Below is the relevant topic from the newsletter. I have no idea where the PP came up with the idea that they are spreading false info about VMPI.

Virginia to Update Math Standards of Learning (SOLs) — Public Comment Requested

Virginia’s Department of Education (VDOE) will update its Math Standards of Learning (SOLs) in 2023 as part of its regular seven-year revision cycle. SOLs:
determine what topics will be covered in each grade,
dictate the standards (local school districts then create courses to meet them), and
were last updated in 2016 for math and remain in effect today.
In the 2016 math revision, VA adopted many of the ideas of Common Core, which generally:
slowed down the progression through VA’s math curriculum,
delayed the timetable for fact & procedural fluency, and
increased emphasis on conceptual understanding & applications.
The Northam VDOE had intended to use the 2023 SOL revision to implement the Virginia Math Pathways Initiative (VMPI), which would have ended Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II and replaced them with blended math courses that all students in Grades 8-10 would take. Governor Youngkin’s recent Executive Order ended VMPI. VDOE is asking for public feedback as it begins to revise the SOLs. Given the recent change away from VMPI and with VDOE reopening its planning, this is an excellent opportunity to convey your views on math instruction.

Certainly, the ideas raised during the VMPI debate are relevant. Some pertinent questions included:
how best to incorporate more data analysis and statistics into the math curriculum,
whether the Algebra I-to-Calculus pathway should be abolished or maintained, and
whether only one pathway or multiple pathways should be offered for students in grades 6-10.
However, public comment is also a venue for sharing broader ideas on how to increase the quality of math instruction for all students, including exploring:
the role of teacher-led instruction versus student discovery learning,
the optimal balance between fact & procedural fluency and conceptual & applied learning, and
whether math classes should center around math applications & group projects or whether applications should occur within other curricular subjects.
Public comment on the upcoming math SOL revision is open until February 28. We encourage you to fill out the VDOE math SOL survey or email VDOE directly at vdoe.mathematics@doe.virginia.gov to share your views on this important topic.

As the planning process appears to be starting with the new administration, we hope that VDOE will be particularly open to hearing what parents want. For what it is worth, here are some comments for your consideration:
We believe that students are best served when they have a choice of multiple math pathways. Students with STEM interests should have access to the Algebra I – Calculus pathway, while students interested in statistics & data analysis should have that pathway available as well. Data science/statistics electives should be offered early in high school to help students determine if they want to pursue a statistics pathway and to equip them with the skills needed to produce high quality science and social science research projects.
There should also be more emphasis on building a strong base of math skills for younger students through the greater use of teacher-led instruction, physical textbooks, and emphasis on fact & procedural fluency. Once a solid skill base is built, applications and problem-solving are more productive. We are seeing a similar shift in view on language arts, where there is a growing recognition of the need to first build a strong reading base with phonics before branching out into other literacy areas. By forming a strong skill base in the early years, students will be best positioned to take advantage of the rich curricular pathways available to them in high school and beyond.

And here is the full newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/1b6485179c66/arlingtonparentsforeducation-13725742?e=ad61583d3e

These APE-hater trolls are sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

Rent. Free.

They keep posting their dumb (poorly researched/analyzed) "newsletters" on AEM. I'd be happy if they would just go away.

You really don't have to read them. The purpose of AEM is to discuss and share topics and information relevant to education in Arlington. The fact that the forum is now over-run and dominated by sub-group of like-minded judgemental adults who are quick to criticize, shame, and shut-down any hint of differing opinion is extremely unfortunate. How about just not reading the posts by APE or others you don't agree with and letting the rest of AEM people make their own choices?

Their "dumb (poorly researched/analyzed) 'newsletters'" are the most informative and comprehensive communication on the various topics covered. I read the most recent one posted. I think your assessment of their newsletters is dumb and off-base. Prove them dumb and poorly analyzed by providing more accurate and more detailed and robust information. It's kind of hard to justify their notes of school board meetings and other meetings "dumb" and poorly researched when they are merely reporting what happened and what was said and discussed.

I am not associated with APE, but they have been providing good information that APS doesn't bother to provide. You need to get a life instead of spending so much energy hating APE.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

APE is talking about the VDOE changes to the math SOL (which, yes, were the vehicle that was going to deliver the now-defunct VMPI and may still deliver some of the VMPI ideas, such as the existence of data science). Their newsletter says nothing about VMPI not being dead. Goodness.

---

Are you really so against parents sharing their opinions on math instruction with VDOE?

I'm against parents spouting off incorrect facts. Not clear if they are blatantly lying or just dumb AF.

But VDOE really is revising the math SOLs?

