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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]The MSDE (state)-mandated switch to Integrated Algebra 1 will start in the 2027-28 school year for those having completed (or having shown mastery in exceptional cases) the pre-Algebra content that is the on-grade-level expectation for middle school through grade 8.  This is whether completeing it under MCPS acceleration (PreAlgebra, the combination of AMP6+ and AMP7+ or Math 8 taken a year early due to prior acceleration in 4/5, 5/6 or otherwise).

Integrated Algebra 2 will follow in 2028-29.  For a time, both the new Integrated Algebra 1 & 2 and the current Algebra 1, Geometry and Algebra 2 will be taught, depending on when the student completed pre-Algebra and began one or other sequence.  For those taking the new courses, the state assessment will be administered at the end of Integrated Algebra 2.

Those currently in AMP6+ likely will take AMP7+ next year (covering 6th, 7th & 8th grade standards in 2 years), then Integrated Algebra 1 the following year.  It is unclear if there will be honors versions of these.

Those currently in PreAlgebra (the current name of the more accelerated course that covers 7th & 8th grade standards in one year) likely will take Algebra 1 next year, followed by Geometry and Algebra 2 (likely honors versions of the latter two; there is no honors version of the current state-mandated Algebra 1 course).

Though completing the overall Algebra sequence at the same time, will be a disconnect between the two groups, as Integrated Algebra will not cover all of the topics that the current sequence does (e.g., Trigonometry).  It is unclear how or whether MCPS and other MD county school systems will account for this difference in later courses, whether requiring repetition of content within a new PreCalc for those having taken the current sequence, insertion of a pre-PreCalc course for those having taken the newer sequence, or some other set of options, such as maintaining two versions of PreCalc until all taking the current sequence finish.[/quote]

1. Thank you for the level of detail and insight. It's more than we've gotten from MCPS!

2. It sounds really complicated and messy to have the concurrent math tracks and classes. How will MCPS staff and register all of that?[/quote]

Happy to support where I have gotten some insight, myself.  (Caveat -- no ex cathedra, here; just another parent.)

I don't know if there are extra state funds associated with managing the change.  I expect it likely will be an unfunded mandate that MCPS has to navigate.  They've been on it for a little while, though, and there is [i]some[/i] time (if barely, given long lead times for curriculum sourcing and the atypical nature of the courses in question) for full policy/planning/training/staff allocation.

I do hope that they don't end up with having the one class forced to repeat learning (especially as they generally have demonstrated affinity for and/or ability related to the subject already) or the other forced to slow-march.  I think they can come up with a set of classes that would be flexible to student ability/need into the future, allowing a few extra periods of coverage for about two years to manage both old and new.[/quote]

There won’t be any “repeat learning.” The few students affected will just be going deeper in the relevant math level.[/quote]

Your two sentences contradict each other.  Either there are students affected by being forced to repeat content or there aren't.

There would be, and they wouldn't be few.  If the current forms of PreCalc are not preserved for a year after the new curriculum completes its implementation, but, instead, is altered [i]for all[/i] such that it incorporates that content lost in the new IA curriculum, any students who would be finishing the current Algebra 2 (which already covers that content) the year prior would be repeating learning of that content.

If they move that content, instead, to a course between IA 2 and PreCalc, that might cause a slowdown (not as compared to current, but as compared to acceleration possible) for those of high ability coming out of IA2.  However, that would allow those finishing Algebra 2 at the same time to continue with PreCalc without the repetition.[/quote]

MCPS will be taking a blended approach. No learners are getting left out here.  This has been covered before.[/quote]

Where?

It would be good to know that MCPS will be setting things up such that those finishing Algebra 1 / Honors Geometry / Honors Algebra 2 then will be able to take Honors PreCalc, as they currently do, and that that course won't have been altered to introduce already-covered material missing from the new Integrated Algebra curriculum.  And that those of high mathematical ability exiting Integrated Algebra 2 at the same time can look forward to a suitably challenging/meaningful course that year as they embark on the Calculus path.

Because, in addition to meeting the needs of a majority or large plurality, that's the kind of thing that "No learners are getting left out here" would tend to mean.[/quote]

Seriously repeating of concepts )if that happens) is not going to hurt any student.  If anything it will reinforce material which seems to already be something that is needed.  Let’s not create problems where they don’t exist.

The biggest question that exist is curriculum since most Integrated Maths on the market are 3 years not 2.  What missing material needs to be added to PreCal or of its enough for an intermediary Math3 course.  And finally what other new courses are going to be classified as eligible for math towards graduation.[/quote]

Why is math moving to a two year sequence from three?[/quote]

It's a new statewide MSDE requirement.  I think the idea is that kids who aren't going on to calculus don't need the full 3 years of algebra/geometry and should be able to move on to other types of math sooner, and the calc-bound kids can catch up on it after.[/quote]

What other types of math sooner?[/quote]

There will be 4 different pathways post-Integrated algebra.:

"i. Quantitative Reasoning pathway develops real-world mathematical skills in 
problem-solving, modeling, financial literacy, and data-driven decision-making.

ii. Data and Data Analytics are increasingly essential, and this pathway builds 
foundational skills in data analysis, programming, and mathematical reasoning. 
It leverages technology to explore real-world datasets and prepare students for 
a data-driven future.

iii. Algebraic Foundations of Calculus pathway is designed for students pursuing 
STEM fields. It provides a deep exploration of functions and change in 
preparation for Calculus.

iv. Statistics and Probability builds students’ understanding of data, uncertainty, 
and statistical inference. It focuses on using quantitative research on real-world 
phenomena to enhance understanding of relationships in the world around us."[/quote]

Seems like a lot of tracking. [/quote]

Not sure I follow?  Tracking is when kids are put on an educational pathway early on that is hard or impossible to break out of.   These are classes that most kids will be choosing between for 11th/12th grade...[/quote]

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