Virtual Learning - Why Not MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

DP. Plus the state doesn't allow asynchronous days to count toward the 180, so that wouldn't help MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone with high schoolers can scream all you want, but virtual doesn't work for younger elementary kids. They don't have chromebooks. They don't have textbooks. Lessons aren't available to parents.

You’re adorable. My high schooler was actually a 3rd grader when the pandemic started and we used our own devices in the beginning. They didn’t issue Chromebooks and teachers didn’t know how to set up documents so we were printing out worksheets emailed by the central office, scanning them in and uploading them. Now teachers at least know how to set this stuff up and your kids definitely know how to use zoom.

My kids have never used zoom. And my son certainly isn't going to sit at a laptop without a paraeducator.

They don't have textbooks. We don't even get lessons for how to do the homework they send home now, nor do the teachers respond to questions about how to it (other than saying to just skip it). Virtual would be a disaster if they tried to cover anything new.

None of our kids had used zoom before the pandemic. They learned because they had to, and no, no one sent a paraeducator to our houses to teach them.

Every single kid in MCPS did virtual learning for a year. It’s not a big flex to do it for a few snow days as an imperfect alternative to having no educational opportunities at all.

The alternative isn't "no educational opportunities"! It's using the make-up days in the calendar.

There’s only 1 snow day in the MCPS calendar. What would those makeup days be?

Would they be in end June and would MCPS send out that same email that says “we know families already made plans during these days and no instruction will be going on during these days.”

My kids attended all 3 June makeup days last week and they watched videos and did teacher assigned puzzle worksheets.

I assume pp was referring to 3/20 and 4/15.

Who agreed to use 3/20 and 4/15? Last year they just tacked on days at end June.

Anyway MCPS needs to make up 4 snow days already and we haven’t even finished January. Whomever put only 1 snow day into the school year should be fired for incompetence

So far they only have to make up 2. Monday was already a day off, and Tuesday was the built in day. Wed & Th need to be made up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

DP. Plus the state doesn't allow asynchronous days to count toward the 180, so that wouldn't help MCPS.

It might you know, actually help the students learn their assigned curriculum to be able to progress on it while school is closed for a week. Because that’s supposed to be the outcome of an education-to learn the material.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone with high schoolers can scream all you want, but virtual doesn't work for younger elementary kids. They don't have chromebooks. They don't have textbooks. Lessons aren't available to parents.

You’re adorable. My high schooler was actually a 3rd grader when the pandemic started and we used our own devices in the beginning. They didn’t issue Chromebooks and teachers didn’t know how to set up documents so we were printing out worksheets emailed by the central office, scanning them in and uploading them. Now teachers at least know how to set this stuff up and your kids definitely know how to use zoom.

My kids have never used zoom. And my son certainly isn't going to sit at a laptop without a paraeducator.

They don't have textbooks. We don't even get lessons for how to do the homework they send home now, nor do the teachers respond to questions about how to it (other than saying to just skip it). Virtual would be a disaster if they tried to cover anything new.

None of our kids had used zoom before the pandemic. They learned because they had to, and no, no one sent a paraeducator to our houses to teach them.

Every single kid in MCPS did virtual learning for a year. It’s not a big flex to do it for a few snow days as an imperfect alternative to having no educational opportunities at all.

The alternative isn't "no educational opportunities"! It's using the make-up days in the calendar.

There’s only 1 snow day in the MCPS calendar. What would those makeup days be?

Would they be in end June and would MCPS send out that same email that says “we know families already made plans during these days and no instruction will be going on during these days.”

My kids attended all 3 June makeup days last week and they watched videos and did teacher assigned puzzle worksheets.

I assume pp was referring to 3/20 and 4/15.

Who agreed to use 3/20 and 4/15? Last year they just tacked on days at end June.

Anyway MCPS needs to make up 4 snow days already and we haven’t even finished January. Whomever put only 1 snow day into the school year should be fired for incompetence

So far they only have to make up 2. Monday was already a day off, and Tuesday was the built in day. Wed & Th need to be made up.

I doubt they will use 3/20 and 4/15. They’ll add the useless days in June again. And data suggests that we will have more snow days than just the 3 this week. We haven’t even finished January yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer true that every student has a Chromebook. Some schools returned to the cart model because parents complained about 1:1.

