Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 15:44     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:Is the notification finished or there will be still some in the coming weeks?


It should be done at this point.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 15:41     Subject: Re:Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:Can the kids who qualify go to the MS eg Longfellow or do they have to do it at the elementary school?


It’s a massive logistical challenge with that many kids. When it was 1 or 2 they could squeeze them into an existing section. With 50-100 kids per middle school pyramid qualifying (our pyramid’s center has 48, presumably the non center schools have in the pyramid have 5-10 each too) that’s 3+ sections of classes for 6th graders. The only real time it can happen is first block due to travel time, so they’d have to find 3 algebra teachers to do it which means hiring at least 1 additional part time math teacher to pick up those lost sections.

Now those kids essentially have 2 math teachers, because the elementary school teachers aren’t being paid less just because some of their kids left, so it costs more. More in staffing, more in transportation.

Middle schools are all on block, so it’s an every other day math rotation. What do they do on days they don’t have middle school math? Do we have to hire another teacher to monitor them doing their algebra homework and filling in pre algebra gaps? Or are they going to be in their normal 6th grade class reading a book?

Are they riding the middle school bus every other day? Are they meeting at the elementary school and being bussed to the middle school?

It’s not impossible but it requires a lot more than 2 weeks notice. Thus is something that should be shared now for implementation next year.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 14:52     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Main issue is giving parents only two weeks notice.

This looks rushed. Probably going to create issues and FCPS can then point to this as the reason why they did not offer Algebra in the first place in the past. More fodder to woke equity warriors as to why math is racist.


I get the distinct impression, from what has been posted here, that Dr. Reid wants this to succeed and is the only one pushing the program. Someone posted that her old district offered Algebra in 6th grade and she wants that here. It is one reason for MS to be grade 6-8, to be able to offer Algebra to 6th graders.

I have no idea why they waited until 2 weeks before school starts to announce this. I would have waited a year and given teachers enough time to get the training and certifications that they need before offering it in the non-Secondary Schools. Sure, offer it to 6th graders who meet the metric at the secondary schools and let them join the 7th grade classes but why toss it on the ES that don’t have the certified teachers?


+1
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 11:49     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Is the notification finished or there will be still some in the coming weeks?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 11:38     Subject: Re:Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Can the kids who qualify go to the MS eg Longfellow or do they have to do it at the elementary school?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 10:50     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most of the posts here are trashing the new pilot program and with the same breath bragging about their own kids being completely capable to take this course, but can’t since their school has not been selected.


The pilot was announced the week that Teachers reported to school. There was no advanced warning early in the summer so that 6th grade teachers, who have a specific ES credential, could prepare to teach a high school level course, which requires a different credential. There was no warning to parents that they would have a decision to make and time to think through their choice.

Parents were/are worried about kids being put into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade when they would not have meet the old standard and they knew about that at the end of the school year. Sixth grade Algebra was dropped a week before school started, leaving schools unable to answer questions that parents had. They have given parents 2 weeks to decide if their 6th grader should be in a high school class.

Some of us, my kid is an 8th grader so we are not involved, would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade, had it been an option. We know because of how he was doing on math competitions in 3-5th grade and what he was learning in his math competition class. He is the RSM/AoPS kid that one poster was discussing in her kids 7th graders Algebra 1H class. Our school didn’t even think about recommending Algebra 1 for 6th graders and we choose not to ask, we didn’t want him going to the MS. So yes, there are parents who know their kid would be fine in the class.

But there are parents in this topic that are worried about it, for good reason. It is a big leap and a wrong choice could mean trying to convince your 11/12 year old that it is ok to have to move to a different math class because they are struggling with a class meant for kids 3 years older. It isn’t an easy choice. There are kids ready but ready isn’t fully measured by a test metric and the parents know that.

So yea, FCPS should have given teachers, schools, and parents more time to prepare for this and make an informed choice. That is the issue, that this feels like it is thrown together at the last minute. That is not going to help the pilot succeed, teachers who had little time to prepare for a class that is going to be challenging in its pace and material.


Another Reid failure. How many have to occur before the SB gets rid of her?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 10:00     Subject: Re:Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anyone think FCPS just took number of kids applying to TJ who are in Algebra 2 in 8th and worked backwards- so the 500 who will take Alg 1 now in 6th will just be same that would have taken Geometry in summer between 7th and 8th. So end of day, FCPS will declare a math victory, but in reality by 8th grade there will be same number of kids in Alg 2 were before and will be the same kids would have been anyway?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 09:44     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Main issue is giving parents only two weeks notice.

