Hello, I have seen several previous posts about the common core math conundrum for current middle schoolers. I am in CA. DD skipped 6th grade math and took pre-algebra in 6th grade based on placement test results (moving back here after being in VA for four years at the beginning of 6th grade, we found the public schools there far ahead of schools here). DD took algebra last year and is in now in geometry in 8th grade. This seems to be the 'old' standard track for your typical accelerated (but not profoundly gifted) kid. Our district rolled out CC math 6 in 2013-2014, and CC 7 this year. In short, 8th graders like her are under the 'old system', so no change in curriculum for those who took algebra and geometry for 7th/8th grades. Last year I asked several times- in several different ways- how the gaps would be handled for 8th grade kids who did not do CC middle school. All I got from the school and district was 'we know there are gaps and we'll have to figure that out down the road'. I actually moved my DD out of the public school in to private school this year for 8th grade for several reasons; but, she might attend our local public high school next year. I've attended meetings on the district's math sequencing for high school. The school district still hems and haws as to what the kids who never took CC middle school math are actually 'missing', if anything. All they have said is that DD and kids in her circumstances (taking algebra and geometry in MS) will take algebra II next year (old-style, again)...and by the time they take the SBAC math assessment in 11th grade, um, yeah, there will have been some gaps. Have your school districts come up with any specific plans to address what to do, if anything, with currently accelerated math middle schoolers who will subject to the new SAT's down the road, and the new 11th grade math assessments, that do not align with the math curriculum/sequencing that the kids actually had? Very frustrated here. I am hoping to meet with a district administrator to discuss why it might be important to consider this issue as one that should be addressed. And our school district is generally rated at the very top of the CA heap...

Maybe this has already been done, but is taking the end-of-year assessments an option to see what gaps, if any, are present for your daughter? My impression of CC is that it isn't necessarily all that much more rigorous for kids who have a good grasp of mathematics. I am only going off the standards I've read and commentary here, though.

I have a link to the CA standard for Common Core math that includes many of the standards but it will take me a bit to track down and I'm busy the rest of the afternoon. (I am on a common core transition committe for my CA district.) If she is going into Algebra II next year you should be able to have her work on her own the few chapters of information she will have missed.

Khan Academy also seems to have a good layout of what is covered in CC Algebra & CC Geometry & CC Algebra II.

CA Common Core math frameworks:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/ma/cf/draft2mathfwchapters.asp

Thank you all for your feedback. Last year (while DD was taking algebra) her entire 7th grade class took the 7th grade common core SBAC as a 'mock' even though no 7th grader had actually had the 7th grade CC math curriculum, as it had not yet been introduced. I asked if we could get results and they said 'heck no, we are not even getting the results; this is just for practice'. I will ask the district again about providing the CC assessments as a tool in the future. I already have documents that show the alignment/gaps of CC to former CA standards; and I will plan on paying a tutor to provide an assessment of DD against CC standards and cover the gaps. But I am trying to campaign the district to actually do something for these kids too. I have friends who are just coming to grips with understanding that their kids currently in geometry are in the same boat...the school has said NOTHING about the gaps, which is why I was wondering if any of your school districts have acknowledged this issue and plan to do anything about it. My conversations with the principal and head of math department last year went nowhere..they looked at me like I was crazy when I suggested just offering optional 'cover the gaps' class during lunchtime once a week or after school. District line is 'it's unfortunate but it's the way it is'. Well, I don't believe that every district is doing nothing...are they? Bluemagic, is your district addressing the gaps or is every parent handling it privately? It's flat out shocking to me.

Yes my district is trying to handle the gaps. The whole reason for the committee I was on was in response to first year common core implementation mistakes and to figure out how to go forwards. That said kids who are currently accelerated in junior high math right now have gaps and many are struggling. The math depts. at the junior high schools are currently trying to fix the situation. I'm not quite sure of those details and how it affects going forward on implementing CC. One thing were are doing is CC core math is being implemented in all math classes, it will only follow the current junior high kids who are either in CC 8 or Algebra. So next year standard 9th grade math will be CC Algebra and there will be CC Geometry classes for 9th graders & regular Geometry courses for 10th graders. (Or students who transferred in.) Or however we finally decide the H.S. course schedule will look. Algebra II & up will be left alone another year, so they kids who are in Geometry in 8th this year are OK, but not those that skipped to Algebra. Not sure what they are going to do for students who transfer in from out of the district who don't yet have CC 8th grade math.

Gosh I have not even considered this. My 6th grader is taking algebra now, and will be taking Geometry next year in 7th grade. We are in PA in a very competitive school district. There are 4 kids in 6th grade taking algebra in total (out of around 350 kids) and about 60 taking it in 7th I believe. No one has talked about "gaps". Starting to wonder if this could be an issue.

Thanks for your response. What I have found with further questioning is that even the kids who took 8th grade math and algebra this year as 8th graders in our district, who are rolling into algebra and geometry respectively next year, will still not have the 'common core' equivalent of algebra and geometry in high school! While the district is beginning its efforts to implement CC standards in these subjects, it has acknowledged that the curriculum will not be 'CC 100%' until the current 7th graders hit the classes in high school. If I get any response from the district's supervisor of curriculum, I'll be sure to share it!

Is it possible that the gaps will need to be covered for all students (regardless of acceleration) if they appear in high school classes? It wouldn't seem that those taking h.s. classes along with your DD would have covered Common Core during their math classes, either.

Also, couldn't gaps be addressed if they appear when the students take the pre-tests or practice exams for the SAT or ACT? I'm guessing everyone will be the same boat.

