Novato Unified School District is dedicated to provide students with a rigorous and balanced math program that provides all students the opportunities, experiences and resources to be successful. We have fully implemented the California Math Standards (linked below).  An important part of NUSD’s math program is our commitment to the Eight Mathematical Practices. The Standards for Mathematical Practice describe the expertise that mathematics educators at all levels should seek to develop in their students. The Eight Practices are:

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.
2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.
3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.
4. Model with mathematics
5. Use appropriate tools strategically.
6. Attend to precision.
7. Look for and make use of structure.
8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning

Please see letters linked below for detailed information regarding the placement requirements for each course. 

Galileo Benchmark Assessment –This comprehensive assessment measures student capabilities relative to grade-level standards in Mathematics. Math Benchmark test results are used to measure student growth and achievement over the course of the school year. The Benchmark Test includes both multiple-choice and technology-enhanced item types, similar to the test items that students will encounter on state tests.

MARS Tasks – These are performance tasks developed by the Silicon Valley Math Initiative (http://www.svmimac.org/), and measure students’ abilities to utilize the mathematical practices and connect them to grade level content.  The students complete practice tasks throughout the school year. For placement, the students will complete three performance tasks.  The tasks they complete for the criteria will be double blind scored by NUSD math teachers using rubrics from the Silicon Valley Math Initiative.  To be considered for the compacted pathway, students need to score an 18 out of 24 to show meeting standards at a high level.

2nd Semester Math Class Grade – In order to be considered for the compacted course pathway, students need to have a 94% as an overall grade in the class for the second semester.  This takes into consideration not only how they perform on tests and quizzes, but also their participation in class, projects and homework.

If you wish to appeal your middle school students’  math placement, please download and complete this appeal letter. As a reminder, the “Appeal for Consideration for Class Placement Without Meeting Criteria” document is due by June 30th  to Curriculum & Instruction Department located at 1015 Seventh Street, Room 202. Please address to Math Placement Appeals. We will not accept appeals after the due date.