Reply to New SOLs -- the contrast between Arlington and Alexandria City's failing Public Schools

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Reply to "New SOLs -- the contrast between Arlington and Alexandria City's failing Public Schools"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I think the plummeting Middle School math scores are a direct result of three things:

(1) ACPS is pressuring kids to accelerate their math courses so that 8th graders will take either Algebra 1 or Geometry.  The District keeps crowing about the huge increases in the number of kids taking these Algebra I/Geometry in middle school.  The result: somewhat lower pass rates for Alg. 1 and Geometry, because all the kids with even slightly above average math skills have been pressed to accelerate, and ATROCIOUS 8th grade math courses becaue only the kids at the bottom of the barrel are taking "8th Grade Math" anymore.

(2) ACPS was concerned about NCLB sanctions.  Because of this, they were more focused on "teaching to the test" than other surrounding districts that didn't have to worry about NCLB sanctions.  So, in the year that the test changed--the scores dropped much more heavily here.

[b](3) Everyday Math.  I recognize that other surrounding districts use it, too.  But it's shortcomings are even more problematic in a place like Alexandria.   There's a reason this curriculum is nicknamed "Everynight Math."  Parents are spending their evenings teaching their kids to memorize the math facts that are no longer stressed in this horrible curriculum.  In places like Alexandria where you have a lot of poor families who aren't doing a lot of extra work with their kids at night and on weekends, the shortcomings of Everyday Math are exacerbated.[/b]

As an ACPS parent who has been trying to support the system, I am very disappointed by the article on ACPS's website that tries to put a positive spin on the district's test results and labels the drop in Math scores "expected" because of the new test.  It should not have been expected that our scores fall that far below the state average--and the district better take some ACTION because of it.
 [/quote]

Does anyone know long has ACPS been using "Everyday Math"?  I am an ACPS parent and I was told by a principal that these low scores would be making headlines, but she explained that it was due to a new math curriculum that did not teach to the test.  Does this ring any bells for those of you more in-the-know?  [/quote]

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