DS is categorized into a math "program" that has existed in our district for decades. However, except for a couple of newspaper articles and passing mention of the name in board meeting minutes (district & state levels), the "program" appears so secretive that even the name is unknown unless you are on the inside. It is almost impossible to get stats and information and most of what I know I have glean from multiple sources and put together. The "program" appears to serve only 0.01 to 0.1 percent of the students so that there aren't more than a few dozens kids in our district of over 100,000 students. Furthermore, there are some years where no special arrangements are necessary such as when kids can just go to a higher grade in their own school.
Have you inquired of the person in charge of gifted programming, asking for the specific statistics you are looking for?
- Five year history
- Number of students served each year
- Is the basis of service an individual learning plan for each student?
- etc
I have serious reservations regarding the game plan for 7th grade next year. He will be taking Algebra II through the district's e-school during a designated period. This is to provide live instruction while he stays on school grounds and there is some mention of some independent study as well. Apparently there will be a few 8th graders sprinkled in with what I infer are regular track high school students.
Have you inquired as to the student composition of the Algebra II class offered by the district e-school?
25% of the class time at the beginning of each class and will miss the last 25% of each class
Is this an hour-long class, of which he will participate for 30 minutes?
I would gladly pay for an AOPS course myself and have DS work independently for one period at school if I can gracefully extricate DS from having to waste one-eighth of his school time next year
Have you suggested this to the school? What were their thoughts?