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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]For those asking for advanced math opportunities, FCPS already offers AAP math, and further with principal approval, 6th graders can enroll in Algebra 1 or go for summer geometry as rising 8th grader.  Are you saying even more advanced math options should be provided?[/quote]

Algebra in 6th grade is rare, 30 kids most years and only at a few schools. The path to Algebra in 6th is not publicly shared and is fully dependent on a test in 6th grade. People are saying that the path is too strict and needs to be made public.

DS had a 145 on the Q section of the CoGAT, has SOL scores that have never been lower then 550 in math, to include a perfect score, and iReady percentiles in the 99th percentile every time he has taken the iReady. No one discussed Algebra in 6th grade with us. He hit every bench mark for Algebra in 6th grade but our school is not one of the ones that actively looks for kids that fit the profile and we did not know that the path existed.

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A ver small number students take Algebra 1 in 6th, definitely less than 1%. You can’t really ask the district to make programs and pour resources into something that so few students would benefit from.

In your case, you probably accelerated your kid with at home and outside enrichment, seems to me it’s more of your responsibility to figure out a path for advanced math placement, instead of complaining he wasn’t placed in 6th in Algebra. There are so many options available, just be nice and understanding when dealing with the school administrators, they most likely will work something out for your kid. Making demands and asking district wide policies and programs is definitely not the way to go.[/quote]

Where did I complain about it in my post? We did not say anything to the school or complain to the administration. I was unaware that there was a path for Algebra in 6th grade until I read about it here in 5th grade because the county does not make that information public knowledge. The point is that there was at least one kid who met all of the criteria that is suppose to exist who was not offered the opportunity to accelerate at school because the school does not offer that opportunity. And he is not likely the only one that is not given the chance.

We did not prep for the NNAT or the CoGAT and we did not attend math enrichment until the COVID year, so 4th grade for my son. His NNAT and CoGAT scores were his ability, his iReady percentiles were in the 99th percentile in 1-4th grade, before we started RSM. We started RSM because he was bored with math at school, it is what we saw during online learning that prompted our choice to offer it to him.

His K Teacher commented on his math ability and had him working on first grade material in K. Every Teacher he had commented on his math ability and told us that there was no way he wouldn’t end up in Advanced Math. Had he been at one of the handful os schools that look for the benchmarks, there would have been a discussion to advance him or not. Now he is a 6th grader and he scored an 18 on the AMC8, participates in a ton of other math competitions, and studies math outside of school and RSM for fun.

If the County has a policy, and they do, then it should be applied uniformly, and it isn’t. And there is nothing wrong with pointing that out. [/quote]

Can you link to the policy the district didn’t follow?

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Not accessible to URM parents. Only the privileged know how to get their 6th graders in Algebra 1.  Must be publicly available so you dont have to come here and ask. [/quote]

Ok, so you’re just making things up. You said the district has a policy and they’re not applying it uniformly, now you can’t find it because you’re URM. It’s not a policy, it’s left to the school and they can implement it if there are resources, a sufficient number of student to form a class etc.

What specifically are you complaining about?

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They are not forming a class of Algebra 1 students in 6th grade. The kids either go to the MS to take the class or they take it online. The kids in 6th grade are dispersed around the County. [/quote]

Did you ask that they test your student and place him in Algebra? You seem to be upset that they didn’t read your mind and foresee that you might be upset in the future that some kids take Algebra earlier than yours. We’re talking about 30 kids district wide out of 14000 that do Algebra in 6th, it’s usually parents advocating for their kids because it’s so rare, likely the schools won’t know what to do with them.[/quote]

The point is that smart kids of uninvolved or incompetent parents ("unprivileged" or "URM" because that poster is extremely racist about the ability of URM people to care for their kids) can't get themselves into the advanced classes. [/quote]

Out of the 30 kids capable of taking algebra in 6th, how many have uninvolved or incompetent parents? Likely you’re the only person having this issue. If indeed your student got 18 on AMC8 in 6th grade, the regular algebra class would not be very useful to him. That’s a score indicative of algebra mastery to say the least. [/quote]

I can't make heads or taiks out of the confused mix of ideas in that paragraph. You seem to have missed that students not invited to Algebra in 6th are not  among the 30 enrolled in Algebra in 6th.

But the AMC 8 is an (enriched) prealgebra test. Mastery of Algebra, including quadratics, is domain of the AMC 10.

https://maa.org/math-competitions/amc-8

Scoring 18/25 shows solid prealgebra skills, mature careful work, and quickness/fluency.

6th graders in Algebra 1 class are exactly the sort of people who score about 18. (I know several of them!).

And anyway, if as you say, these students have already mastered algebra, why would you think they should be in pre-algebra class instead?! [/quote]

[b]The district is not keeping any kids out of Algebra 1 in 6th grade. There no district policy that says a student should be placed in Algebra 1 if they pass certain criteria. It’s left to the latitude of the principal, because they need to figure out if they have the critical mass of students, qualified teachers etc.[/b]

You are complaining that there’s no default policy of placing 6th graders in Algebra! How do you not see the insanity of this approach, that’s appropriate for less than 1% of the students.

For such kids it always was about parents working with the school to find an acceptable solution for the math placement of the students, because there’s too few of them.

You could be bothered to do some research on it or talk to the principal, but somehow you think it’s unfair.

If your kid is indeed that advanced, work with the school to figure out a way to accelerate to their appropriate level through summer classes, doubling up, taking additional math as elective etc. in the vast majority of cases there’s a huge disconnect between how bright parents think the kids are and reality, and often schools need to say no to tiger parents inappropriately pushing their kids to advanced classes. Start by taking an independent evaluation like MAP and take the results to the administration to advocate for your kid, make a case and be persistent, friendly and gracious. Whining on DCUM about it will not help your kid’s cause. [/quote]

DP.  You're flat out incorrect with the bolded, and since this has already been explained in this thread, I question your basic reading comprehension.

The district actually does have a policy, and they've set forth specific criteria for Algebra I placement.  It's left to the latitude of the principal, not due to any critical mass of students or qualified teachers, but rather because everything in FCPS is at the principal's discussion.  They are the lord of their little kingdom.  The ones who don't participate are doing so to dodge pushy parents or because they don't want to figure out the minimal logistical concerns required of them, or because they just can't be arsed to do so.  Critical mass of students and qualified teachers are irrelevant, because the ES is not providing any of that.  Kids who take Algebra in 6th must either do the online class or the parents must transport the kid to the middle school for 1st period, and then back to the ES for the full ES day.  The principal doesn't need to do anything.

Also, while 6th grade Algebra is appropriate for less than 1% of the kids, it is appropriate for a much larger percent of the kids in AAP attending an AAP center.  My large sized, mid-SES center generally has around 8 kids per grade level take Algebra in 6th.  If they widened access to any kid who scored 140+ on the CogAT Q and likewise has iready scores showing readiness for Algebra, they'd likely have 15-20 kids.[/quote]

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