Every kid in middle and high school has a chromebook all the time.

My kids (bcc cluster) certainly do. I read that Pyle MS moved away to having carts so kids only get Chromebooks when they need them which is not as often, but even if that’s the case, there are enough laptops for every student and central office should have had the foresight to tell schools to distribute them on Thursday and Friday considering every news outlet predicted a major storm.

You must be at Westland. Silver Creek uses the cart model.

The storm was predicted for a week. silver creek could have taken the computers off the cart and sent them home. My MS kid has been using his to do IXL and a few of his teachers posted assignments today due 2 days after school is back in session (whenever that is.)

If MCPS wanted to do virtual, they would have had to come up with a plan, presented it at the BOE, provided an opportunity to have public comment, and then the BOE would have needed to vote to adopt it. It could not be asynchronous; only synchronous instruction counts. These are all state requirements. MCPS did not of these. So no, Silver Creek and other schools could not have simply sent students home with Chromebooks. MUCH more planning would have had to go into it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer true that every student has a Chromebook. Some schools returned to the cart model because parents complained about 1:1.

Every kid in middle and high school has a chromebook all the time.

My kids (bcc cluster) certainly do. I read that Pyle MS moved away to having carts so kids only get Chromebooks when they need them which is not as often, but even if that’s the case, there are enough laptops for every student and central office should have had the foresight to tell schools to distribute them on Thursday and Friday considering every news outlet predicted a major storm.

You must be at Westland. Silver Creek uses the cart model.

The storm was predicted for a week. silver creek could have taken the computers off the cart and sent them home. My MS kid has been using his to do IXL and a few of his teachers posted assignments today due 2 days after school is back in session (whenever that is.)

If MCPS wanted to do virtual, they would have had to come up with a plan, presented it at the BOE, provided an opportunity to have public comment, and then the BOE would have needed to vote to adopt it. It could not be asynchronous; only synchronous instruction counts. These are all state requirements. MCPS did not of these. So no, Silver Creek and other schools could not have simply sent students home with Chromebooks. MUCH more planning would have had to go into it.

If only we had known there was a big storm coming a week ahead of time. Oh wait, we did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

DP. Plus the state doesn't allow asynchronous days to count toward the 180, so that wouldn't help MCPS.

It might you know, actually help the students learn their assigned curriculum to be able to progress on it while school is closed for a week. Because that’s supposed to be the outcome of an education-to learn the material.

I think it would be reasonable to provide optional homework that reinforces the lessons that were in progress, but there wasn't much of that given the timing of the storm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

My kids did the work, why didn't yours?

+1. What was your evidence that the asynchronous work was a “disaster?”

Many students complained about it:

SOURCE: https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/mcps-announces-removal-of-asynchronous-days-for-the-2024-2025-school-year/article_3c1b41b8-2859-11ef-9780-174bd648a2e8.html

some students criticized asynchronous days due to the workload they had to complete. Many Jewish students felt frustrated that they still had work to do during the most recent asynchronous day, which fell on Passover.

Junior Marisa Janger felt overwhelmed with the workload she had to balance with celebrating her religious traditions.

“It was hard to balance supporting my family and our traditions while also thinking about all the work I had to do,” Janger said.

ELM Learning, an organization dedicated to virtual learning, explained the disadvantages of asynchronous days. There is often a disconnect between the student and the material, causing a lack of motivation. Additionally, the lack of instant feedback and direct teacher-student contact may lead to misunderstandings during asynchronous learning.

Sophomore Ruth Hailu articulated the negative effects an asynchronous day could have on students.

“Students might not receive quick feedback on their work or have the opportunity to ask questions as they arise,” Hailu said. “Students may struggle to stay focused and engaged without any structure.”

Many parents were critical of it as well.

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/04/24/mixed-reaction-from-parents-to-mcps-asynchronous-learning-day/

Aaron Droller, a Silver Spring resident with second and fourth-grade students, was critical of the asynchronous learning day and said that it should not be considered a full school day.

“It’s really a pretend school day,” Droller said. “I think it sends the wrong message that school is optional, and this practice should stop, especially considering the terrible truancy issues that the school system is facing.”

