Sumner County schools may replace Algebra I with other mathematics classes to help close knowledge gaps starting 
in 2015-16.
Although a letter sent Saturday to parents from Hawkins Middle School Principal Mitch Flood says Algebra I will no longer be offered, the Sumner County Board of Education will make the final decision this summer with students’ best educational plan in mind, school system spokesman Jeremy Johnson said.
Board members plan to start publicly discussing the potential change at their study session Tuesday, June 2.
“The letter was sent out prematurely,” Johnson said. “We will inform parents if and what change is going to be made before the beginning of the school year.”
The letter to parents of incoming eighth-graders said the school district “will no longer be offering Algebra I to our 8th grade students” as a result of “the rigor that the Tennessee State Standards bring to the math classroom” and “our alignment to 21st century math skills.” Those are specific state standards ensuring students are learning needed math concepts.
Currently, incoming eighth-graders who meet certain benchmarks have the option to take Algebra I instead of the regular curricular math. With the possible change, eighth-graders will have three math learning tracks based on skill levels.
The highest-achieving eighth grade math students will have the opportunity to take Advanced Math, which would replace Algebra I. Taught in alignment with the eighth grade Tennessee State Standards, Advanced Math will take students deeper into exploring math concepts and will move at an accelerated pace while still offering Algebra concepts.
“This would allow us to still give them the Algebra prep skills to build on the eighth grade skills they need to be developing that aid them when they get into high school math,” Johnson said.
Change not finalized (continue reading at The Tennessean)