Maya Kesh
Maya Kesh
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read

I am a supporter of common core and I think Math 8 was an important addition to the sequence. Where I have a quarrel is removing a pathway for all 8th graders.

Prior to 2013 CA had an Algebra for all in 8th grade policy. So students not ready were funneled in to the class regardless of readiness. We’ve gone from Algebra for all to Algebra for none.

I have two children in the district. One was the class of 2018 who graduated and is now a Freshman in an Engineering college as an Electrical Engineering major. He took AP Calculus BC. He got an A and a 5 on the AP test.

He wasn’t immediately placed in to a class though. He had to take a math validation test before being placed. He did very well and was placed in Calculus 4. Introduction to Multivariable Calculus. He is doing well.

My daughter is the class of 2020. When she was in 8th grade I paid for her to take an accredited Algebra 1 class so she could begin 9th grade with Geometry. She took Algebra 2 last year in 10th grade. She is currently in 11th grade taking Pre Calculus Honors with plans to take AP Calculus BC senior year.

This isn’t a path for everybody. However? It is for some.

It is also important to know that the Compression class misnamed as Algebra 2 honors because it is not recognized as such by UC, does not contain the full standards of a pre calculus class.

The district has claimed that there are no standards for Pre Calculus. This isn’t accurate. There are no common core standards because common core currently ends at Algebra 2. However? There are state standards. Here: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/cf/documents/mathfwprecalculus.pdf

If one compares the Algebra 2/Pre Calculus curriculum vs the standard pre calculus class as outlined above? There are many important topics that are missing. Topics needed for AP Calculus BC.

This compression class was designed to have enough information to succeed in AP Calculus AB. However these missing topics will not magically go away when they hit college and decide to take more math. They will likely have to revisit a summer Pre Calculus class or learn independently through Khan Academy.

We still haven’t seen how not learning these topics will affect them on the AP test or the Math 2 SAT subject tests.

It is also important to note that not all schools have the space or scheduling to allow doubling up. RASOTA for example doesn’t.

The district has also offered a 6 week summer Geometry class for rising sophomores which purports to contain a full year of Geometry. I am unsure how that works. However they let them take this to get to Algebra 2 in 10th grade.

I think removing a pathway for all 8th graders was the wrong way to go.

Adding Math 8 was a positive thing which I support. Saying that no child can take Algebra 1 in 8th grade was I believe a blunder. Because those with means will find a way to work around this. The disadvantaged child who was ready for Algebra 1 will have to run to catch up.

I think? Deciding who gets in to Algebra 1 in 8th grade is fraught with problems too. How can people be tracked fairly regardless of gender, race, socioeconomics? This is not an easy thing. But I think is worth the effort.

The way it is now? People who understand the pitfalls of this sequence for those kids who plan on going in to engineering or physics will mitigate them for their children, as I did with my daughter.

I do not understand the reasoning about removing a pathway. Adding? Yes. Saying nobody can take it just confounds me. Because the only people hurt by this are those who have limited choices in their lives as it is.

I’m glad I paid for that on-line class for my daughter in 8th grade this allowed her to take pre calculus honors now which is recognized as a weighted class by UC. More importantly? She gets a full year of pre calculus before taking AP Calculus BC next year.

    Maya Kesh

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    Maya Kesh