Virginia Dept. of Ed. Possibly Eliminating Advanced Math Until 11th Grade

You read that right. In order to promote equity, the VDOE is moving to possibly adopt a math learning framework that would eliminate different math pathways, including the traditional accelerated pathway through Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2, until 11th grade.

All students would take the same courses until then.

There would supposedly be options for "differentiated instruction", and then the main pathway would supposedly provide all students the option to end up at calculus.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is moving to eliminate all accelerated math options prior to 11th grade, effectively keeping higher-achieving students from advancing as they usually would in the school system.

Parents are not pleased with this as they see it as a way of lowering standards and holding back especially gifted students who usually end up taking advanced math (I did).

A Loudoun parent who spoke on the condition of anonymity worried that the changes would "lower standards for all students in the name of equity."

"These changes will have a profound impact on students who excel in STEM related curriculum, weakening our country's ability to compete in a global marketplace for years to come," the parent told Fox News on Thursday.

I recall having "differentiated instruction" provided to me a few times in my academic years. Sometimes, it worked out well, and other times, the teacher pretty much ignored it. I can well imagine that's the same kind of mixed bag effort we'd be seeing with students stuck with differentiated learning here.

a reply to: ketsuko

They want to end Diplomas as well.

www.foxnews.com...

The majority of advanced-diploma earners in 2019 were Asian (79%) and White (63%), according to Sale's presentation. Among minority students, 44% of Hispanic learners, 40% of Black students and 35% of "economically disadvantaged" students received advanced degrees.

I guess it's the new equity.

When everyone's ignorant, no one is.

a reply to: ketsuko

It is like this common core which we used to called "special ed" back in the day.

Don't bring everyone up to standards, force everyone down to the lowest standard possible in the name of "equity".

a reply to: infolurker

Much easier to level everything than to grow them up.



It is sometimes referred to as "tall poppies" syndrome.

In China, the dumb kids are shamed into working harder to achieve better results.

In America, the smart kids are shamed because their achievement hurts the dumb kids feelings.

this is how Idiocracy happened. I used to think it was a comedy, it wasn't. It was a message from the future. Prophetic in nature and seemingly spot on. now go away, I'm baiten.

a reply to: ketsuko

But aren't “poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids,”?

The continued primitivization of society.

We're getting dumber and dumber and technology isn't helping.

I can't help but think, rather than dumb the rest of the world down to the level of the lowest learning level, why not try to elevate the learning level of those who are below the norm? Perhaps looking at the tough questions and finding answers to those. I'm afraid you would have to hurt some feelz to fix this, so it likely won't fly, but it would move us in the correct direction.

Look back at what 9th graders were required to learn back in the early days when all grades were in the same school house.
It's likely most here would struggle with the information.

Yup when teachers can't successfully teach and students can't successfully get past F+ grades, then just eliminate the whole thing and whall-ah problem goes away 😃

a reply to: ketsuko

This is a shame if it sees through fruition.


I went to high school in Virginia... The school system was challenging and did a good job (I think) at providing different pathways for different people.

You had standard diploma, advanced diploma, and even a separate school students could go to for part of the day for blue collar and technical training as well as governors school for the extremely gifted.

The district I was in didn't even do a 10 point grading scale, but rather a 6 point requiring all students to strive hard for better marks.

It's no secret though that this state more than many has opted for radical change, often without reason. Northam is a virtue signaling ass clown. I'll never forget that dude evoked eminent domain for a private company he was invested in to land grab for a pipeline. Opinions on if it was for the "greater good" aside, the people only got what that portion of their land was appraised at, tanking the rest of their properties value. Royalties would surely have been in order.

You know.. We actually have the tech to be able to cater an entire curriculum for every single individual child.

Clearly, plenty seem to believe that going in the opposite direction is the answer; create a curriculum that is not only universal and ubiquitous, but one that is solely focused on the lowest common denominator in order to be "equitable."

Sadly, that lowest common denominator would even be served better through an actual modern educational approach, much less the gifted kids at the other end of the spectrum.

Im convinced "equity" in its current form is a flowery term that is synonymous with corporate indoctrination. Even in its historical context though, "equity" is not an intelligent avenue to pursue across a society or civilization. It is not achievable without eradicating the truly exceptional.

That said, I absolutely do believe we could do substantially better in terms of actual equality. Particularly if we examine how those fundamental tools for equality can change as we advance our tech. A bit ironically, those pursuing equity are probably the biggest opponent to the concepts, systems, and tools that would actually yield greater equality.

a reply to: ketsuko

A new Socialist America .

" We can do it one dummy at a time . "

This is what happend to Superman's Planet Krypton , I know it's a Comic but it rings true .

We need people who aspire to more , We need people to be pushed intellectually So that one day they can push society for more.

Dang, this is so important that TWO threads have popped up together! Never mind education has been in the tank for years.

Peeps...you got kids....get down to the PTA meeting and let loose. Otherwise....suck it up and shut the hell up.

a reply to: ketsuko



There is much wisdom in this clip.

We are on the road to this fate .

Let that State fail and when the statistics come out on the enormous failure of the State trying to dictate education based on feelings, we can all laugh even harder than we are now.

Texas strong.

a reply to: ketsuko

Shenk did say that the concepts courses wouldn't eliminate algebraic ideas but rather interweave multiple strands of mathematics throughout the courses. Those included data analysis, mathematical modeling, functions and algebra, spatial reasoning and probability.

VDOE spokesperson Charles Pyle indicated to Fox News that the courses would allow for at least some variation depending on students' skill level. "Differentiated instruction means providing instruction that is catered to the learning needs of each child (appropriate levels of challenge and academic rigor)," Pyle said.

That doesn't necessarily sound like they're trying to make people stupid...teaching all those skills to everyone is a good thing. Combining algebra with geometry, statistics and other fields of math at a younger age gives younger kids a more in depth understanding of all the basic important principles before they branch out and specialize.

The racism and equity stuff is questionable, but the overall idea for the changes to the courses don't actually seem that bad, they seem like if anything, you'll end up with more kids who have a better understanding of basic math, rather than being able to avoid learning that stuff by taking remedial math or something.

With a good teacher that properly recognizes students in the class that are more gifted or struggling more and that can appropriately challenge the gifted kids while giving some extra help to the strugglers, it could work.

We had three separate levels of math starting in grade 7 and it pretty much ended up if you started in that basic essential math, you weren't going to be moving up or really getting a good math education. By the time you hit grade 11 or 12, you were still going to be in that basic math and way behind everyone else that took the harder math classes.

a reply to: ketsuko

Hey, Communism.

This surprises me exactly zero percent. I have my private students in Fairfax County, one of the richest school districts in the US, snd they make the most ridiculous decisions all year long.

This is absolutely disgusting.

So even if a student can't figure out the basic basics (Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trig) they can go to fail Calculus?

Or will this include a "scaled" grading system allowing even F students to pass?

One more reason we need to defund public schools. They are good at teaching kids how to be morons or how to be held back by the slowest/least intelligent kids in their classes.....real nice

This is another reason Russia will eat our lunch on demand