Droller also noted that implementing an asynchronous learning day seemed like a “remnant of [COVID-19] era school closure policies.”

.....

Germantown resident Treena Selak, who has two students at Roberto Clemente Middle School and two students at Seneca Valley High School, said that there was some frustration from her and her children around the asynchronous learning day.

“All my kids said it was reminiscent of Zoom school, which none of my children liked and enjoyed,” Selak said, noting that her children all had online assignments to complete for the asynchronous learning day.

One of the main frustrations that her children ran into was getting questions about the assignments answered by their teachers, she said. Without teachers readily available to give answers, it took longer for her students to complete assignments.

Selak also said that she felt frustrated that “there were a lot of inconsistencies with the expectations” for students. She said that it was challenging to support her kids, two of whom have individualized education plans (IEP) and “struggle with executive function issues.”

“Some [assignments] were due at noon yesterday,” she said. “Some were due at 3 p.m. Some were due at midnight. Some weren’t due until later on this week or even next week. Some of my kids didn’t even have an assignment for a class except to complete something that they have been [working on] last week or Friday.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer true that every student has a Chromebook. Some schools returned to the cart model because parents complained about 1:1.

Every kid in middle and high school has a chromebook all the time.

My kids (bcc cluster) certainly do. I read that Pyle MS moved away to having carts so kids only get Chromebooks when they need them which is not as often, but even if that’s the case, there are enough laptops for every student and central office should have had the foresight to tell schools to distribute them on Thursday and Friday considering every news outlet predicted a major storm.

You must be at Westland. Silver Creek uses the cart model.

The storm was predicted for a week. silver creek could have taken the computers off the cart and sent them home. My MS kid has been using his to do IXL and a few of his teachers posted assignments today due 2 days after school is back in session (whenever that is.)

If MCPS wanted to do virtual, they would have had to come up with a plan, presented it at the BOE, provided an opportunity to have public comment, and then the BOE would have needed to vote to adopt it. It could not be asynchronous; only synchronous instruction counts. These are all state requirements. MCPS did not of these. So no, Silver Creek and other schools could not have simply sent students home with Chromebooks. MUCH more planning would have had to go into it.

If only we had known there was a big storm coming a week ahead of time. Oh wait, we did.

You wanted MCPS to: create a plan, present it to the BoE, open it for public feedback, approve it by the BoE, submit it to the state, inform teachers of the intent to go virtual, have teachers create new lesson plans, etc, all over the course of one week?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

My kids did the work, why didn't yours?

+1. What was your evidence that the asynchronous work was a “disaster?”

Many students complained about it:

SOURCE: https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/mcps-announces-removal-of-asynchronous-days-for-the-2024-2025-school-year/article_3c1b41b8-2859-11ef-9780-174bd648a2e8.html

some students criticized asynchronous days due to the workload they had to complete. Many Jewish students felt frustrated that they still had work to do during the most recent asynchronous day, which fell on Passover.

Junior Marisa Janger felt overwhelmed with the workload she had to balance with celebrating her religious traditions.

“It was hard to balance supporting my family and our traditions while also thinking about all the work I had to do,” Janger said.

ELM Learning, an organization dedicated to virtual learning, explained the disadvantages of asynchronous days. There is often a disconnect between the student and the material, causing a lack of motivation. Additionally, the lack of instant feedback and direct teacher-student contact may lead to misunderstandings during asynchronous learning.

Sophomore Ruth Hailu articulated the negative effects an asynchronous day could have on students.

“Students might not receive quick feedback on their work or have the opportunity to ask questions as they arise,” Hailu said. “Students may struggle to stay focused and engaged without any structure.”

Many parents were critical of it as well.

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/04/24/mixed-reaction-from-parents-to-mcps-asynchronous-learning-day/

Aaron Droller, a Silver Spring resident with second and fourth-grade students, was critical of the asynchronous learning day and said that it should not be considered a full school day.

“It’s really a pretend school day,” Droller said. “I think it sends the wrong message that school is optional, and this practice should stop, especially considering the terrible truancy issues that the school system is facing.”

Droller also noted that implementing an asynchronous learning day seemed like a “remnant of [COVID-19] era school closure policies.”

.....