Yes. Unrelated to VMPI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

APE is talking about the VDOE changes to the math SOL (which, yes, were the vehicle that was going to deliver the now-defunct VMPI and may still deliver some of the VMPI ideas, such as the existence of data science). Their newsletter says nothing about VMPI not being dead. Goodness.

---

Are you really so against parents sharing their opinions on math instruction with VDOE?

I'm against parents spouting off incorrect facts. Not clear if they are blatantly lying or just dumb AF.

But VDOE really is revising the math SOLs?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

APE is talking about the VDOE changes to the math SOL (which, yes, were the vehicle that was going to deliver the now-defunct VMPI and may still deliver some of the VMPI ideas, such as the existence of data science). Their newsletter says nothing about VMPI not being dead. Goodness.

---

Are you really so against parents sharing their opinions on math instruction with VDOE?

I'm against parents spouting off incorrect facts. Not clear if they are blatantly lying or just dumb AF.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

Rent. Free.

They keep posting their dumb (poorly researched/analyzed) "newsletters" on AEM. I'd be happy if they would just go away.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

APE is talking about the VDOE changes to the math SOL (which, yes, were the vehicle that was going to deliver the now-defunct VMPI and may still deliver some of the VMPI ideas, such as the existence of data science). Their newsletter says nothing about VMPI not being dead. Goodness.

Virginia’s Department of Education (VDOE) will update its Math Standards of Learning (SOLs) in 2023 as part of its regular seven-year revision cycle. SOLs:

determine what topics will be covered in each grade,
dictate the standards (local school districts then create courses to meet them), and
were last updated in 2016 for math and remain in effect today.

In the 2016 math revision, VA adopted many of the ideas of Common Core, which generally:

slowed down the progression through VA’s math curriculum,
delayed the timetable for fact & procedural fluency, and
increased emphasis on conceptual understanding & applications.

The Northam VDOE had intended to use the 2023 SOL revision to implement the Virginia Math Pathways Initiative (VMPI), which would have ended Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II and replaced them with blended math courses that all students in Grades 8-10 would take. Governor Youngkin’s recent Executive Order ended VMPI. VDOE is asking for public feedback as it begins to revise the SOLs. Given the recent change away from VMPI and with VDOE reopening its planning, this is an excellent opportunity to convey your views on math instruction.

Certainly, the ideas raised during the VMPI debate are relevant. Some pertinent questions included:

how best to incorporate more data analysis and statistics into the math curriculum,
whether the Algebra I-to-Calculus pathway should be abolished or maintained, and
whether only one pathway or multiple pathways should be offered for students in grades 6-10.

However, public comment is also a venue for sharing broader ideas on how to increase the quality of math instruction for all students, including exploring:

the role of teacher-led instruction versus student discovery learning,
the optimal balance between fact & procedural fluency and conceptual & applied learning, and
whether math classes should center around math applications & group projects or whether applications should occur within other curricular subjects.

Public comment on the upcoming math SOL revision is open until February 28. We encourage you to fill out the VDOE math SOL survey or email VDOE directly at vdoe.mathematics@doe.virginia.gov to share your views on this important topic.

As the planning process appears to be starting with the new administration, we hope that VDOE will be particularly open to hearing what parents want. For what it is worth, here are some comments for your consideration:

We believe that students are best served when they have a choice of multiple math pathways. Students with STEM interests should have access to the Algebra I – Calculus pathway, while students interested in statistics & data analysis should have that pathway available as well. Data science/statistics electives should be offered early in high school to help students determine if they want to pursue a statistics pathway and to equip them with the skills needed to produce high quality science and social science research projects.
There should also be more emphasis on building a strong base of math skills for younger students through the greater use of teacher-led instruction, physical textbooks, and emphasis on fact & procedural fluency. Once a solid skill base is built, applications and problem-solving are more productive. We are seeing a similar shift in view on language arts, where there is a growing recognition of the need to first build a strong reading base with phonics before branching out into other literacy areas. By forming a strong skill base in the early years, students will be best positioned to take advantage of the rich curricular pathways available to them in high school and beyond.

Complete the VDOE Math SOL Survey.
Tell VDOE your comments directly.

(https://mailchi.mp/1b6485179c66/arlingtonparentsforeducation-13725742)

Are you really so against parents sharing their opinions on math instruction with VDOE?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

Rent. Free.

Anonymous wrote:Looks like APE is showing us their hand...

Spreading blatant lies about VMPI now in their newsletter?

100% GOP astroturfing.

APE is lying about VMPI again in their latest newsletter.

Weird since VMPI is dead.

Maybe they actually believe the crap they spout? That's sad. I'd respect them more if they were evil connivers vs idiotic whiners.

Yep, get vaccines in those little arms. That should be everyone's focus.

