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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is speculation, but maybe compacted math is being changed in some way due to curriculum issues.

Compacted math, covering 4th-6th grade math in elementary school, used to lead to AIM, covering 7th and 8th grade math in 6th grade, and then to algebra in 7th.  AIM was created by MCPS, and many middle schools seem to be getting rid of it in favor of the options available from the current MS curriculum provider (LearnZillion/Imagine Learning Classroom).  LearnZillion options include "6+", which covers 6th and half of 7th grade math, and "7+", which covers the rest of 7th and 8th grade math.  So if you're trying to get to Algebra in 7th grade using these options, you end up doing compacted math and then 7+, missing part of the 7th grade math curriculum.

I could see MCPS trying to adjust the elementary school compacted classes to address this, but I don't know if that's really happening.[/quote]

That’s fine, but if they eliminate ES acceleration and start at 6+ for advanced 6th graders, no one will get to Algebra until 8th, [b]which is out of step with a lot of the rest of the country and will have consequences for students in high school and college[/b].

Back in the 90s, in a different Maryland jurisdiction, we had everyone in 4th grade math together, advanced kids did both 5th and 6th grade math in 5th, in 6th grade we did pre-algebra and then Algebra 1 in 7th. Advanced kids was probably the top 15-20 percent, but I don’t actually know. It wasn’t most kids. [/quote]

No, no it won't. The amount of hand-wringing that parents of 4th graders do on this Board about the need for their child to take Algebra in 7th grade or whatever is always hilarious. Your kid will be just fine and, contrary to popular belief, the impact that their inability to take multivariable calculus by 10th grade or whatever makes you feel happy on what they will be able to take in college is nonexistent. [/quote]

I generally find DCUM's obsession with math acceleration frustrating, but you are wrong here. The only way that any kids in MCPS get to M/V Calculus is by allowing some of them to take Algebra I in 7th grade at the latest. If MCPS indeed pushes that to 8th grade (which I actually think is unlikely and believe the OP's teacher friend was wrong about), it would mean that zero kids would be able to take M/V Calculus without either doing a math class outside of school, coming in from a private school, or doubling up on math in HS.

[/quote]

The horror. Larlo won’t be able to get a job in Silicon Valley with that track[/quote]

There are almost 200K students in MCPS. For none of them to be prepared for STEM programs, or for only the rich kids who can afford external coursework to be prepared, would be a tremendous failure. [/quote]

Do you really think a child needs multivariable calculus to be a STEM major?
If so, you are very wrong.[/quote]

There are a lot of people in this thread who do obviously don't work in STEM. Those of us who do realize this early acceleration is not necessary. And it might be counter productive actually.

Also, other (better) school systems realize this. There is hardly any permitted acceleration in Boston in the public school system. You take Algebra in 8th, geometry in 9th for the accelerated track. Like how it used to be here on the advanced track. [/quote]

In some cases, that's true, but just as many kids need to be challenged and are up to it. Artificially slowing their progress to give the illusion as having made progress reducing the achievement gap is misguided.[/quote]

Exactly! I'm a STEM PhD and from what I'm seeing for now from my 7th grader, Algebra I in 7th grade is actually way too easy for him. There could be a way to have more enrichment and offer more breadth and not just speed, but MCPS is not doing that (one reason why we're doing it through RSM.) Who are the kids suffering from early acceleration? If these kids actually exist, they should be identified and perhaps the cutoffs can be adjusted to make it easier for similar kids in the future by not accelerating them.* Also, perhaps MCPS will either 1) add some enrichment options or 2) add more material for everyone so that it's more challenging for all the kids, but you can get a B even if you can't do the really hard problems. Option 2 is what I did in my home country and what many other countries do. The US (and MCPS) teaches more towards the middle/bottom, which is what it is (pluses and minuses for both approaches), hence the discussions we're having right now.

I just think it's hypocritical to say "Oh, the poor accelerated kids," when many (most?) kids who are accelerated only get advantages from this. If the concern is over reducing inequalities, then that should be stated upfront and more ways of getting more underprivileged kids into the accelerated tracks should be considered (by raising their level, not lowering cutoffs!)

* I think this could be an issue if a kid skips multiple grades or perhaps lacks maturity when getting to Algebra 2 or Calc. But I still don't think it's an issue just because a kid took Algebra 1 in 7th. Many countries do it earlier and my kids started solving simple equations in 1st grade in RSM (I don't mean this as a humblebrag, just as a statement that it can be done.)[/quote]

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