In our district, they are not expecting the current algebra2/trig classes or above to have covered common core material. My DD is in the first geometry common core class in our district (and was in the first algebra common core last year, and the first middle school common core classes before that). We are in NYS, where final exams in math include a state-wide regents exam. DD's class has been given both the "old" regents and the new common-core regents exam for algebra, and they will also take both for geometry (including a local exam, which is expected to be the most rigorous, though no one has seen the common-core aligned geometry regents yet). The higher score of the two regents exams is considered the "official" score. As far as I know, the older classes are not expected to take any common-core aligned regents exams, and the classes behind my daughter's will only take the common-core aligned exam. I think both were given to my daughter's class mainly because theirs was the first year to take the common core aligned exam and no one knew exactly what to expect. (For the record, the general feeling was that the common core regents was more difficult, mainly because it required much more writing and explanation).
ETA: I meant to say that our district has refused/halted any and all math acceleration (not that there was much here before) for the past several years, I assume in part due to these curricular changes. (There were also reportedly problems like those alluded to in previous posts, where highly accelerated kids were found to be struggling in later HS and early college math classes. At least, that's what they tell us).

Yes, you are right, that's my point...gaps will likely appear evident for all current 8th graders through 10th graders who will end up taking the CC 11th grade math test, with the current 8th graders that were accelerated appearing to be the most impacted, because the HS has at least started implementing some changes to curriculum for those who are taking algebra I and geometry...though they are not fully aligned with CC yet...whereas the middle school did no changes because it's phasing out algebra and geometry all together at the end of this year and no longer offer them. But my district seems to think that every school district is as behind as it is, which I really don't think is true. As for current high school students - The first round of SBAC tests this spring is the starting baseline, so there's no panic here, it appears, if the kids don't 'do well'. And unlike the old CA annual state tests (STAR) that were given every grade 3 - 11 and by subject for algebra, geometry, etc. now there is no math test btwn 8th grade and 11th grade. The 11th grade math test covers it all. From what I can tell, current 11th graders have no change in their math trajectories (again, their SBAC test scores from Spring 2015 will be baseline and they are unlikely to be penalized by universities, for ex.). As far as current 10th graders...well, the few parents I know with kids that age say their students will take the SAT before the format converts next spring, and they also feel their kids will get a 'pass' due to the newness of the SBAC which will only be in its 2nd year when their kids take it 11th grade. But when I read comments about other districts /states where they are clearly way ahead in implementing the CC for their current 8th and 9th graders, I panic a bit.

So, you confirmed my concern that other states are light years ahead of my district in terms of implementing curriculum. In CA, there was no state testing last year except practice for the new CC test. I wouldn't much care except I'm not thrilled that the new SAT coming out next Spring is supposed to align with the CC. I am trying to get my district to actually acknowledge that the students who are currently accelerated will be mismatched a bit when testing time comes around for them in 11th grade and that the district should plan for that - the sooner the better.

I have about three years experience with CC. My daughter in middle school is on the "accelerated" track which is traditional Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, etc. My younger child, in elementary school, is using CC math. He won't be allowed to switch into traditional math until 7th grade Algebra even if he is a child prodigy (he's not). The district won't allow it. The lower level kids stay in CC math throughout middle school and high school and will take the corresponding PARCC test. The gifted kids will take traditional math and the PARCC test to go along with that track. It is my experience that CC is math is a lower level math. It isn't more rigorous. It's just more confusing. It's supposed to teach at a deeper level, which is just too slow for gifted kids.

What makes CC different and confusing is the new methods the standards prescribe. For example, fractions are taught using a number line instead of a pie chart and multiplication is taught using the breakdown method. To pass a CC type standardized test would require some test preparation. The PARCC test also requires the student to type answers in complete sentences and to think about the answers in a different way. I think it's trickery and too confusing for elementary aged children. It's not an accurate measure of math skills, writing maybe, but not math.

I would try to avoid it if possible. The SAT will be CC aligned in 2016, but the ACT will not be.

I hope this is helpful.

I am not really up to speed with CC other then what I have seen on here and links provided and reading some local news. Our state opted out of CC. My ds12 in 6th grade is taking AlgI, Geom, AlgII in middle school. If our state has opted out of CC I don't see high school being a problem (I assume).

With the SAT aligning to CC in 2016 How will this effect my ds in a school system that opted out of CC.

I'm just wondering if anyone else in is this same boat?

The SAT will be tough for your son if he's had no exposure to cc and PARCC. Wouldn't do it unless he has test prep. I can think of better use of his time.

I'm waiting to see what the opt out movement and the SAT changes will bring. The backlash is load and vocal.

Thank you for your response...yes, your experience is helpful. Question - when you say that gifted kids taking the traditional path will take the corresponding PARCC test, could you explain further ? Here in CA, I think it used to be that kids would take the CA state test for Algebra and geometry in the year that they took algebra and geometry (so for an accelerated math student, that would be in 7th and 8th grade). With SBAC (CA equivalent of PARCC), there is no algebra subject test or geometry subject test anymore, no matter what grade you are when take those subjects; students will take SBAC for CC 6,7,8 in those years, and then no further math testing until 11th grade, at which time they'll get tested on everything (alg, geometry, etc). So when DD is in 11th grade she will have had zero math classes taught under the CC curriculum but will be taking that test (again, our local HS does not anticipate it's algebra 2 will be fully aligned with CC until current 7th graders get it). I am glad to know that ACT is not changing format next spring. Seriously thinking of having my DD take SATs this spring for kicks and future reference/comparison. She's on the low end of HG based on the one IQ test she ever took (WISC IV) but math has never been difficult for her...she really does seem to just 'get it', CC or not.

You definitely need to run your questions by a college counselor. It can be very risky to take a test in high school without preparation because it's all out there. I don't see any benefit to having any child take a standardized test if they haven't had CC math.