APE doesn't want to vaccinate their kids so they are pushing test to stay. That's very clear.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Then don't take the vaccine. Your call. But it makes little sense to devote resources to yet another testing program when health authorities have declared it safe, and that there's no reason to quarantine once vaccinated. COVID is here to stay. We'll be endlessly testing-to-stay forever, not just in 2021. Is that the plan? Supported by one person the panel and "polling"? This will be a giant, open-ended expense that will go on forever just because of vaccine hesitancy. We all need to get vaccinated and then move on. If you don't, then live with the drawback.

All you want to do is lock brown kids out of school. It's pretty sad and pathetic. And if you're that worried about COVID, get your kids vaccinated. APS, the state of VA, the CDC and most states in the country are moving forward or have implemented test to stay.

And we won't be implementing test to stay forever so it's only a short-term expense to keep kids in school (where they should be). The end point will be be dropping quarantine requirements except for kids who are actually sick with a known illness from symptoms (like we always have done prior to COVID). Many countries in Northern Europe have already dropped quarantine requirements for close contacts without a rise in COVID-19.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-madness-to-quarantine-schoolchildren-covid-testing-regulation-guidelines-11635104550

I don't want to lock out any kids. I want them all be in school. It's not complicated. Take the vaccine, stay in school. Test to stay is a great idea but is just too late and is unneeded at this point. How it is going to be short term? COVID is here to stay. So we'll just be going through this theater until everyone is comfortable with it, if that ever happens. Just because someone is worried about an approved vaccine doesn't mean we should incur that cost. The rapid tests aren't even available yet in sufficient numbers, and it's going to be a massive effort to test at 30+ schools at a frequency needed for test to stay. We should focus on getting everyone vaccinated as soon as possible.

Anonymous wrote:

Then don't take the vaccine. Your call. But it makes little sense to devote resources to yet another testing program when health authorities have declared it safe, and that there's no reason to quarantine once vaccinated. COVID is here to stay. We'll be endlessly testing-to-stay forever, not just in 2021. Is that the plan? Supported by one person the panel and "polling"? This will be a giant, open-ended expense that will go on forever just because of vaccine hesitancy. We all need to get vaccinated and then move on. If you don't, then live with the drawback.

All you want to do is lock brown kids out of school. It's pretty sad and pathetic. And if you're that worried about COVID, get your kids vaccinated. APS, the state of VA, the CDC and most states in the country are moving forward or have implemented test to stay.

And we won't be implementing test to stay forever so it's only a short-term expense to keep kids in school (where they should be). The end point will be be dropping quarantine requirements except for kids who are actually sick with a known illness from symptoms (like we always have done prior to COVID). Many countries in Northern Europe have already dropped quarantine requirements for close contacts without a rise in COVID-19.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/its-madness-to-quarantine-schoolchildren-covid-testing-regulation-guidelines-11635104550

If you want to start conserving resources stop daily testing of athletes. So absurd. Kids will be vaccinate soon which will dramatically bring down cases even from the low low they already are. Very few kids who are close contacts are likely to be unvaxxed. They should have an option to stay in school. I’m all for mandating the vax when fully approved. Until then it is perfectly reasonable for parents to give one dose or wait until fully approved. A student not missing 7 days of school is well worth the resources.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Test to stay is a good idea. But kids 5+ will start to vaccinate in a week. What is the point of the effort/money? No one is going to quarantine any longer unless they are positive.

The precautionary principle should be that kids be in school, especially since we know vaccine hesitancy for adults was highest in the African American community (still is - https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/latest-data-on-covid-19-vaccinations-by-race-ethnicity/). It is the most equitable solution by far.

Another reason is this is an EUA, not a full approval, and some FDA panel members were very vocal it should not be mandated to go to school (which is essentially what you're doing if the option is get vaccinated with a non-fully approved vaccine or possibly stay out of school for 6+ days). 1 even abstained on the vote he was so opposed to it possibly being mandated.

Something like 2/3 of parents nationwide have concerns with vaccinating their healthy children considering it's not fully approved yet. That's a lot of kids who could be unnecessarily locked out of school if there's no test to stay. Those kids have no responsibility over the decisions of their parents and they should not be punished for a non-fully approved vaccine.

Here's Dr. Cody Meissner on the FDA panel this week (he voted to approve, but was very vocal about not mandating it):

It's fine not to take the vaccine, if that's your decision as precaution against (perceived) risks of a vaccine that is considered safe. But the consequence would be to quarantine, not lean on some elaborate and expensive strategy where everyone has to get tested all the time at all the schools in the system. That money should be used to hire teachers/tutors to tackle learning loss, not appease vaccine hesitancy. It's the same principle that should have been applied in keeping the schools open last year. If you're hesitant, that's okay. They could have stayed virtual. Same thing here. If you're hesitant to take the vaccine, that's okay. You can quarantine if you're exposed. We shouldn't foot the bill about someone's nervousness about a vaccine that is perfectly safe for everyone.