Germantown resident Treena Selak, who has two students at Roberto Clemente Middle School and two students at Seneca Valley High School, said that there was some frustration from her and her children around the asynchronous learning day.

“All my kids said it was reminiscent of Zoom school, which none of my children liked and enjoyed,” Selak said, noting that her children all had online assignments to complete for the asynchronous learning day.

One of the main frustrations that her children ran into was getting questions about the assignments answered by their teachers, she said. Without teachers readily available to give answers, it took longer for her students to complete assignments.

Selak also said that she felt frustrated that “there were a lot of inconsistencies with the expectations” for students. She said that it was challenging to support her kids, two of whom have individualized education plans (IEP) and “struggle with executive function issues.”

“Some [assignments] were due at noon yesterday,” she said. “Some were due at 3 p.m. Some were due at midnight. Some weren’t due until later on this week or even next week. Some of my kids didn’t even have an assignment for a class except to complete something that they have been [working on] last week or Friday.”

Students and parents complaining about something is not evidence of a disaster.

And if you read the article, the complaints were that MCPS didn’t implement it well. Again, just bad planning by MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

My kids did the work, why didn't yours?

+1. What was your evidence that the asynchronous work was a “disaster?”

Many students complained about it:

SOURCE: https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/mcps-announces-removal-of-asynchronous-days-for-the-2024-2025-school-year/article_3c1b41b8-2859-11ef-9780-174bd648a2e8.html

some students criticized asynchronous days due to the workload they had to complete. Many Jewish students felt frustrated that they still had work to do during the most recent asynchronous day, which fell on Passover.

Junior Marisa Janger felt overwhelmed with the workload she had to balance with celebrating her religious traditions.

“It was hard to balance supporting my family and our traditions while also thinking about all the work I had to do,” Janger said.

ELM Learning, an organization dedicated to virtual learning, explained the disadvantages of asynchronous days. There is often a disconnect between the student and the material, causing a lack of motivation. Additionally, the lack of instant feedback and direct teacher-student contact may lead to misunderstandings during asynchronous learning.

Sophomore Ruth Hailu articulated the negative effects an asynchronous day could have on students.

“Students might not receive quick feedback on their work or have the opportunity to ask questions as they arise,” Hailu said. “Students may struggle to stay focused and engaged without any structure.”

Many parents were critical of it as well.

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/04/24/mixed-reaction-from-parents-to-mcps-asynchronous-learning-day/

Aaron Droller, a Silver Spring resident with second and fourth-grade students, was critical of the asynchronous learning day and said that it should not be considered a full school day.

“It’s really a pretend school day,” Droller said. “I think it sends the wrong message that school is optional, and this practice should stop, especially considering the terrible truancy issues that the school system is facing.”

Droller also noted that implementing an asynchronous learning day seemed like a “remnant of [COVID-19] era school closure policies.”

.....

Germantown resident Treena Selak, who has two students at Roberto Clemente Middle School and two students at Seneca Valley High School, said that there was some frustration from her and her children around the asynchronous learning day.

“All my kids said it was reminiscent of Zoom school, which none of my children liked and enjoyed,” Selak said, noting that her children all had online assignments to complete for the asynchronous learning day.

One of the main frustrations that her children ran into was getting questions about the assignments answered by their teachers, she said. Without teachers readily available to give answers, it took longer for her students to complete assignments.

Selak also said that she felt frustrated that “there were a lot of inconsistencies with the expectations” for students. She said that it was challenging to support her kids, two of whom have individualized education plans (IEP) and “struggle with executive function issues.”

“Some [assignments] were due at noon yesterday,” she said. “Some were due at 3 p.m. Some were due at midnight. Some weren’t due until later on this week or even next week. Some of my kids didn’t even have an assignment for a class except to complete something that they have been [working on] last week or Friday.”

Students and parents complaining about something is not evidence of a disaster.

And if you read the article, the complaints were that MCPS didn’t implement it well. Again, just bad planning by MCPS.

It did so poorly that the BOE and MSDE declined to continue doing them. I don't know how much more evidence you need, but keep burying your head in the sand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer true that every student has a Chromebook. Some schools returned to the cart model because parents complained about 1:1.

Every kid in middle and high school has a chromebook all the time.

