You would think MCPS would figure this out before pushing out their program changes. All of their draft program pathways show students taking IM 1 and 2 in HS followed by a 2 year HS math course. However, MCPS knows exactly how many students are currently enrolled in compacted math and will complete IM 1 and 2 in MS. More flash advertising from MCPS!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not what I understood. I know that the IM concept is state-mandated, but I actually thought the state recommended doing it as a 3-year sequence.

Correct. MSDE said to do it in 3 years, but MCPS wants all kids to do it in 2.

I have a 5th grader in compacted math going to Loeiderman next year and emailed their Math RT. All compacted math kids go to pre algebra in grade 6. Grades 7 and 8 will be IM 1 and IM 2 which are the equivalent of Alg 1 and 2 plus Geometry. 9th grade is pre calculus and 10th grade is AP calc. No idea what happens in grades 11 and 12.

This is incorrect. MSDE is requiring a two-year sequence. They want pathways that do not involve calculus and don’t think all the standards are necessary for these students. The calculus track will need an extra course.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not what I understood. I know that the IM concept is state-mandated, but I actually thought the state recommended doing it as a 3-year sequence.

But if I’m mistaken, and the condensed sequence is state-mandated, it’s even more nuts. Other MD countries will be even less prepared for the drastic increase in students taking Calc in 10th.

Just remember that the integrated courses not compacted. They move at grade level. Some standards are moved to 8th grade and some are skipped. For those who don’t do the calc track, that seems fine. But for those on the calc track, they will not be ready for precalc, so MCPS had better add a course to cover the missing standards or make orecalc longer than a year.

Anonymous wrote:That's not what I understood. I know that the IM concept is state-mandated, but I actually thought the state recommended doing it as a 3-year sequence.

No: state requires a two-year sequence.

Anonymous wrote:So there is no more Geometry? What is the rationale?

Likely the same rationale that removed Trigonometry

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Current 6th graders in pre algebra are on the regular old pathway?
Algebra 1 7th
Geometry 8th
Algebra 2 9th

?

Yes. Those taking Algebra 1 next year, in whichever grade, would be the last to follow that three course sequence.

When do they have the testing for Algebra? If a kid gets a low score in Algebra in MS, can they repeat it?

Anonymous wrote:So there is no more Geometry? What is the rationale?

The rationale is to mix algebra and geometry together rather than separating them out, which lots of states have done and makes sense. But other states keep it as a mixed 3 years rather than cut it to 2. Maryland says only 2 years worth of content is actually important.

So there is no more Geometry? What is the rationale?

Anonymous wrote:Current 6th graders in pre algebra are on the regular old pathway?
Algebra 1 7th
Geometry 8th
Algebra 2 9th

?

Yes. Those taking Algebra 1 next year, in whichever grade, would be the last to follow that three course sequence.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So if my fifth grader this year is in pre algebra next year, what are her next few math courses in the sequence?

Integrated Algebra 1 and 2 in 7th and 8th, and then the following classes are a bit TBD both because MSDE is still developing their rules about them and because MCPS will then have to figure out how to respond, but it may well be pre-calc in 9th and calc in 10th unless MSDE allows and MCPS creates a second course to be taken in-between IA2 and calc.

Thank you!

Current 6th graders in pre algebra are on the regular old pathway?
Algebra 1 7th
Geometry 8th
Algebra 2 9th

?

Anonymous wrote:So if my fifth grader this year is in pre algebra next year, what are her next few math courses in the sequence?

Integrated Algebra 1 and 2 in 7th and 8th, and then the following classes are a bit TBD both because MSDE is still developing their rules about them and because MCPS will then have to figure out how to respond, but it may well be pre-calc in 9th and calc in 10th unless MSDE allows and MCPS creates a second course to be taken in-between IA2 and calc.

This leaves bright kids who want advanced not accelerated math (and I do draw a distinction) fewer options in middle school.

So if my fifth grader this year is in pre algebra next year, what are her next few math courses in the sequence?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That's not what I understood. I know that the IM concept is state-mandated, but I actually thought the state recommended doing it as a 3-year sequence.

Correct. MSDE said to do it in 3 years, but MCPS wants all kids to do it in 2.

I have a 5th grader in compacted math going to Loeiderman next year and emailed their Math RT. All compacted math kids go to pre algebra in grade 6. Grades 7 and 8 will be IM 1 and IM 2 which are the equivalent of Alg 1 and 2 plus Geometry. 9th grade is pre calculus and 10th grade is AP calc. No idea what happens in grades 11 and 12.

This is absolutely false. MSDE is forcing all Maryland counties to do it in two years. MCPS does many things wrong but this one is MSDE's fault.

(The theory behind it, I believe, is that they want to get high schoolers past algebra quicker so they can focus in on subjects that are more interesting and relevant to them if they're not on a calc track.)

Correct. MSDE is mandating the new Math standards that include the replacement of the three-year Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2 sequence with a two-year Integrated Algebra 1 & 2 sequence. ("Integrated" meaning, among other things, that aspects of Geometry are covered within the Algebra courses.)

However, there will be content currently in the Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2 curriculum that is not in the new Integrated Algebra 1/Integrated Algebra 2 curriculum -- they are not really compacting the three current courses into a 2-year acceleration, but achieving that 2 years (vs. 3 that some other states have adopted) by removing several standards. A small bit of that may be moved back to earlier years with the new overall curriculum (whatever is adopted that parallels the current elementary/middle curriculum though one of Math 8, AMP7+ or PreAlgebra). , The majority, though of that which will be removed (e.g., much of Trigonometry currently in Algebra 2, some Stats, etc.) either will be left out altogether (i.e., in some of the new 4 post-Algebra pathways, as these were conceived, in part, not to encompass such content that has become esoteric in the sense that much of the modern working world does not seek its mastery) or integrated into later coursework (i.e., for other pathways, like Calculus, where a PreCalculus curriculum then might need to be expanded to cover those concepts).