Hahah - you think they care about equity?!?

These are the same people who wanted schools closed last year, you see the equity damage in SOL and PALS scores. They don't care at all that some brown kids will be kept out of school for 6+ days. They live in their $1.5M+ houses in North Arlington and spend more on grocery deliveries from Whole Foods in 1 week that a family at a Title 1 school spends on groceries in 1 month.

This is all about curing these rich white people's neuroses and inability to contextualize risk, no matter what the consequence to poor kids.

Someone having trepidation about getting their healthy 5 to 11 year old while it's under EUA has scientific reasoning to have trepidation (and polls show this is the majority of parents).

The Pfizer trial for 5 to 11 year olds was 1,500 with 750 in the placebo. 3 in trial group got symptomatic COVID, 16 for placebo group. They did not test for asymptomatic positives. None in either group was hospitalized or developed MIS-C. 0 kids who were previously infected with COVID were reinfected. Here's the interview with the FDA panel member who abstained https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10137849/FDA-advisory-committee-member-says-NO-evidence-children-need-COVID-19-vaccines.html. As Dr. Kurilla states, it's not even certain that the vaccine prevents transmission in this age group.

Here's Dr. Ruben on the FDA panel this week:

Then don't take the vaccine. Your call. But it makes little sense to devote resources to yet another testing program when health authorities have declared it safe, and that there's no reason to quarantine once vaccinated. COVID is here to stay. We'll be endlessly testing-to-stay forever, not just in 2021. Is that the plan? Supported by one person the panel and "polling"? This will be a giant, open-ended expense that will go on forever just because of vaccine hesitancy. We all need to get vaccinated and then move on. If you don't, then live with the drawback.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Test to stay is a good idea. But kids 5+ will start to vaccinate in a week. What is the point of the effort/money? No one is going to quarantine any longer unless they are positive.

The precautionary principle should be that kids be in school, especially since we know vaccine hesitancy for adults was highest in the African American community (still is - https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/latest-data-on-covid-19-vaccinations-by-race-ethnicity/). It is the most equitable solution by far.

Another reason is this is an EUA, not a full approval, and some FDA panel members were very vocal it should not be mandated to go to school (which is essentially what you're doing if the option is get vaccinated with a non-fully approved vaccine or possibly stay out of school for 6+ days). 1 even abstained on the vote he was so opposed to it possibly being mandated.

Something like 2/3 of parents nationwide have concerns with vaccinating their healthy children considering it's not fully approved yet. That's a lot of kids who could be unnecessarily locked out of school if there's no test to stay. Those kids have no responsibility over the decisions of their parents and they should not be punished for a non-fully approved vaccine.

Here's Dr. Cody Meissner on the FDA panel this week (he voted to approve, but was very vocal about not mandating it):

It's fine not to take the vaccine, if that's your decision as precaution against (perceived) risks of a vaccine that is considered safe. But the consequence would be to quarantine, not lean on some elaborate and expensive strategy where everyone has to get tested all the time at all the schools in the system. That money should be used to hire teachers/tutors to tackle learning loss, not appease vaccine hesitancy. It's the same principle that should have been applied in keeping the schools open last year. If you're hesitant, that's okay. They could have stayed virtual. Same thing here. If you're hesitant to take the vaccine, that's okay. You can quarantine if you're exposed. We shouldn't foot the bill about someone's nervousness about a vaccine that is perfectly safe for everyone.

Hahah - you think they care about equity?!?

These are the same people who wanted schools closed last year, you see the equity damage in SOL and PALS scores. They don't care at all that some brown kids will be kept out of school for 6+ days. They live in their $1.5M+ houses in North Arlington and spend more on grocery deliveries from Whole Foods in 1 week that a family at a Title 1 school spends on groceries in 1 month.

This is all about curing these rich white people's neuroses and inability to contextualize risk, no matter what the consequence to poor kids.

Someone having trepidation about getting their healthy 5 to 11 year old while it's under EUA has scientific reasoning to have trepidation (and polls show this is the majority of parents).

The Pfizer trial for 5 to 11 year olds was 1,500 with 750 in the placebo. 3 in trial group got symptomatic COVID, 16 for placebo group. They did not test for asymptomatic positives. None in either group was hospitalized or developed MIS-C. 0 kids who were previously infected with COVID were reinfected. Here's the interview with the FDA panel member who abstained https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-10137849/FDA-advisory-committee-member-says-NO-evidence-children-need-COVID-19-vaccines.html. As Dr. Kurilla states, it's not even certain that the vaccine prevents transmission in this age group.

Here's Dr. Ruben on the FDA panel this week: