Wilson “hybrid” schedule next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Update from the principal’s call this morning: The DCPS policy requirement is that they offer one section per semester of courses required for graduation, so he said the intention at Wilson is to offer that minimum only.

For example, most sections of algebra 1 will be full-year, but every semester there will also be a semester-long section. He also said they will let people accelerate; so, a student could take algebra 1 one semester and geometry the next semester.

As already reported, all AP classes will be full-year, and there will be an exception to the mandate to offer a semester option for required classes if there was a less-than 10% failure rate for a required class the prior year. (E.g., If algebra 1 had a less than 10% failure rate the prior year, Wilson wouldn’t have to offer any single-semester sections of algebra 1 the next year.)

It seems like DCPS/Wilson see the purpose of 4x4 to help struggling students at risk of failing/not graduating and accelerating students who want to be able to get ahead in a subject. So the one section of, say Algebra I that is only semester-long will have the weakest students and the strongest students, none in the middle. That seems like a recipe for failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update from the principal’s call this morning: The DCPS policy requirement is that they offer one section per semester of courses required for graduation, so he said the intention at Wilson is to offer that minimum only.

For example, most sections of algebra 1 will be full-year, but every semester there will also be a semester-long section. He also said they will let people accelerate; so, a student could take algebra 1 one semester and geometry the next semester.

As already reported, all AP classes will be full-year, and there will be an exception to the mandate to offer a semester option for required classes if there was a less-than 10% failure rate for a required class the prior year. (E.g., If algebra 1 had a less than 10% failure rate the prior year, Wilson wouldn’t have to offer any single-semester sections of algebra 1 the next year.)

It seems like DCPS/Wilson see the purpose of 4x4 to help struggling students at risk of failing/not graduating and accelerating students who want to be able to get ahead in a subject. So the one section of, say Algebra I that is only semester-long will have the weakest students and the strongest students, none in the middle. That seems like a recipe for failure.

This seems like the most negative possible take on what is overall very good news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update from the principal’s call this morning: The DCPS policy requirement is that they offer one section per semester of courses required for graduation, so he said the intention at Wilson is to offer that minimum only.

For example, most sections of algebra 1 will be full-year, but every semester there will also be a semester-long section. He also said they will let people accelerate; so, a student could take algebra 1 one semester and geometry the next semester.

As already reported, all AP classes will be full-year, and there will be an exception to the mandate to offer a semester option for required classes if there was a less-than 10% failure rate for a required class the prior year. (E.g., If algebra 1 had a less than 10% failure rate the prior year, Wilson wouldn’t have to offer any single-semester sections of algebra 1 the next year.)

It seems like DCPS/Wilson see the purpose of 4x4 to help struggling students at risk of failing/not graduating and accelerating students who want to be able to get ahead in a subject. So the one section of, say Algebra I that is only semester-long will have the weakest students and the strongest students, none in the middle. That seems like a recipe for failure.

This seems like the most negative possible take on what is overall very good news.

Ok but PP has a good point. We know what the bottom line is and that the 4 x 4 is for students failing to retake a class. It isn’t to accelerate students but Wilson is saying so to try to have better optics and “appease” parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update from the principal’s call this morning: The DCPS policy requirement is that they offer one section per semester of courses required for graduation, so he said the intention at Wilson is to offer that minimum only.

For example, most sections of algebra 1 will be full-year, but every semester there will also be a semester-long section. He also said they will let people accelerate; so, a student could take algebra 1 one semester and geometry the next semester.

As already reported, all AP classes will be full-year, and there will be an exception to the mandate to offer a semester option for required classes if there was a less-than 10% failure rate for a required class the prior year. (E.g., If algebra 1 had a less than 10% failure rate the prior year, Wilson wouldn’t have to offer any single-semester sections of algebra 1 the next year.)

It seems like DCPS/Wilson see the purpose of 4x4 to help struggling students at risk of failing/not graduating and accelerating students who want to be able to get ahead in a subject. So the one section of, say Algebra I that is only semester-long will have the weakest students and the strongest students, none in the middle. That seems like a recipe for failure.

This seems like the most negative possible take on what is overall very good news.