My kids (bcc cluster) certainly do. I read that Pyle MS moved away to having carts so kids only get Chromebooks when they need them which is not as often, but even if that’s the case, there are enough laptops for every student and central office should have had the foresight to tell schools to distribute them on Thursday and Friday considering every news outlet predicted a major storm.

You must be at Westland. Silver Creek uses the cart model.

The storm was predicted for a week. silver creek could have taken the computers off the cart and sent them home. My MS kid has been using his to do IXL and a few of his teachers posted assignments today due 2 days after school is back in session (whenever that is.)

If MCPS wanted to do virtual, they would have had to come up with a plan, presented it at the BOE, provided an opportunity to have public comment, and then the BOE would have needed to vote to adopt it. It could not be asynchronous; only synchronous instruction counts. These are all state requirements. MCPS did not of these. So no, Silver Creek and other schools could not have simply sent students home with Chromebooks. MUCH more planning would have had to go into it.

If only we had known there was a big storm coming a week ahead of time. Oh wait, we did.

You wanted MCPS to: create a plan, present it to the BoE, open it for public feedback, approve it by the BoE, submit it to the state, inform teachers of the intent to go virtual, have teachers create new lesson plans, etc, all over the course of one week?!?!

MCPS has a billion dollar plus budget. Last year it had 3 extra snow days it didn’t budget for.

Why are you writing as if it’s a shock to the system to expect paid staff members to plan for something that has repeatedly occurred and has been a problem?

DCPs for all its poverty did asynchronous learning today. Other school districts will do virtual learning tomorrow.

Why is MCPS doing nothing but making snow day videos?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS had asynchronous learning assignments today. DCPS is back to school tomorrow on a two hour delay.

MCPS is just not well managed.

Does DCPS have better academic outcomes than MCPS? No.

So the fact that they do asynchronous learning assignments is no feather in their cap.

Also, MCPS did an asynchronous day last year and it was a disaster. Most kids didn't do the asynchronous work they were assigned on that day.

My kids did the work, why didn't yours?

+1. What was your evidence that the asynchronous work was a “disaster?”

Many students complained about it:

SOURCE: https://www.thesentinel.com/communities/mcps-announces-removal-of-asynchronous-days-for-the-2024-2025-school-year/article_3c1b41b8-2859-11ef-9780-174bd648a2e8.html

some students criticized asynchronous days due to the workload they had to complete. Many Jewish students felt frustrated that they still had work to do during the most recent asynchronous day, which fell on Passover.

Junior Marisa Janger felt overwhelmed with the workload she had to balance with celebrating her religious traditions.

“It was hard to balance supporting my family and our traditions while also thinking about all the work I had to do,” Janger said.

ELM Learning, an organization dedicated to virtual learning, explained the disadvantages of asynchronous days. There is often a disconnect between the student and the material, causing a lack of motivation. Additionally, the lack of instant feedback and direct teacher-student contact may lead to misunderstandings during asynchronous learning.

Sophomore Ruth Hailu articulated the negative effects an asynchronous day could have on students.

“Students might not receive quick feedback on their work or have the opportunity to ask questions as they arise,” Hailu said. “Students may struggle to stay focused and engaged without any structure.”

Many parents were critical of it as well.

SOURCE: https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/04/24/mixed-reaction-from-parents-to-mcps-asynchronous-learning-day/

Aaron Droller, a Silver Spring resident with second and fourth-grade students, was critical of the asynchronous learning day and said that it should not be considered a full school day.

“It’s really a pretend school day,” Droller said. “I think it sends the wrong message that school is optional, and this practice should stop, especially considering the terrible truancy issues that the school system is facing.”

Droller also noted that implementing an asynchronous learning day seemed like a “remnant of [COVID-19] era school closure policies.”

.....

Germantown resident Treena Selak, who has two students at Roberto Clemente Middle School and two students at Seneca Valley High School, said that there was some frustration from her and her children around the asynchronous learning day.

“All my kids said it was reminiscent of Zoom school, which none of my children liked and enjoyed,” Selak said, noting that her children all had online assignments to complete for the asynchronous learning day.

One of the main frustrations that her children ran into was getting questions about the assignments answered by their teachers, she said. Without teachers readily available to give answers, it took longer for her students to complete assignments.

