District unveils new sequencing for middle and high school math

District unveils new sequencing for middle and high school math|

Adding and subtracting is par for the course in math – only, this time the adding and subtracting is to do with the actual math courses themselves.

At least that was the sum of information from a school district meeting earlier this month at which more than 50 parents attended, along with Sonoma Valley Unified School District Superintendent Louann Carlomagno and curriculum and instruction director Karla Conroy, to hear about changes underway for the sequence of math courses offered to Sonoma Valley students in grades 6 through 12.

The biggest changes, which came about as a result of the adoption of new Common Core state standards in California, involved advanced placement math classes, and the ways students can accelerate to higher levels. They include:

• The absence of Math IV for accelerated students. The trigonometry and pre-calculus topics formerly included in that high school course will instead be integrated into new courses called Enhanced Algebra I, Enhanced Geometry and Enhanced Algebra II.

• A separate, dedicated section of AP Calculus may be added, depending on enrollment numbers.

• The elimination of Geometry as an option for advanced math students in middle school.

Advancement in math will not take place in middle school until seventh grade; no sixth graders will skip or move up a year in math.

Parents asked dozens of questions at the meeting ranging from specific questions about scenarios outside of the primary acceleration tracks, to how Hispanic families, of which few were in attendance at the meeting, will hear about and understand these complicated changes. Carlomagno said that teachers and principals will be reaching out to all families to communicate placement options.

The vast majority of Sonoma Valley students, perhaps 80 percent, will be enrolled in regular math classes that do not accelerate. The goal is for all students to progress a level each year, though Carlomagno noted that some students will repeat a year of math and that will continue to be an option. Consistent with statewide numbers, last year 24.5 percent of SVHS ninth graders did not pass Algebra. To lower that number, the district encourages parents to consider a popular, but optional, Bridge to Algebra summer course for students who plan to take Algebra I in ninth grade.

For incoming middle school students and families confused about whether the changes affect them now – don’t worry, you’re already set. At the onset of middle school, sixth graders will be assigned randomly to Math 6 in mixed groups and differentiation will take place in the classroom.

They will be assessed at the end of the year for placements into Compressed Math 7 and Math 8 or into Math 7. In addition to a diagnostic testing program, teachers will look at scores from the new Smarter Balanced end-of-year assessment tests, teacher recommendations and grade, and parents can also make a request for acceleration.

In other changes, next year some advanced students from Adele Harrison Middle School will travel to Altimira Middle School for a new course that compresses Math 7 and half of Math 8 into the seventh grade year. During the eighth grade year students would take the other half of Math 8 and Enhanced Algebra 1. Some advanced students from Altimira will travel to Adele for Enhanced Algebra 1. Busing will be provided by the district and worked into the school schedule.

This year, advanced math students at Adele and Altimira had different options to them, a cause of dissatisfaction for some Adele parents, whose students did not have algebra available to them. Going forward, all students will be able to accelerate in middle school or choose to wait until high school to accelerate.

At the high school level, the changes will be less noticeable. The most significant change will be fewer students taking Math IV as a result of the accelerated curriculum that weaves Math IV concepts into other math courses. The new accelerated math classes will be labeled “enhanced” but not “honors” and they will not result in an “honors” level GPA bump.

A primary goal of acceleration is to enable the most advanced math students to take college-level AP Calculus in their junior or senior year of high school. Senior year options will also continue to include AP Statistics or AP Computer Science.

The changes that are being phased in came about in part because of the district’s implementation of the Common Core state standards, said Carlomagno.

“We want to be consistent with Common Core recommendations on how and when math is taught, while providing parents with as many options as possible for their students.”

Carlomagno urged any parents who are confused or concerned about math class assignments to contact their teacher or principal. In terms of the next steps, the district mailed letters to middle school parents with their child’s math assignments on May 27 and calendar dates for parent meetings will be announced shortly.

While some parents complained about how last minute some of these changes felt, the tenor of the meeting was civil, and parents seemed pleased with the range of options available to their students.

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