This looks rushed. Probably going to create issues and FCPS can then point to this as the reason why they did not offer Algebra in the first place in the past. More fodder to woke equity warriors as to why math is racist.


I get the distinct impression, from what has been posted here, that Dr. Reid wants this to succeed and is the only one pushing the program. Someone posted that her old district offered Algebra in 6th grade and she wants that here. It is one reason for MS to be grade 6-8, to be able to offer Algebra to 6th graders.

I have no idea why they waited until 2 weeks before school starts to announce this. I would have waited a year and given teachers enough time to get the training and certifications that they need before offering it in the non-Secondary Schools. Sure, offer it to 6th graders who meet the metric at the secondary schools and let them join the 7th grade classes but why toss it on the ES that don’t have the certified teachers?


Her old district was small. It has only 20 ES (source below). FCPS has 141 ES and all with higher population in each school! Her old had only 6 MS v 26. If look at total student count, even including all HS and alternative schools in her old district, still only get 22,000 students v. 180,000 at FCPS. And old school district had only 2,100 employees– that’s EVERY employee and not just teachers compared to FCPS with over 40,000….

All to say, Reid continues to make decisions like she is still in her old, small district and until she figures out she is NOT, will be more moves like this (with 1 week before school rollout) that leave people scratching heads and asking “how did someone think this could work?”

Source: https://www.nsd.org/
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 09:42     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Some will opt out but a significant number will participate and easily finish it with an A grade. But what's the fate of this algebra 1 in 6th grade program when fcps compiles the diversity chart and it certainly shows that majority students are from one particular minority race?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 08:55     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:Main issue is giving parents only two weeks notice.

This looks rushed. Probably going to create issues and FCPS can then point to this as the reason why they did not offer Algebra in the first place in the past. More fodder to woke equity warriors as to why math is racist.


I get the distinct impression, from what has been posted here, that Dr. Reid wants this to succeed and is the only one pushing the program. Someone posted that her old district offered Algebra in 6th grade and she wants that here. It is one reason for MS to be grade 6-8, to be able to offer Algebra to 6th graders.

I have no idea why they waited until 2 weeks before school starts to announce this. I would have waited a year and given teachers enough time to get the training and certifications that they need before offering it in the non-Secondary Schools. Sure, offer it to 6th graders who meet the metric at the secondary schools and let them join the 7th grade classes but why toss it on the ES that don’t have the certified teachers?
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 08:44     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Main issue is giving parents only two weeks notice.

This looks rushed. Probably going to create issues and FCPS can then point to this as the reason why they did not offer Algebra in the first place in the past. More fodder to woke equity warriors as to why math is racist.
Anonymous
Post 08/17/2025 08:09     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most of the posts here are trashing the new pilot program and with the same breath bragging about their own kids being completely capable to take this course, but can’t since their school has not been selected.


The pilot was announced the week that Teachers reported to school. There was no advanced warning early in the summer so that 6th grade teachers, who have a specific ES credential, could prepare to teach a high school level course, which requires a different credential. There was no warning to parents that they would have a decision to make and time to think through their choice.

Parents were/are worried about kids being put into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade when they would not have meet the old standard and they knew about that at the end of the school year. Sixth grade Algebra was dropped a week before school started, leaving schools unable to answer questions that parents had. They have given parents 2 weeks to decide if their 6th grader should be in a high school class.

Some of us, my kid is an 8th grader so we are not involved, would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade, had it been an option. We know because of how he was doing on math competitions in 3-5th grade and what he was learning in his math competition class. He is the RSM/AoPS kid that one poster was discussing in her kids 7th graders Algebra 1H class. Our school didn’t even think about recommending Algebra 1 for 6th graders and we choose not to ask, we didn’t want him going to the MS. So yes, there are parents who know their kid would be fine in the class.

But there are parents in this topic that are worried about it, for good reason. It is a big leap and a wrong choice could mean trying to convince your 11/12 year old that it is ok to have to move to a different math class because they are struggling with a class meant for kids 3 years older. It isn’t an easy choice. There are kids ready but ready isn’t fully measured by a test metric and the parents know that.

So yea, FCPS should have given teachers, schools, and parents more time to prepare for this and make an informed choice. That is the issue, that this feels like it is thrown together at the last minute. That is not going to help the pilot succeed, teachers who had little time to prepare for a class that is going to be challenging in its pace and material.


Thank you for the summary and also (of course as this is a standard on DCUM) for mentioning that YOUR kid would be FINE with algebra in 6th grade.