Selak also said that she felt frustrated that “there were a lot of inconsistencies with the expectations” for students. She said that it was challenging to support her kids, two of whom have individualized education plans (IEP) and “struggle with executive function issues.”

“Some [assignments] were due at noon yesterday,” she said. “Some were due at 3 p.m. Some were due at midnight. Some weren’t due until later on this week or even next week. Some of my kids didn’t even have an assignment for a class except to complete something that they have been [working on] last week or Friday.”

Students and parents complaining about something is not evidence of a disaster.

And if you read the article, the complaints were that MCPS didn’t implement it well. Again, just bad planning by MCPS.

It did so poorly that the BOE and MSDE declined to continue doing them. I don't know how much more evidence you need, but keep burying your head in the sand.

+1. It was bad enough to get the state to change the policy on virtual school days!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer true that every student has a Chromebook. Some schools returned to the cart model because parents complained about 1:1.

Every kid in middle and high school has a chromebook all the time.

My kids (bcc cluster) certainly do. I read that Pyle MS moved away to having carts so kids only get Chromebooks when they need them which is not as often, but even if that’s the case, there are enough laptops for every student and central office should have had the foresight to tell schools to distribute them on Thursday and Friday considering every news outlet predicted a major storm.

You must be at Westland. Silver Creek uses the cart model.

The storm was predicted for a week. silver creek could have taken the computers off the cart and sent them home. My MS kid has been using his to do IXL and a few of his teachers posted assignments today due 2 days after school is back in session (whenever that is.)

If MCPS wanted to do virtual, they would have had to come up with a plan, presented it at the BOE, provided an opportunity to have public comment, and then the BOE would have needed to vote to adopt it. It could not be asynchronous; only synchronous instruction counts. These are all state requirements. MCPS did not of these. So no, Silver Creek and other schools could not have simply sent students home with Chromebooks. MUCH more planning would have had to go into it.

If only we had known there was a big storm coming a week ahead of time. Oh wait, we did.

You wanted MCPS to: create a plan, present it to the BoE, open it for public feedback, approve it by the BoE, submit it to the state, inform teachers of the intent to go virtual, have teachers create new lesson plans, etc, all over the course of one week?!?!

It’s been about one year since MCPS exceeded the snow days it allocated last year. Since MCPS only has one snow day allocated in the calendar, one would think that they could have used that year to you know…plan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no longer true that every student has a Chromebook. Some schools returned to the cart model because parents complained about 1:1.

Every kid in middle and high school has a chromebook all the time.

My kids (bcc cluster) certainly do. I read that Pyle MS moved away to having carts so kids only get Chromebooks when they need them which is not as often, but even if that’s the case, there are enough laptops for every student and central office should have had the foresight to tell schools to distribute them on Thursday and Friday considering every news outlet predicted a major storm.

You must be at Westland. Silver Creek uses the cart model.

The storm was predicted for a week. silver creek could have taken the computers off the cart and sent them home. My MS kid has been using his to do IXL and a few of his teachers posted assignments today due 2 days after school is back in session (whenever that is.)

If MCPS wanted to do virtual, they would have had to come up with a plan, presented it at the BOE, provided an opportunity to have public comment, and then the BOE would have needed to vote to adopt it. It could not be asynchronous; only synchronous instruction counts. These are all state requirements. MCPS did not of these. So no, Silver Creek and other schools could not have simply sent students home with Chromebooks. MUCH more planning would have had to go into it.

If only we had known there was a big storm coming a week ahead of time. Oh wait, we did.

You wanted MCPS to: create a plan, present it to the BoE, open it for public feedback, approve it by the BoE, submit it to the state, inform teachers of the intent to go virtual, have teachers create new lesson plans, etc, all over the course of one week?!?!

MCPS has a billion dollar plus budget. Last year it had 3 extra snow days it didn’t budget for.

Why are you writing as if it’s a shock to the system to expect paid staff members to plan for something that has repeatedly occurred and has been a problem?

DCPs for all its poverty did asynchronous learning today. Other school districts will do virtual learning tomorrow.

Why is MCPS doing nothing but making snow day videos?

What school district is doing synchronous virtual school tomorrow?