[rnarasimhan]

Dear Dr. McCallum,
You had inquired the following:

The K–8 standards were designed to gives students a solid preparation for algebra. How do you handle acceleration in Grades K–6 for these students?

I am an NJ parent of a child who is slated to be radically accelerated in 6th grade so as to be ready for AP Calculus BC in 11th grade(!) In our NJ district, there is no acceleration at all in grades K-5 for math. Since I am also a math professor, I supplement whatever is needed for my kid at an appropriate developmental level. I see topics rushed through at a speedy pace in 6th grade and beyond, with lots of concept gaps. Even the “standard” track kids are rushed through so that almost all can take some version of calculus as seniors. Competitive school districts feel that this is the way to gain admission to top universities, so I am not sure that compactification is going to go away.
The proper way of acceleration – to teach on-grade topics in depth by using materials such as the ones written by the Art of Problem Solving group – requires a fairly sophisticated understanding of mathematics. Also, many universities still use the traditional high school math curricula as the benchmark for their placement criteria. Thus, as far as districts like mine are concerned, I do not, unfortunately, foresee much change in the approach to secondary school math.

[Author]

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