Yes, he scored in the 95th percentile on the AMC 8 as a 6th grader, he would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade. Does it bother you that there are parents who recognize that their kids are strong in certain areas? And yes, I am a bit envious. It would have been great for DS to have this opportunity.

One of the common topic of discussion on this forum has been how unfair it is that FCPS did not have a uniform policy for kids who are ahead in math to take Algebra in 6th grade. A handful of schools allowed it, the vast majority didn’t. It was annoying. I am happy that FCPS is finally doing something about it. I wish they had given teachers and parents more then 2 weeks notice. I don’t think the time frame is enough for the pilot to get off to a good start, and that is a shame.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2025 23:52     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Most of the posts here are trashing the new pilot program and with the same breath bragging about their own kids being completely capable to take this course, but can’t since their school has not been selected.


The pilot was announced the week that Teachers reported to school. There was no advanced warning early in the summer so that 6th grade teachers, who have a specific ES credential, could prepare to teach a high school level course, which requires a different credential. There was no warning to parents that they would have a decision to make and time to think through their choice.

Parents were/are worried about kids being put into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade when they would not have meet the old standard and they knew about that at the end of the school year. Sixth grade Algebra was dropped a week before school started, leaving schools unable to answer questions that parents had. They have given parents 2 weeks to decide if their 6th grader should be in a high school class.

Some of us, my kid is an 8th grader so we are not involved, would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade, had it been an option. We know because of how he was doing on math competitions in 3-5th grade and what he was learning in his math competition class. He is the RSM/AoPS kid that one poster was discussing in her kids 7th graders Algebra 1H class. Our school didn’t even think about recommending Algebra 1 for 6th graders and we choose not to ask, we didn’t want him going to the MS. So yes, there are parents who know their kid would be fine in the class.

But there are parents in this topic that are worried about it, for good reason. It is a big leap and a wrong choice could mean trying to convince your 11/12 year old that it is ok to have to move to a different math class because they are struggling with a class meant for kids 3 years older. It isn’t an easy choice. There are kids ready but ready isn’t fully measured by a test metric and the parents know that.

So yea, FCPS should have given teachers, schools, and parents more time to prepare for this and make an informed choice. That is the issue, that this feels like it is thrown together at the last minute. That is not going to help the pilot succeed, teachers who had little time to prepare for a class that is going to be challenging in its pace and material.


Thank you for the summary and also (of course as this is a standard on DCUM) for mentioning that YOUR kid would be FINE with algebra in 6th grade.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2025 15:05     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Anonymous wrote:Most of the posts here are trashing the new pilot program and with the same breath bragging about their own kids being completely capable to take this course, but can’t since their school has not been selected.


The pilot was announced the week that Teachers reported to school. There was no advanced warning early in the summer so that 6th grade teachers, who have a specific ES credential, could prepare to teach a high school level course, which requires a different credential. There was no warning to parents that they would have a decision to make and time to think through their choice.

Parents were/are worried about kids being put into Algebra 1 H in 7th grade when they would not have meet the old standard and they knew about that at the end of the school year. Sixth grade Algebra was dropped a week before school started, leaving schools unable to answer questions that parents had. They have given parents 2 weeks to decide if their 6th grader should be in a high school class.

Some of us, my kid is an 8th grader so we are not involved, would have been fine in Algebra in 6th grade, had it been an option. We know because of how he was doing on math competitions in 3-5th grade and what he was learning in his math competition class. He is the RSM/AoPS kid that one poster was discussing in her kids 7th graders Algebra 1H class. Our school didn’t even think about recommending Algebra 1 for 6th graders and we choose not to ask, we didn’t want him going to the MS. So yes, there are parents who know their kid would be fine in the class.

But there are parents in this topic that are worried about it, for good reason. It is a big leap and a wrong choice could mean trying to convince your 11/12 year old that it is ok to have to move to a different math class because they are struggling with a class meant for kids 3 years older. It isn’t an easy choice. There are kids ready but ready isn’t fully measured by a test metric and the parents know that.

So yea, FCPS should have given teachers, schools, and parents more time to prepare for this and make an informed choice. That is the issue, that this feels like it is thrown together at the last minute. That is not going to help the pilot succeed, teachers who had little time to prepare for a class that is going to be challenging in its pace and material.
Anonymous
Post 08/16/2025 14:31     Subject: Algebra in 6th grade - new selection process?
Most of the posts here are trashing the new pilot program and with the same breath bragging about their own kids being completely capable to take this course, but can’t since their school has not been selected.