Math Placement Process 2011-2012

Hilliard City School’s Math Placement Process
For the 2011-2012 Academic School Year

Appropriate math placement is crucial as your child begins his or her secondary education experience in the Hilliard City School District.  Because your child’s academic success is important to us, we have carefully developed criteria for student enrollment in our district’s math courses.

Course Descriptions – Grade 6 
♦  Math 6, which is
       (a)  based on the Ohio Academic Content Standards for 6th grade, and
       (b)  for students who demonstrate a need to master the math skills necessary for
               success in grade 7.

♦  Advanced Math 6, which is
      (a)   based on the Ohio Academic Content Standards for 6th grade, and
      (b)   content found in Ohio’s Academic Content Standards for 7th grade taught at an
               accelerated pace to prepare students for Pre-Algebra in 7th grade

♦  Pre-Algebra, which is
      (a)   for students who demonstrate advanced mathematical abilities based on several              
               criteria, and
      (b)   designed to prepare students for a rigorous and accelerated math pathway 
               covering content from the Ohio Academic Content Standards for grades 6 and 7
               that prepares students for Algebra I in 7th grade

Course Descriptions – Grade 7
♦  Math 7, which is
       (a)  based on the Ohio Academic Content Standards for 7^th grade, and
       (b)  for students who demonstrate a need to master the math skills necessary for success in grade 8.

♦  Pre-Algebra, which is
       (a)  for students who demonstrate advanced mathematical abilities based on several criteria, and
       (b)  designed to prepare students for a rigorous and accelerated math pathway  covering content
               from the Ohio Academic Content Standards for grades 7 and 8 that prepares students for
              Algebra I in 8^th grade

♦  Algebra 1, which is
       (a)  Based on the Ohio Academic Content Standards for Algebra, and
       (b)  the traditional one-year high school Algebra I curriculum that will be available to 7^th grade
               students who demonstrate avanced mathematical abilities on several criteria, and
       (c)  designed to prepare students for a rigorous and accelerated math pathway that leads students
               to enrollment  in Geometry in 8^th grade.

Placement Process
In order to determine which math course is most appropriate i for your child, a math committee, led by the
Department of Curriculum and Instruction, used multiple standards-based assessments, including:
       (a)  2010 Spring Ohio Achievement Assessment (OAA) Math Test
       (b)  Winter Northwest Evaluation System (NWEA) Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
                assessment for Math
       (c)  A district developed math placement assessment

The math placement process does not allow for arbitrary placement of students in math courses.  Placement
of individual students is solidly grounded in data to support required levels of achievement and aptitude for
successful performance in math.  Each of the indicators or criteria used to determine math placement is
explained in the following charts.

After the aforementioned assessments are administered at the end of February, the data is analyzed and
letters are sent home with each student stating what math course he/she has been placed into based on the
criteria.  This letter is delivered at the end of March.

Hilliard City School District’s Mathematics’ Course Sequence Chart
The Hilliard City School District’s Mathematics’ Course Sequence Chart explains the progression of
mathematics courses from grade five to eight.  You can download this chart from here:
Hilliard City School District’s Mathematics’ Course Sequence Chart

Requesting a Course Change
Students will have the opportunity to be placed in higher level math courses throughout their middle
school experience if the student is not sufficiently being challenged by his or her math class and
demonstrates content mastery through the academic school year.  Additionally, there are multiple paths
for students to pursue in mathematics that all can lead to rigorous mathematics courses in the high school. 
Placement in a particular math course in 6^th or 7^th grade will not impact access to these opportunities.

To request a child to be placed in a higher level mathematics course, a parent must follow
these steps: 
      a. Wait until the 2011 Spring OAA math results are mailed in June.  
      b. The OAA math scores must identify their child as being ”Accelerated” or “Advanced” in math.
           *However, please note that this score does not necessarily guarantee a higher placement.
      c.  Write a letter of appeal in June to your child’s future building principal for the 2011-2012 school 
            year requesting a change in math placement due to the new OAA math score results.
      d.  Contact the future principal and/or guidance department in August to discuss placement.

To request a child to be placed in a lower level mathematics course, a parent must follow
these steps:
      a.  Contact your child’s current math teacher and discuss next year’s math curriculum and your concerns
            about your child’s mathematic success. 
      b.  If you strongly believe your child needs to be placed in a lower level math class, write a letter of appeal
            in June to your child’s future building principal for the 2011-2012 school year requesting a change in 
            math placement.
      c.  Contact the future principal and/or guidance department in August to discuss placement.

PLEASE NOTE!
No mathematic placement changes are made before August of 2011