, particularly neighbors and families who are empty nesters or seniors.

Share with anyone who votes in Virginia.

This destruction of education standards cannot continue.

Imagine what education in Virginia will look like with 2 more years of this type of nonsense.

Yes, god forbid if more kids are doing well and not just the privileged UMC kids.

Lowering standards by significant amounts because the VA department of education does not believe in the promise or capabilites of minority children does nothing to help any child to reach their potential and is the opposite of the equity they claim to believe in.

Remember the fence drawing?

Equity means giving those kids the tools and resources to see over the fence.

It does not mean making making everyone lay on the ground then sawing down the fence so everyone reaches the same low standards.

If the VA department of education and the politicians who appointed them and set their goals do not believe in the potential of all of our students, including minority students, to rise to their full potential, and don't support giving all students in Virginia a world class education, including poor and minority children, then they do not deserve to serve another minute in office.

There is nothing more racist than assuming that because of their skin tone, children are not capable of performing at their full potential unless you lower standards for everyone else.

It's not LOWERING the standards - it's helping more kids reach the standards. Your UMC kids will still fully meet the standards.

You don't have kids or work in education in Virginia, do you?

It is most certainly lowering the standards.

Algebra 2 does not happen until 11th grade. They will not have completed or learned the lowest skill set on the SATs until after they take the SATs.

In fcps, Algebra 1 is taken in 6th-7th for the advanced kids, with geometry in 7th or 8th, and Algebra 2 in 8th or 9th. These kids are in calculis their sophomore or junior year, multivariable calculus in 11th or 12th. The new LOWERED standards eliminate the advanced math track entirely. China must be laughing with glee of the dems plan to destroy what is left of our math curriculum.


Middle of the road kids take Algebra 1 in 8th grade, geometry in 9th and Algebra 2 in 10th. The new LOWERED math standards eliminates the middle track and puts everyone on the exact same remedial track.

At our fcps high school, these new LOWERED standards negatively impact most of the students, including a lot of minority students, because the VA department of education does not believe in the capablitites of kids who have darker skin or speak with an accent. The lower standards negatively imlacts all of the students, including the students they claim to be creating the lower standards for. It is disgusting to dismantle and lower the state math curriculum under the mantle of helping minority kids, because the VA department of education does not believe in their potential to achieve greatness in academics.

That is not LOWERING the standards. That is slowing down the acceleration BEYOND the standards.

Your kid will be fine taking AP Calculus their senior year.

You don't have kids, obviously.

I have two, both gifted. One exceptionally in math. And personally I have two STEM degrees and work in STEM.

My kids will be fine to have a slightly slower rat race. AP Calc in senior year is reasonable.

AP Calc in senior year would not be reasonable under the lowered standards. They have it as an option, but kids would likely need extra classes outside school to be able to take it, or calculus itself would be a watered down class in Virginia, with the teacher having to do lots of remedial work(presumably the weaker kids would not be in here).
So the class would only be for those who absolutely want to take calculus, and their parents would arrange for them to get prep work done over the summer.
Integrated Math 10, followed by two semesters of , or perhaps more classes, selected from applications of advanced algebra, applications of trigonometry, and precalculus with a focus on functions, would not do as well as algebra 2 or algebra 2/trigonometry in 10th and precalc in 11th.
Typical students who would previously have taken calculus in 12th grade will no longer be able to do so under these revised lower standards.
The people making the standards are OK with this, as in their video they explain how calculus really isn't necessary in high school.