New Math Program - NO Differentiation until Grades 11-12?!?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone seen this Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative thing that is going to to put all kids in the same "math essentials" classes from K-10? The info page is here: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml. They are doing webinars for more info, and there is a feedback email address as well as a comment/question form.

I thought for sure I was reading this wrong, but, nope, they want to put ALL kids in the same math classes until 11th grade and rely on teachers to do "in-class enrichment" to differentiate for the ones who need more help and the math geniuses. How teachers are supposed to do this, I have no idea. This seems crazy to me. I have one kid who didn't qualify for AAP but is in advanced math, and they've been telling us that they can continue in advanced math in MS/HS and get in at least one calculus class, even if they don't do honors classes for other subjects. Another of my kids is slightly below grade level in math and really self-conscious about it, and I'm worried they won't get the attention they need to keep up and how bad they're going to feel in a class with bored accelerated math kids.

Why would they do this instead of providing more support to the kids that are struggling and make it easier for teachers by grouping kids by abilities? I don't get scrapping the whole existing math program and not giving kids a chance to select the class that is best for them. Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Simply equity isn't excellence.

[Anonymous]

I am a big fan of tracking to a certain extent as I have one advanced kid and one that really struggles and I need them to be in vastly different classes. This is awful for everyone.

[Anonymous]

There’s a 15+ thread in the AAP forum with concrete ideas on what you can do. Check it out.

[Anonymous]

I recently emailed my legislators and the governor opposing, as well as filled out the feedback form.

Offering a track like they propose is good, but Lee the advanced track.

[Anonymous]

Cross post from another thread: People have noted that the Post seems to not have covered this. To notify the Post of a story, you are supposed to contact a reporter who covers the topic. Looks like this reporter has written on TJ, so maybe they'd be up for covering this story too? Can someone who has the info email them and send them the youtube links?

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

By the way this is a VA not FCPS initiative. And it’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

I am glad someone finally posted this on this forum. This is a bad decision for ALL kids and something everyone should be fighting at the state level.

[Anonymous]

There are other systems that work this way, with good math outcomes. Many/most Singaporean schools shifted to in class differentiation at least in primary and we should be so lucky as to have their math outcomes

Before anyone gets any ideas, no not everyone in Singapore is rich, despite that global stereotype.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen this Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative thing that is going to to put all kids in the same "math essentials" classes from K-10? The info page is here: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml. They are doing webinars for more info, and there is a feedback email address as well as a comment/question form.

I thought for sure I was reading this wrong, but, nope, they want to put ALL kids in the same math classes until 11th grade and rely on teachers to do "in-class enrichment" to differentiate for the ones who need more help and the math geniuses. How teachers are supposed to do this, I have no idea. This seems crazy to me. I have one kid who didn't qualify for AAP but is in advanced math, and they've been telling us that they can continue in advanced math in MS/HS and get in at least one calculus class, even if they don't do honors classes for other subjects. Another of my kids is slightly below grade level in math and really self-conscious about it, and I'm worried they won't get the attention they need to keep up and how bad they're going to feel in a class with bored accelerated math kids.

Why would they do this instead of providing more support to the kids that are struggling and make it easier for teachers by grouping kids by abilities? I don't get scrapping the whole existing math program and not giving kids a chance to select the class that is best for them. Am I missing something?

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[Anonymous]

Tracking kids early leaves some kids behind FOREVER. My kid is gifted in math. Does he need to be in a separate class. No he does not. Public schooling is not for every snowflake. It's for ALL kids. For once can you broaden your circle of concern beyond your own child?


No?

That's your problem. Not the state's. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Just because you don't understand how in-class differentiation works or how personalize learning can make tracking obsolete means that you need to keep up with the world of education. It's not the 80s any longer. Your genius child will be just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone seen this Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative thing that is going to to put all kids in the same "math essentials" classes from K-10? The info page is here: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml. They are doing webinars for more info, and there is a feedback email address as well as a comment/question form.

I thought for sure I was reading this wrong, but, nope, they want to put ALL kids in the same math classes until 11th grade and rely on teachers to do "in-class enrichment" to differentiate for the ones who need more help and the math geniuses. How teachers are supposed to do this, I have no idea. This seems crazy to me. I have one kid who didn't qualify for AAP but is in advanced math, and they've been telling us that they can continue in advanced math in MS/HS and get in at least one calculus class, even if they don't do honors classes for other subjects. Another of my kids is slightly below grade level in math and really self-conscious about it, and I'm worried they won't get the attention they need to keep up and how bad they're going to feel in a class with bored accelerated math kids.

Why would they do this instead of providing more support to the kids that are struggling and make it easier for teachers by grouping kids by abilities? I don't get scrapping the whole existing math program and not giving kids a chance to select the class that is best for them. Am I missing something?

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https://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/mathematics/vmpi/index.shtml

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are other systems that work this way, with good math outcomes. Many/most Singaporean schools shifted to in class differentiation at least in primary and we should be so lucky as to have their math outcomes

Before anyone gets any ideas, no not everyone in Singapore is rich, despite that global stereotype.

No, but everyone values education and is willing to put their money where their mouth is. Parents work multiple jobs to pay for their child's education.

[Anonymous]

If my kid is currently in 8th grade and will graduate in 2025, will she at all be affected by this? (Looking at the timeline my guess is no?)