Reply to Algebra 1 in 6th grade, followed by normal pace

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So less than [b]half of Asian Americans take calculus in high school[/b]? A higher amount than other groups but still not a majority of students.

Students can get to calculus if they have Algebra 1 in 8th grade. There really isn’t a barrier for any race. [/quote]
That's impressive so far.  If barriers like this current convoluted process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade were to be eliminated, calculus enrollment would increase over time not just for Asian American students but all other races too.  
[/quote]

6th grade Algebra 1 is not a barrier to calculus. You can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade and take calculus. And there is no real barrier to Algebra 1 in 8th grade, most the MS have a large number of students in Algebra 1 in 8th grade, so on track to calculus.

Most kids don’t take calculus because they are not interested in calculus and want to take a different type of math. Calculus is not required for most college majors. [/quote]
There is lack of straight forward process to enroll in Algebra 1 in 6th grade. Parent needs to know the multiyear plan and testing process starting from 4th grade, which is ridiculous.[b] Only 30 or so kids' parents seem to know about it[/b]. URM kids are missing out. [/quote]

The process is triggered by FCPS and not the parents.  Parents don't need to know the plan, since they have no part in initiating the acceleration.  It's triggered by the school for kids who meet the criteria.  If a URM kid is at an AAP center that participates in this acceleration, and the URM kid meets the benchmarks, the URM kid will be skipped ahead, just like all of the other kids who qualify.  There aren't necessarily that many kids with qualifying scores who lack access.  One PP has stated that her kid meets the benchmarks but wasn't offered the acceleration, but if I remember correctly, the kid opted not to attend the center, where the acceleration was likely available.

There are many reasons to be concerned with the FCPS path toward Algebra in 6th.  Using CogAT scores from the fall of 2nd grade, rather than retesting for math level at the end of 4th is absurd.  Letting principals opt out of the program when they have qualifying kids is also bad.  Making highly advanced kids slog through grade level math for 3 years and only mildly accelerated for 2 more before completely skipping a year is dumb.  Keeping parents largely out of the process is no big deal.

[/quote]What if the URM kid isn't at the center since their well-meaning parents trusted FCPS' claims that local LIV was the same? Then what?[/quote]
You're really determined to make this a "FCPS oppressing URMs" thing, even when it isn't.  There are probably only a small handful of kids who meet the CogAT Q and SOL benchmarks, but are at a non participating school.  These kids are likely white or Asian kids, and they likely knew that staying at the LLIV rather than attending the center would cost them some opportunities.

If, in theory, you had a brilliant URM with a sky high CogAT Q, then the school would be encouraging the parents to send the kid to the center.  It's pretty well understood that if your kid is a regular AAP kid, the LLIV and the center will be more or less the same, but if you have an outlier, your kid should attend the center.
[/quote]I agree, the benchmarks for algebra in 6th are arbitrarily high. Where does FCPS say that "if your kid is a regular AAP kid, the LLIV and the center will be more or less the same, but if you have an outlier, your kid should attend the center"? I'm not dumb, but if it wasn't for DCUM I would also believe FCPS, so I'm not calling anyone dumb.[/quote]

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