Anonymous wrote:Is the threshold the same at the HGC? I would think more kids would have reached the score of 33 threshold on the test.

The threshold would be the same -- only third graders were tested without regard to whether they will be entering the HGC. The HGC then takes the school's placement determination when placing the kids in the appropriate 4th grade math class. It may be that the HGC will just have larger compacted math classes.

Is the threshold the same at the HGC? I would think more kids would have reached the score of 33 threshold on the test.

We got a form letter yesterday from our school. Letter states that next year there will be 4/5 math and regular 4th grade math. It tells you whether or not your child reached the threshold to be placed in 4/5 math. Looks like there was a test (max. score was, I think, 48). Tells you how well your child did out of that 48. I think the letter said that the threshold was 33 out of 48 (or something close to that).

Not sure how many at our school reached the threshold.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of notification have you gotten or do you expect? In previous years, I have never heard about math placement until the start of the school year, based in part on testing at the beginning of the year, and I don't recall receiving formal (e.g., paper) notification--just found out who my child's teacher was and asked around. my child is currently in 4th grade.

letter from school today with complete explanation of compacting recommendation, scores and criteria and form to accept or decline. some forms (i.e. recommendation score sheet) definitely seemed centrally created for use by all principals

Interesting. We just asked our child's teacher and she said that we probably won't hear anything until the summer. She also didn't think the school had heard back from the central office yet, so I wonder if she just hasn't heard anything herself. Maybe I should reach out to the principal. Has anyone received a similar response re: a likely notification in the summer?

Ask the principal. Notification during the summer is inappropriate. If you disagree with the decision and want to appeal, the teacher and many staff will already be gone from the school. All parents and students deserve to know this decision before the end of this school year.

If you don't agree with the decision you can appeal above your principal's head. You also have a right under FERPA to see all the materials related to the assessment and scoring of the decision to recommend (or not) for the compacted curriculum.

I have little sympathy for MCPS at this stage. Parents were telling them for more than a year that the deacceleration was not appropriate. MCPS dragged their feet on creating and announcing the compaction. At our school, the principal refused to answer questions on this issue for the entire school year. Now it is the end of the school year and many parents do not know what courses their children will be recommended to start next September.

Unacceptable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of notification have you gotten or do you expect? In previous years, I have never heard about math placement until the start of the school year, based in part on testing at the beginning of the year, and I don't recall receiving formal (e.g., paper) notification--just found out who my child's teacher was and asked around. my child is currently in 4th grade.

letter from school today with complete explanation of compacting recommendation, scores and criteria and form to accept or decline. some forms (i.e. recommendation score sheet) definitely seemed centrally created for use by all principals

Interesting. We just asked our child's teacher and she said that we probably won't hear anything until the summer. She also didn't think the school had heard back from the central office yet, so I wonder if she just hasn't heard anything herself. Maybe I should reach out to the principal. Has anyone received a similar response re: a likely notification in the summer?

Anonymous wrote:What kind of notification have you gotten or do you expect? In previous years, I have never heard about math placement until the start of the school year, based in part on testing at the beginning of the year, and I don't recall receiving formal (e.g., paper) notification--just found out who my child's teacher was and asked around. my child is currently in 4th grade.

letter from school today with complete explanation of compacting recommendation, scores and criteria and form to accept or decline. some forms (i.e. recommendation score sheet) definitely seemed centrally created for use by all principals

What kind of notification have you gotten or do you expect? In previous years, I have never heard about math placement until the start of the school year, based in part on testing at the beginning of the year, and I don't recall receiving formal (e.g., paper) notification--just found out who my child's teacher was and asked around. my child is currently in 4th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, some kids are being held back in comparison to before. I've got a current 5th grader finishing up grade 7 math. Still taking IM next year at a magnet.

I don't understand your post.

I actually thought this was the normal pre-C2.0 pathway for those 2 years accelerated -- math 7 in 5th grade, IM in 6th grade and Algebra in 7th. This gets a student to Calculus in 11th grade.

Why do you consider this being held back? Only a very few kids were accelerated 3 years or more pre-C2.0. Was your child accelerated 3 years or more and then made to repeat or held back under C2.0? This would be odd, because C2.0 is only starting to roll out in the upper grades with Algebra next year, as I understand it and gr. 4 and 5 math C2.0. Kids above grade 5 math (regardless of age) were supposed to be left alone this year and not subject to C2.0.

