Middletown committee reviews UConn-taught discrete math ECE course, prerequisites and enrollment plan

MIDDLETOWN, June 5 — The Middletown School District Curriculum Committee discussed a proposal to add a University of Connecticut Early College Experience discrete mathematics course for high school juniors and eligible sophomores, committee Chair Deborah Guss said at the committee’s June 5 meeting.

The ECE class is taught to college standards by a local teacher who also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Connecticut. Meg Hanley, interim assistant principal at Beaman and interim preK–12 STEAM director in the district’s Office of Teaching and Learning, said UConn provides the curriculum and sets the course prerequisite as Algebra II. “The curriculum is designed by the college. It is a college-level course. They set the prerequisite, so their prerequisite is set for Algebra II,” Hanley said.

Committee members pressed for additional details before the full Board of Education meeting. Board member Liz Crooks asked how the course would affect AP precalculus and Calculus BC options; Hanley said the discrete-math ECE course “doesn’t have any relationship to those classes at all.” Adam Hain, a board member, described the course content as “a lot of problem solving… some data science… some comp sci,” and said the teacher will prepare a slideshow for students after completing UConn’s summer session.

Why it matters: proponents said the class can broaden math pathways for students who do not take the traditional calculus track while still earning college credit. Community member Delita Rose Daniels noted the course could serve students who wish to avoid a calculus pathway but still seek rigorous, college-level math credit. “This gives a wider option of kids who may not be on the calculus pathway, but they still will take this math…and get college credit,” she said.

Key details discussed - Eligibility: Hanley said UConn’s prerequisite is Algebra II; juniors and sophomores who completed Algebra I in eighth grade would meet eligibility if they have Algebra II before enrollment. Hanley summarized eligibility as “all our juniors and any child who took Algebra I in eighth grade.” - Curriculum and syllabus: UConn provides a sample curriculum, rubric and syllabus; the teacher will finalize materials after summer training. Hanley said the district currently has only the course title and description from UConn and that a complete syllabus will follow the teacher’s summer coursework. - Cost: Hanley said the ECE course would cost the district nothing because the instructor is already a UConn adjunct and the ECE arrangement carries no added district expense for this offering. - Enrollment trigger: Hanley described the district’s standard practice of running a course only if enough students sign up; she cited past practice that a very small number of students (for example, about six) is usually insufficient to run a section. - Timeline: To permit the teacher to attend UConn’s summer session, the course needs committee approval this year; courses are incorporated into the high school catalog by December and students register in January for the following school year.

Discussion vs. decision: Committee members asked for additional information before the Board of Education meeting on June 17. There was no formal vote at the committee meeting; the item remains a discussion and informational approval step in the curriculum process.

Next steps: Staff said they will provide further course details and the teacher’s syllabus after summer training and will make information available before the June 17 board meeting so the board can decide whether to place the course in the district’s program of studies.