Ok but PP has a good point. We know what the bottom line is and that the 4 x 4 is for students failing to retake a class. It isn’t to accelerate students but Wilson is saying so to try to have better optics and “appease” parents.

So? Wilson teaches 70-80 sections of math each year. We’re talking about 0-6 of them. The news is, the 4x4 at Wilson is over. Wilson again teaches math on a traditional year-round schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update from the principal’s call this morning: The DCPS policy requirement is that they offer one section per semester of courses required for graduation, so he said the intention at Wilson is to offer that minimum only.

For example, most sections of algebra 1 will be full-year, but every semester there will also be a semester-long section. He also said they will let people accelerate; so, a student could take algebra 1 one semester and geometry the next semester.

As already reported, all AP classes will be full-year, and there will be an exception to the mandate to offer a semester option for required classes if there was a less-than 10% failure rate for a required class the prior year. (E.g., If algebra 1 had a less than 10% failure rate the prior year, Wilson wouldn’t have to offer any single-semester sections of algebra 1 the next year.)

It seems like DCPS/Wilson see the purpose of 4x4 to help struggling students at risk of failing/not graduating and accelerating students who want to be able to get ahead in a subject. So the one section of, say Algebra I that is only semester-long will have the weakest students and the strongest students, none in the middle. That seems like a recipe for failure.

This seems like the most negative possible take on what is overall very good news.

Ok but PP has a good point. We know what the bottom line is and that the 4 x 4 is for students failing to retake a class. It isn’t to accelerate students but Wilson is saying so to try to have better optics and “appease” parents.

So? Wilson teaches 70-80 sections of math each year. We’re talking about 0-6 of them. The news is, the 4x4 at Wilson is over. Wilson again teaches math on a traditional year-round schedule.

Exactly. And Mr. Bargeman suggested said they would take student preference for 4x4 vs. full-year into account to the extent possible, and we know from the LSAT survey that 30% of the respondents preferred 4x4. I bet that these classes will not differ all that much from full-year classes in terms of student distribution/heterogeneity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Update from the principal’s call this morning: The DCPS policy requirement is that they offer one section per semester of courses required for graduation, so he said the intention at Wilson is to offer that minimum only.

For example, most sections of algebra 1 will be full-year, but every semester there will also be a semester-long section. He also said they will let people accelerate; so, a student could take algebra 1 one semester and geometry the next semester.

As already reported, all AP classes will be full-year, and there will be an exception to the mandate to offer a semester option for required classes if there was a less-than 10% failure rate for a required class the prior year. (E.g., If algebra 1 had a less than 10% failure rate the prior year, Wilson wouldn’t have to offer any single-semester sections of algebra 1 the next year.)

It seems like DCPS/Wilson see the purpose of 4x4 to help struggling students at risk of failing/not graduating and accelerating students who want to be able to get ahead in a subject. So the one section of, say Algebra I that is only semester-long will have the weakest students and the strongest students, none in the middle. That seems like a recipe for failure.

This seems like the most negative possible take on what is overall very good news.

Ok but PP has a good point. We know what the bottom line is and that the 4 x 4 is for students failing to retake a class. It isn’t to accelerate students but Wilson is saying so to try to have better optics and “appease” parents.

Wilson is required to offer these semester classes by DCPS. They’re trying to make the best of the hand they’ve been dealt by satisfying a request they’ve received in the last two years to allow students to use 4x4 to accelerate.

Some of you will complain about ANYTHING. My god.

[Anonymous]

The problem is that Wilson has enough scheduling challenges without having to add new complications.

[Anonymous]

If used for acceleration, this would a exacerbate the falsehood that math should be accelerated instead of going into topics in depth.

I think anyone with math background can agree faster is not better than deeper, and both are good for students who love it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG, did people see this????

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/02/23/dc-schools-pandemic-poll/

People need comment and email Perry Stein.

Why would they post results for a survey with a 10%+ margin of error?

[Anonymous]

This was also in today’s newsletter. Basically Wilson will be back to its old A/B schedule with some classes also offered on a semester basis…this is great news!!! Thanks to all who emailed/called/made a fuss!

[Anonymous]

FYI, for those who may not have heard, Wilson is reverting back to it's old A/B schedule where almost all of its classes will be on a year-long schedule. This is excellent news.