Revised High School Math Requirements
When the State Board of Education recently increased the high school math credit requirements for graduation to three credits the wrote the rules in such a way that students who took a high-school-level math class without credit as an eighth-grader were required to repeat that same course for credit in high school. In Seattle, that would mean that students who took Integrated 1 or those who will take Algebra 1 in eighth grade would have to take the course again in high school to fulfill the graduation requirements.
Of course, that wouldn't be necessary if the students were awarded high school credit for the class, but, in defiance of state law, Seattle Public Schools does not allow that.
Fortunately, on Friday, the state board gave students more flexibility in their choices for high-school math so it will not be necessary for students to repeat classes. Now students can choose to start with a different math class in high school and don't have to repeat the eighth-grade class if they don't want to.
It bears repeating the facts of this situation as they present themselves here in Seattle.
1. For about four years now State law has required school districts to award credit for high school level classes taken in middle school if the student or the student's family petitions for the credit.
2. Seattle Public Schools, in contradiction to the state law, refuses to grant credit for the classes. They claim that they don't know what is taught in the classes and they don't know if the teacher is certified to teach high school level classes. Of course, they will neither make a determination of either point nor will they accept evidence of either point.
3. The Board, at the September 23, 2008 meeting of the curriculum and instruction committee, wanted to amend District policies to comply with the state law and allow students to earn high school credit in middle school. The District staff, specifically Michael Tolley, asked the Board to delay the policy revision saying that he had been working on integrated grading policy reform for two years and he would be ready to introduce it in January for a vote in February.
4. The Board accepted the delay despite the fact that this element is not connected to any other part of grading policy and is not integrated into it in any way. The thinking was that the change would be effective for classes beginning 2009, so waiting a few months from September to February would not change anything. The policy change would still be in place for the start of school in 2009.
5. The integrated grading policy reform was not ready in January or February. Mr. Tolley promised it in March for a vote in April.
6. The integrated grading policy reform was not ready in March or April. Mr. Tolley promised it in May for a vote in June.
7. Mr. Tolley finally admitted to the Board that the integrated grading policy reform will not, in fact, be ready in time for the start of school in 2009.
8. The Board has not taken any further action on the question of high school credit for classes taken in middle school. The policy change will not be in place for the start of school in 2009. A whole year has passed and the Board was not able to strike a single sentence from Policy D46.01 that would bring the District into compliance with state law.
Of course, that wouldn't be necessary if the students were awarded high school credit for the class, but, in defiance of state law, Seattle Public Schools does not allow that.
Fortunately, on Friday, the state board gave students more flexibility in their choices for high-school math so it will not be necessary for students to repeat classes. Now students can choose to start with a different math class in high school and don't have to repeat the eighth-grade class if they don't want to.
It bears repeating the facts of this situation as they present themselves here in Seattle.
1. For about four years now State law has required school districts to award credit for high school level classes taken in middle school if the student or the student's family petitions for the credit.
2. Seattle Public Schools, in contradiction to the state law, refuses to grant credit for the classes. They claim that they don't know what is taught in the classes and they don't know if the teacher is certified to teach high school level classes. Of course, they will neither make a determination of either point nor will they accept evidence of either point.
3. The Board, at the September 23, 2008 meeting of the curriculum and instruction committee, wanted to amend District policies to comply with the state law and allow students to earn high school credit in middle school. The District staff, specifically Michael Tolley, asked the Board to delay the policy revision saying that he had been working on integrated grading policy reform for two years and he would be ready to introduce it in January for a vote in February.
4. The Board accepted the delay despite the fact that this element is not connected to any other part of grading policy and is not integrated into it in any way. The thinking was that the change would be effective for classes beginning 2009, so waiting a few months from September to February would not change anything. The policy change would still be in place for the start of school in 2009.
5. The integrated grading policy reform was not ready in January or February. Mr. Tolley promised it in March for a vote in April.
6. The integrated grading policy reform was not ready in March or April. Mr. Tolley promised it in May for a vote in June.
7. Mr. Tolley finally admitted to the Board that the integrated grading policy reform will not, in fact, be ready in time for the start of school in 2009.
8. The Board has not taken any further action on the question of high school credit for classes taken in middle school. The policy change will not be in place for the start of school in 2009. A whole year has passed and the Board was not able to strike a single sentence from Policy D46.01 that would bring the District into compliance with state law.
Comments
In years past kids didn't have to repeat the 9th grade math that they took in 8th grade, they just didn't get HS credit for it. In other words if a kid took INTI in 8th grade, Freshmen year of HS they took INT2, and then as sophomores they took INT3.
Most of the kids who take INTI in 8th grade do so so they can be on the college track and be able to take higher level math in 11th and 12th grade. Thus they fulfill the three year math requirement without ever repeating a class.
If a child was not on a college track or had no plans of taking higher level math courses in HS, they probably wouldn't elect to take INTI (now AlgebraI) in middle school.
At least that is how I understand it.
It sure would be great to pick and choose which district policy we as parents would like to ignore.
O.K. get ready to raise hands and vote. All for greater centralized control to bring about increased achievement vote now.
We are apparently just gluttons for continuing insanity.
Check 78 year-old Deborah Meier's opinion here.
The state Board of Education has made a minor revision in high-school mathcredit requirements.
During a meeting in Gig Harbor on Friday, the board gave students more flexibility in their choices for highschool math.
The board decided earlier that beginning with the class of 2013, high-school students will be required to earn three credits of math to receive a diploma.
When the requirement was changed, the state rule said students who took highschool-level math classes without credit as eighthgraders were required to repeat the same courses for credit in high school.
The state board decided Friday that students can choose to start with a different math class in high school and don’t have to repeat the eighth-grade class if they don’t want to.
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gerald-bracey/mayoral-control-of-school_b_240487.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leonie-haimson/what-frank-mccourt-could_b_241331.html
The new graduation requirements do not affect the granting of credit for high school level courses in middle school. That is addressed in sections 4 & 5 in RCW 28A.230.090.
According to state law, students are supposed to have the option of deciding whether they get the credit for the course or not. Perhaps the State Board presumed that they would all want the credit and therefore they didn't consider the possibility that a student would not want the credit when they first wrote the new requirements.
In regard to Mayoral control and the illusion of improvement. Here is long, long, time NYC ed advocate 78 year-old Deborah Meier's opinion.