As the math vertical team for North Monterey County reviewed curriculum, standards, and articulation for their system, there was some good news. They agreed they were pretty happy with the high school policy of placing every entering freshman into algebra, and decided to build on their strategy of developing assessments. High school teachers have designed a unique set of assessments which they work the kids through over the course of the year.
Students have to pass the assessment for each unit with a certain score.
They are supported with tutorials and mentoring, and if necessary attend summer school to make sure they have the concepts in place and pass all the assessments at an acceptable level. Students use technology to learn math. Satisfied that the high school was on its way, the vertical team decided to focus their efforts at the middle and elementary school levels. One of their first projects was to review standards for 6th, 7th and 8th grades and write them down in a version that made sense to them. Besides sharing these with the other math teachers in the district, they developed a pamphlet for parents, delineating standards and expectations for each grade level.