I tried to gather all the universal information that was shared on WHEN forums prior to its change over. Here is the first post:
This information only pertains to those who plan on or may use the Utah Public system for graduation and to obtain a Utah high school diploma. Due to the requirements, this means that the decision to receive a diploma must be made much earlier than has been in the past. Previously many parents could make that decision in 11th grade. But now it is suggested before you start your 9th grade year. And pretty much, it is a done deal decision. I personally make that decision come 7th grade because we prepare our children to take advantage of the available associates degree through high school utilizing the middle grades to prepare them.
To graduate the math requirement is no longer a number of credits but rather include State Standards Math 1, 2, and 3. 9th grade requires State Standards math 1 (SSM1). 10th grade requires SSM2. 11th grade SSM3 or other options listed below.
In a nutshell:
If your student’s graduating class is 2015, they can complete the Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 (or instead of Algebra 2, an approved applied or advanced course off the list on the chart).
If your student would graduate in 2016 or later, they need to complete Secondary 1, Secondary 2, Secondary 3 (or instead of Secondary 3 an approved applied or advanced course off the list on the chart).
Here are the math standards to make sure students that are interested can pass the competency exams when it should come available February 2014.
Just a note, passing off tests currently have a consequence of disqualifying a student from the Regents scholarship.
Methodology is not mandated but the standards are.
I asked whether the traditional Saxon Math series of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry could fulfill the requirements.
Diana Suddreth of the Utah State Office of Education states:
While the state does not mandate curriculum, it does set standards, and it is the responsibility of the schools to choose curricula to support teachers as they instruct in the standards. The Saxon Math series you describe does an incomplete job of addressing the standards and does so out of order. Teachers can reorganize the material and supplement the material, but they must be teaching the standards for Secondary Math I, II, and III as those are the graduation requirements. The Secondary Math sequence is not a check off. The courses must be taken and the standards must be addressed.
Thanks to Martha Rassmussen, she found this update. SSM1 and SSM2 must be on the transcript but SSM3 can have other classes replace it. See this link to this PDF.
According to Mrs. Suddreth, USOE, states:
The AAF courses listed on this pdf are the courses students may take to fulfill the third mathematics requirement (after Secondary I and II are complete) upon parent request. They do not replace Secondary I and II which are firm in the graduation requirements. Please note that many of the courses have pre-requisites, sometimes including Secondary III.
If you consider the pathways in rows, you can see that the AAF courses line up with (and replace) either Secondary III or Precalculus. There are no courses that replace Secondary I and II.
The pathway describes the trajectory for most students; however, students who are advanced and move through the courses more quickly may meet the graduation requirement by taking Calculus, which fulfills the secondary mathematics graduation requirement regardless of how many credits are earned.
Here is the link to all the state standards. The PDF is only 1900 pages. Leave it to bureaucracy.
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So what do they do with kids who move into Utah from out of state. Isn’t that one of the points of common core? to unify the states curriculum? My sister’s kids in Idaho use Saxon in Public School.
It doesn’t affect my kids graduation as they will get a Homeschool Diploma but I am wondering about those who are going the Public Diploma route.
Sandy, what kind of school do your nieces/nephews attend? Is it a “regular” public school?
Alison Moore Smith wants to school you about Best Chicken Coop Kits for Your Backyard Chickens
I am glad I am not the only sane person who sees this problem. I wrote the governor about it and expressed the concern we were sold that common core would help those moving into our state. It does NOT. I asked Dianne what they planned for this. She said that it was up to the school they entered whether or not it would be accepted as grade level math AS LONG AS they had NEVER lived or been enrolled in an UTAH public/charter school jurisdiction. Possibly the incoming student will have to take the test to prove mastery. But at this time the test is not complete. She just kept saying, “if they pass calculus, previous requirements will be null later stating that high schools are NOT required to carry calculus.”
The problem I see is this: A late entering student into the SS math system will always miss 1/3 third of a particular subject whether it be Geometry, Algebra 1 or algebra 2). A tenth grader will miss 2/3rds. An eleventh grader will have various options but the passing CE math 1050 (college algebra) will not be considered mastery for the SSmath 1 or SSmath 2. Thus either they take the mastery tests be disqualified for certain scholarships or move forward to quickly get Calculus. Timing is very difficult and can shuns the opportunity for the associates. Not impossible but hard to fit into sequence. You can find more about the sequence in my excel spreadsheet on my blog: http://hsplaywithapurpose.blogspot.com
I have tried to figure it out to make sure children have the possibility to fulfill both the Utah Diploma requirements and the Associates Degree requirements. Remember things change all the time so always confirm it with the school counselors or if they don’t know go right to the Utah State Office of Education.
Kim wants to school you about Diploma and Utah’s new math requirements
Thank you for this discussion! I’m really trying to understand and this helps so much!!
One question I have: my 9th grader is doing math at the charter school this year. She’s in Secondary II. But due to health problems (she’s just been diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy – school is pretty tough for her), we are homeschooling more and more classes. With my older girls, we used BYU online classes, but I noticed they don’t carry math I, II, or III. I did find it at Mountain Heights, but sign up isn’t as flexible as BYU. So, if I understand this discussion correctly, she’s already out of the district’s math loop by not having math I this year, so my real goal now is to make sure she passes calculus and has 3 years of math credit, right????
That is what I understand, Anne. This year she needs to complete either SSM1, testing out (which is not available yet), or completing calculus. My understanding is that calculus is the cure all for the math requirements. Students who successfully complete Calculus have met graduation requirements regardless of the number of credits they have taken. See here.