Wednesday, July 19, 2017

SREB - Another new journey in math curriculum for seniors

I had the opportunity to attend SREB Math Ready training for 3 days recently. I am excited to be piloting this course at Etowah High School this coming school year. It is another problem-based curriculum so I am looking forward to teaching it. I hope to have time to write blog posts about it like I did when I got to pilot the IMP Meaningful Math curriculum (which I am still teaching!!).

Here are the points of interest for the course that were sent to us to share with parents:
Alabama’s Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Readiness Course Pilot Initiative
(Points of Interest)
  • In order to decrease the percentage of students entering community college requiring developmental courses, the Alabama Community College System (ACCS), the Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), and the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) have partnered together to offer two senior-level, ready-for-college courses: The Essentials of College English and The Essentials of College Mathematics.
  • The courses are designed for students scoring below college-and-career-readiness benchmarks. These courses are not dual-enrollment courses.
  • To be eligible for the courses, rising seniors must score within the following ACT score range: Math ACT 16-19, English ACT 14-19, Reading ACT 15-19.
  • Students who successfully complete the course or courses with a B or above are exempt from taking the highest level of corresponding developmental courses (Math 098, RDG 085 & English 093 or ENR 094) at participating two year community colleges.
  • Currently, the following community colleges are participating in the partnership: Wallace (Selma), Wallace State (Hanceville), Wallace (Dothan), Jefferson State, Calhoun, Gadsden State, Northwest Shoals, Lawson State, Snead, Bevill State
  • The long-term goal is for all Alabama community colleges to become part of the partnership.
  • The Essentials of College English and The Essentials of College Mathematics can replace the fourth year of English Language Arts (ELA) which is English 12 and the fourth year of mathematics.
  • Please be aware that this is only a partnership with the two year community colleges, not four-year institutions. Because of the entrance requirements for four year institutions, students planning to attend a four-year institution should not be enrolled in these courses.
  • Four year institutions require Algebra II for freshman college entrance and will not accept The Essentials of College Mathematics course as a replacement for Algebra II. However, if a student has 30 plus hours in a community college, then most four-year institutions do not require the Algebra II for admission.
  • The Essentials of College English and The Essentials of College Mathematics currently will not meet the requirements of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Clearinghouse (NCAAC). School systems may apply to the NCAAC for acceptance but there is no guarantee that they will approve the courses.
  • Although The Essentials of College English can count for English 12, it will not meet the requirements of admission for four year institutions.
  • The Essentials of College Mathematics course emphasizes an understanding of math concepts, as opposed to memorizing facts. Students learn the context behind procedures and come to understand the “whys” of using certain formulas or methods to solve a problem. By engaging students in real-world applications, this course develops critical-thinking skills that students will use in college and careers.
  • The Essentials of College English course utilizes a disciplinary literacy approach that teaches students strategies for reading and understanding complex texts in different subject areas. Students learn to develop and defend ideas from textbooks and write about them in college-level formats for English, history, and biology.
  • Teachers selected to teach The Essentials of College English and The Essentials of College Mathematics were required to attend training specific to the implementation of the courses.
  • Successful completion of the The Essentials of College English and/or The Essentials of College Mathematics courses has the potential to save your child time and money at his/her local community college. (Hint: Parents successful completion of the Essentials courses mean you will not have to pay for costly developmental courses that do not count toward a student’s
program of study)

  • Students completing The Essentials of College English and/or The Essentials of College Mathematics courses will complete an exemption request form. The form should be submitted to the community colleges registrars’ office.