The California Department of Education’s 2021 mathematics framework seeks to end accelerated math opportunities for gifted students due to racial disparities in “gifted” math programs.
“In California in 2004-2014, 32% of Asian American students were in gifted programs, compared with 8% of White students, 4% of Black students, and 3% of Latinx students,” reads the text of the new framework.
In response to these apparent inequities, the framework recommends doing away with the accelerated math track the state’s middle school students can currently choose. Under the current system, gifted math students could take both Math 7 and 8 in 7th grade, allowing them to take Algebra 1 in 8th grade. This track puts such students on a pathway to take Calculus by 12th grade, setting the stage for them to take more advanced math courses in college.
The framework argues California’s public schools should do away with grouping students by ability, instead “districts and schools must confront the structural inequities of tracking and ability grouping, and to strengthen their efforts to support all students learning along a common pathway.”
But not everyone believes doing away with accelerated math in the name of “equity” is a good idea, with Mike Malione of Piedmont Advanced Learners Program saying the changes could cause “irreparable harm.”
“I predict it will cause irreparable harm to our public’s ongoing preparedness for STEM careers, resulting in unfathomable costs to all when our nation finds itself unable to advance or even properly maintain its highly technological, life-sustaining infrastructure,”
More dictates from the office of Diana Moon Glampers, Handicapper General.
The Dumbing Down of America continues…
Why in the world would now want to limit our children ability. We need to push the students harder making them understand the way to a better life style is a good education.
Would they also consider stopping the after school basketball practice for advanced basketball players?