Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my child was accelerated to 4th grade math in 2nd grade (pre-2.0 of course) I was asked for permission. The next year, when the school decided to stop all acceleration, I was not told that she was repeating 4th grade math. I was also not told that the plan was to have her repeat it a 3rd time in 5th grade.

I'm not sure I understand. If the school (?) decided to stop acceleration the year after your child was in second grade, i.e., when she was in third grade, then wouldn't she have been in third grade math? Followed by fourth grade math in fourth grade, and fifth grade math in fifth grade?

Not the PP but this happened in our school too. My oldest finished out right as it stopped. She completed Math 7/IM in 5th grade and went right to Algebra 1 in 6th grade. Other grades lower than her had to repeat curriculum with the 2.0. It was terrible and a lot of complaints.

This is a thread from 2013?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just a note that this thread started in 2013, before the criteria for Compacted Math opened up. Starting in either 16/17 or 17/18, there seems to have been a decision taken by MCPS to make take a much wider swathe of kids into 4/5.

Now Eureka math starts to kick in this year. Who knows how it impacts the compact math and MS track of math?

Our letter home from last week explains that only non-compacted math kids will do Eureka. I have no clue what any of this means, but was a little surprised to see my 98/99 percent map kid not offered the accelerated course. Also didn't know there was any testing for placement. Not the best communication happening at our school I guess.

Anonymous wrote:Just a note that this thread started in 2013, before the criteria for Compacted Math opened up. Starting in either 16/17 or 17/18, there seems to have been a decision taken by MCPS to make take a much wider swathe of kids into 4/5.

Now Eureka math starts to kick in this year. Who knows how it impacts the compact math and MS track of math?

Just a note that this thread started in 2013, before the criteria for Compacted Math opened up. Starting in either 16/17 or 17/18, there seems to have been a decision taken by MCPS to make take a much wider swathe of kids into 4/5.

At our school, it is based on MAP scores (primarily) and teacher recommendation (secondarily). My child was on the bubble and so we spoke to the administration about the process and pros/cons of acceleration.

There is an option to skip a level going into 6th grade. You are actually skipping a full year class, so it isn't ideal. But my understanding is that the full year class you skip (I guess it must be called 6th grade math) has a lot of review built into it, so it is feasible to skip. I know people who did it and didn't have problem.

I don't think most schools 'advertise' this option so if you're interested, you would want to press it with the school.

Of course, every time they change the curriculum, the situation changes, so who knows.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this 4/5 math the last chance our kids have to be accelerated in math? If they don't take 4/5 math, will they be on grade level math all the way through high school? What about kids who don't hit their stride until grade 6 or 7?

I don't know the answer to your question, but do keep in mind that on grade level math under 2.0 in MCPS is Algebra I in 8th grade -- which is above-grade-level math pretty much everywhere else in the US.

Thank you! I think this puts things into perspective.

My suggestion is this...put your kids on Khan academy for at least a half hour a night. They will learn each math concepts to a mastery level and you will see them fly through math. It is amazing. There is not a school system that is perfect. Parents need to take matters into their own hands. For more information on Khan's concept of mastery in math see his Ted talk on this topic.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, there was a test. In the test DS took, there were 48 questions and the student had to get 38 correct. DS got 44 correct. We were then given a choice to either opt for compacted or take the regular one.

Since what they teach is only 1/2 a year's worth of the 5th grade...and you will be accelerated only one year...I see no need to sweat it if it does not happen.

We were ok with DS doing the regular math, just so that he could do other activities in the evenings...he chose 4/5 only because his friend was going in it. It has not been too bad till now...

Curious what you mean, "it has not been too bad till now."

Anonymous wrote:Is this 4/5 math the last chance our kids have to be accelerated in math? If they don't take 4/5 math, will they be on grade level math all the way through high school? What about kids who don't hit their stride until grade 6 or 7?

I don't know the answer to your question, but do keep in mind that on grade level math under 2.0 in MCPS is Algebra I in 8th grade -- which is above-grade-level math pretty much everywhere else in the US.

Is this 4/5 math the last chance our kids have to be accelerated in math? If they don't take 4/5 math, will they be on grade level math all the way through high school? What about kids who don't hit their stride until grade 6 or 7?

Yeah, there was a test. In the test DS took, there were 48 questions and the student had to get 38 correct. DS got 44 correct. We were then given a choice to either opt for compacted or take the regular one.

Since what they teach is only 1/2 a year's worth of the 5th grade...and you will be accelerated only one year...I see no need to sweat it if it does not happen.

We were ok with DS doing the regular math, just so that he could do other activities in the evenings...he chose 4/5 only because his friend was going in it. It has not been too bad till now...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you appeal a decision? I found out that my child was never tested but I don't know all the criteria for qualifying to take the test. My spouse and I both have math backgrounds and so far our child has liked/been good at math, so I'm uncomfortable with the decision not to test.

The '"test" was primarily teacher observations of the child's performance last year. I don't think it was a specific entrance exam. Sorry it didn't go the way you would like, but the teacher have "tested" your kid in the was teachers "tested" others. At least, that is my understanding.

I wasn't asking anybody to be sorry. I'm just asking a question.

This is not correct. There was a test and the kids had to obtain a certain score to be admitted. I can't remember what the score was but I think it might have been stated earlier in this thread. If your child was accepted you were supposed to receive a permission slip with the score listed. It explained the criteria used.