For 4th Grade Parents
In one year, your children will be eligible for selection into 6th grade advanced math. If you want your child to have access to this program, you should learn about the process. The selection process for 2023 and new process for 2024 are described in detail.
Class placement forms are due at the end of March. Make sure you request easy grading teachers. One of the most important determinants of access to advanced math is who your child gets as a teacher in grade 5. If your child gets an easy grader, he/she has a 93% chance of admission (after meeting the aptitude test threshold). If your child gets a hard grader, he/she could have as low as a 30% chance of admission. Find out about easy and hard graders and read about the impact of teacher ratings on selection here.
Prepare your child for the CogAT test. The CogAT test is an aptitude test. Study books with practice tests are available. Some people even hire tutors. Your child will be given a chance to take the CogAT at the end of grade 4 that does not impact placement decisions. When your child takes the CogAT in grade 5, he/she needs to be in the 98th percentile to be considered for advanced math based on the current policy. (Note: The threshold does change from year to year.) To learn more, click here.
Finally, get your child a math tutor NOW. At the end of grade 5, your child will be tested on 6th grade math content through a "secure exam" and is expected to show mastery of content they were NOT taught in school. (Note that the teacher rating really does matter. If your child gets a high teacher rating, then he/she only needs to score a 50% on the secure exam for admission. If your child gets a low teacher rating, then he/she could need a score of 80%. The median score is 69%)
Vote Carefully
Two Board members, Pullano and Royce, will be up for reelection in May 2024. Find out where they stand on the issue. Pullano has told parents that she is not receptive to reviewing the advanced placement programs or placement as of March 2024. In addition, she publicly voted against Unlucky Student #1 when the placement process issues were first raised to the Board in September 2023. Royce was not present for that vote.
Sign the Petition
Parents should not have to worry about which teacher their child gets in grade 5 or about hiring tutors. These concerns are a byproduct of the new placement policy implemented in 2020. (Prior to 2020, students were not tested on skipped content for advanced math and teacher ratings did not exist.).
This petition urges the Manhasset School District Board and Administrators to address concerns around flexibility in the curriculum and transparency of the selection process as defined by specific goals. .
Sign by clicking here
(You may sign anonymously so that your name does not show publicly, if you prefer. Your name will NOT be shared with administrators unless we email you and get your permission. Please only sign if you are a Manhasset resident.)
Make Teacher Requests
Protect your child from harsh graders in grade 5. Ask your principal and your teacher NOT place your child with harsh graders in 5th grade. The harsh graders in Munsey in 2023 were Mrs. A and Dr. S. There is one in Shelter who is still being identified. In 2023, these teachers reduced a child's chance of admission by up to 71%. Click here to understand how.
Send a Letter
Contact the Superintendent and the Board of Education with your own concerns. A starter letter is here. Download it, edit it, sign it and send a copy to gpassi@manhassetschools.org and boe@manhassetschools.org
Join our Team
Please contact manhassetmath@gmail.com for more information.
