The Ithaca City School District is planning to cut accelerated math in grades 6 and 7. This will make it more difficult for children to take algebra in grade 8. The District claims it wants more children to be able to take algebra in grade 8 but it is eliminating the best path to get there with no plans for alternative paths.
I oppose the plan of the Ithaca City School District to eliminate single accelerated math for grades 6 and 7.
I support ALL families having the option to enroll their students in math classes covering "grade 6" "grade 7" and "grade 8" curriculum in the first two years of middle school, leading up to enrollment in Algebra 1 in year 8. Maintaining some of these classes will not require any more resources than currently provided.
I also support families having the option to choose the proposed "dig deeper" curriculum that covers less pre-Algebra material in more detail and at a slower pace, but not at the expense of the single accelerated classes.
I believe the plan will reduce the number of students who enter Algebra 1 in grade 8.
I believe the plan will increase societal inequality in our district as parents who can afford it will hire math tutors for their children to keep them on the STEM college track. Completion of Calculus is now an expected prerequisite for many competitive schools, especially for students who want to enter STEM fields.
Actualizar #3hace 5 años
*PLEASE* come to the District office TUESDAY JUNE 11 at 7pm (possibly today by the time this message reaches u) when this petition is presented to the Board. We need your support. We need bodies in the room. A Board member said last week he didn't know people were upset about elimination of single accelerated math! At the informational meeting, the metrics for success do not include anything about achievement levels of those children who would've been in single accelerated! Where is the pilot?
Actualizar #2hace 5 años
If you attend the BoE meeting tonight, 7pm pls ask: 1. why are they limiting curriculum to grade level in grade 6? (no reason even in heterogenous classes). 2. what is the plan for the extra module to get to algebra in grade 8? We don't know. 3. why do they put hurdles in front of children good at math so they have to choose between math excellence or music? or sleep, or summer?
The petition will be presented at the 7pm meeting June 11. PLEASE COME & forward the petition around before then!
Actualizar #1hace 5 años
Hi all, thanks for signing this petition. I hope you vote no to the Budget tomorrow so they listen to us. It is essential to email the Board members to say why so they know it is their priorities you don't like.
Hopefully we can go together to an upcoming Board meeting and be so numerous they have to notice we do not like their elimination of single accelerated math. The fact that they are making the double accelerated test so hard and testing earlier proves they do not like excellence.