I agree. I was at the Takoma Park magnet program info meeting. Kids taking Math 7 (Math B) in fifth grade will take IM in 6th grade. This is their normal pathway and has not changed. The vast majority of kids taking Math 7 at my child's HGC are recommended for IM next year - again I was told this is nothing new. I am happy with this in part because they rollout C2.0 Algebra next year and I would rather not have my child take it with the first batch of students.

My DS's math teacher in middle school is very excited about the new Algebra curriculum and says it's better than the prior Algebra curriculum.

That's great but I am sure the teachers will be more comfortable teaching the new material in their second year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, some kids are being held back in comparison to before. I've got a current 5th grader finishing up grade 7 math. Still taking IM next year at a magnet.

I don't understand your post.

I actually thought this was the normal pre-C2.0 pathway for those 2 years accelerated -- math 7 in 5th grade, IM in 6th grade and Algebra in 7th. This gets a student to Calculus in 11th grade.

Why do you consider this being held back? Only a very few kids were accelerated 3 years or more pre-C2.0. Was your child accelerated 3 years or more and then made to repeat or held back under C2.0? This would be odd, because C2.0 is only starting to roll out in the upper grades with Algebra next year, as I understand it and gr. 4 and 5 math C2.0. Kids above grade 5 math (regardless of age) were supposed to be left alone this year and not subject to C2.0.

I agree. I was at the Takoma Park magnet program info meeting. Kids taking Math 7 (Math B) in fifth grade will take IM in 6th grade. This is their normal pathway and has not changed. The vast majority of kids taking Math 7 at my child's HGC are recommended for IM next year - again I was told this is nothing new. I am happy with this in part because they rollout C2.0 Algebra next year and I would rather not have my child take it with the first batch of students.

My DS's math teacher in middle school is very excited about the new Algebra curriculum and says it's better than the prior Algebra curriculum.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually, some kids are being held back in comparison to before. I've got a current 5th grader finishing up grade 7 math. Still taking IM next year at a magnet.

I don't understand your post.

I actually thought this was the normal pre-C2.0 pathway for those 2 years accelerated -- math 7 in 5th grade, IM in 6th grade and Algebra in 7th. This gets a student to Calculus in 11th grade.

Why do you consider this being held back? Only a very few kids were accelerated 3 years or more pre-C2.0. Was your child accelerated 3 years or more and then made to repeat or held back under C2.0? This would be odd, because C2.0 is only starting to roll out in the upper grades with Algebra next year, as I understand it and gr. 4 and 5 math C2.0. Kids above grade 5 math (regardless of age) were supposed to be left alone this year and not subject to C2.0.

I agree. I was at the Takoma Park magnet program info meeting. Kids taking Math 7 (Math B) in fifth grade will take IM in 6th grade. This is their normal pathway and has not changed. The vast majority of kids taking Math 7 at my child's HGC are recommended for IM next year - again I was told this is nothing new. I am happy with this in part because they rollout C2.0 Algebra next year and I would rather not have my child take it with the first batch of students.

Did anyone receive a notification on Friday regarding whether their child was selected for the compacted math program? Just trying to gauge how much time to give our school before reaching out to the teacher about this. Thanks.

I don't consider 5th grader as being held back. Current 3rd grader has been held back in comparison to the 5th grader.

Yes my DD is a 5th grader taking IM..she will be taking Algebra next year. No repeating.

Anonymous wrote:Actually, some kids are being held back in comparison to before. I've got a current 5th grader finishing up grade 7 math. Still taking IM next year at a magnet.

I don't understand your post.

I actually thought this was the normal pre-C2.0 pathway for those 2 years accelerated -- math 7 in 5th grade, IM in 6th grade and Algebra in 7th. This gets a student to Calculus in 11th grade.

Why do you consider this being held back? Only a very few kids were accelerated 3 years or more pre-C2.0. Was your child accelerated 3 years or more and then made to repeat or held back under C2.0? This would be odd, because C2.0 is only starting to roll out in the upper grades with Algebra next year, as I understand it and gr. 4 and 5 math C2.0. Kids above grade 5 math (regardless of age) were supposed to be left alone this year and not subject to C2.0.

Anonymous wrote:MD has adopted the Common Core State Standards. Common Core is firmly opposed to any compacting before middle school. MCPS developed its own compacting path extending back to 4th grade, but has not pushed the "firm opposition" any further yet. Judging from Dr. Starr's comments, he views even this much compacting as a reluctant concession to parents who "see something wrong with being on grade level" rather than a curriculum option needed to meet actual student needs.

What evidence do you have for this?