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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Detracking was never on the infographic. But calculus always was.

APS slowed down acceleration a few years ago - before VMPI. It was a decision made by math department because they weren’t happy with outcomes. Too many kids pushed into algebra too early for no significant benefit. It was an educational decision, not political.
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+1.  People here seem to treat Algebra in sixth grade and calculus in high school as in they are ends into themselves rather than stepping stones to further learning.  It is not helpful at all for a kid to take calculus in high school if they don’t learn the material because they didn’t come into it with and adequate foundation.  VMPI is intended in part to make sure that foundation exists before kids take calculus rather than getting them to calculus in high school at any cost.  It is also designed to provide a productive and useful path for those kids who are not going to take calculus for whatever reason.  None of that was going to prohibit school systems from offering calculus in high school for those who are prepared for it.[/quote]

There are other options then Calculus in FCPS and I believe the other counties near by. Plenty of options. There are pathways for math that don't include Calculus so the idea that they would create a pathway that pretty much does away with Calculus was crazy.

I don't think that Algebra in 6th grade is something to shoot for, I think 7th grade is early. I figured that 8th grade for Algebra was advanced. Then I had a kid who loves math and does it for fun. Do I want him taking Algebra in 6th grade? Nope. He will probably take it in 7th grade and be fine with it. I can imagine that there are kids who are picking up math more quickly then my kid. They should have a path forward that works for them. No one is arguing that all kids should be aiming for Algebra in 6th grade. The original VMPI info I saw pretty much removed Algebra in MS or made it really, really hard to get into. Say what you will, there are kids who are ready for it and that path needs to be there.

And Algebra in 7th, at least in FCPS, can be opted out of. I know people who have done that. We have a neighbor who suggested we think long and hard about it Algebra in 7th, her kid is good at math but not into STEM. They wish that she had waited until 8th because the math beyond Calculus is doable but unnecessary.

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