This is confusing. I thought the policy already allowed students to sign up for whatever courses they wanted. That was what was stated at 9th grade orientation for my daughter.

It seems this would just establish a "floor" via an objective process to prevent a student from being placed too low. The initial placement (which parents/students could presumably accept or reject) would be based on an objective measure, rather than teacher recommendation.

The Superintendent indicates that students would still be able to open enroll in a higher class if they choose.

I am very highly biased toward separating students into educational tracks based upon their abilities regardless of race or class. Student learn better when they are in classes with their intellectual peers so the teachers can treat them as equals without the distractions of superior or inferior students. If these "new" rules were based solely upon "Students will be placed based on placement tests, standardized tests, grades and any other 'objective indicators of student performance and proficiency in mathematics '" then I would totally support them. The problem is that the school board has left a huge SUBJECTIVE loophole to be exploited by Politically Correct teachers and administrators under pressure from parents of inferior students and also the very aggressive (and horribly misguided) "Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights".

The huge loophole is that the the policy "leaves room for students who show 'talents and abilities' to teachers and counselors that are not reflected in test scores". This is not objective. It is subjective and is subject to political manipulation --- by groups like the so-called civil rights lawyers and wishful thinking educators.

There you go again, showing that side of you that should have been buried after 1945...

Stop. It. Already. Spanky.

I hope these new rules still allow students to challenge themselves and move into a higher classes if they want to. I had a horrible 8th grade math teacher (he should have just been fired, he didn't teach us anything). I arrived in 9th grade being told I had the second lowest math test score in my class (looking at the placement test). I knew it was because I had essentially missed all of 8th grade math due to this horrible teacher.

I begged to be placed in the regular math track (they wanted me in remedial), knowing full well that I was capable of catching up. At first the high school principal was reluctant citing my horrible test scores on the placement exam. I kept pushing (this was all from me, not my parents) and finally he let me move up.

I struggled for the first 6 months but worked my butt off and finally caught up. By 10th grade I was above average for my class. I really can't say where my life would be right now had the principal not trusted me and ignored the test scores - if I'd been tracked in the remedial math class. I hope other kids are given this opportunity if they choose to take it.