Support the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA) from Budget Cuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's ok if virtual is not right for your family or your kids. But, it is the right choice for other families and their children and why terminate a program that has such a low cost to MCPS and is benefitting some students?

This was always meant to be a temporary program to serve high risk families during the pandemic. You were just in denial about that.

No, it was promised long term. No one is in denial. It works for some kids and families. The cost in nominal to MCPS. Why take it away?

Yikes. It was never promised. There was no long term plan once Covid money ran out.

Yikes. It was in the budget for next year.

It was in the budget tentatively adopted for next year. Before funding was secured.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be a statewide virtual option for everyone.

+1 I went to a state virtual school for remedial classes and was able to enroll in AP classrooms by high school. I even stayed enrolled in the online program while going to my local high school. I had enough credits to graduate in my junior year, because it ignited my passion for learning.

This is the obvious solution. It doesn't make sense to do virtual at a local level. There just aren't enough students, even in a district the size of MoCo.

There are enough students. The MVA has a waitlist and they could offer a hybrid program as well.

Enrollment in the program dropped by over 40% each year it’s been in place. Overall since its inception it has lost more than 65% of its participants. The fact that there’s a waitlist is meaningless. It’s a program that’s hemorrhaging kids.

They aren't letting new kids in. Kids graduate, families move....

Naw that’s not it but keep trying to make up excuses and maybe something will stick. 7.87% of the MVA’s enrollment in 2021-2022 was 12th graders yet enrollment dropped over 40% after that school year ended. So 32% of the program’s cohort moved that summer? Similarly, 7.79% of the MVA program’s enrollment was 12th graders in 2022-2023 but enrollment dropped 43.9% after they graduated. So another 36% of the program moved out of moco? That’s why enrollment has plummeted?

They aren't letting new students in as they don't have the staffing. It was always clear some would just the there a year or so till covid got better.

And covid isn't better.

Be sure to use that in your testimony, Sterling. It definitely won't make you sound hysterical.

Just factual. Covid in Maryland wastewater is still higher than last summer.

Covid was fine last summer, too. We've had two years of stability. This is what endemic covid looks like. You're going to have to come to terms with that eventually.

[Anonymous]

Is there not any kind of home instruction program for homebound students? I don’t know what MCPS calls it, but it existed pre-pandemic. Just because MVA seems cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better. MCpS has many programs they can’t fund or staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there not any kind of home instruction program for homebound students? I don’t know what MCPS calls it, but it existed pre-pandemic. Just because MVA seems cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better. MCpS has many programs they can’t fund or staff.

Medically qualified students are served by IIS. IIS is fully funded and serves students who due to medical reasons submitted by doctors cannot attend school. This is a long standing program. Teachers actually work one on one with home bound medically eligible students. Your child qualifies in 60 day increments so if a healthy child has a medically qualifying event at any point in the school year they can start IIS and then as needed extend in 60 day increments.

[Anonymous]

New report on MVA closure where MCPS spokesperson confirms the decision and one family impacted is featured: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-virtual-academy-montgomery-county-public-schools-mcps-maryland-education-special-needs-students-accessibility-learning#

After watching the report, I'm not sure why the Lasko family can't be served by IIS or home schooling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New report on MVA closure where MCPS spokesperson confirms the decision and one family impacted is featured: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-virtual-academy-montgomery-county-public-schools-mcps-maryland-education-special-needs-students-accessibility-learning#

After watching the report, I'm not sure why the Lasko family can't be served by IIS or home schooling.

It's interesting that the article said "the closing will affect 708 students from 2nd through 12th grade."

Was that intended to refer to the students that will be going into 2nd-12th grade?

And yes, that family could benefit from IIS or the special program at the Longview school.

[Anonymous]

Good grief! Florida Virtual has been around for years. Many other school districts accept FVS. Just have the state of MD accredit FVS or another similar program.

There really is no reason to reinvent the wheel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there not any kind of home instruction program for homebound students? I don’t know what MCPS calls it, but it existed pre-pandemic. Just because MVA seems cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better. MCpS has many programs they can’t fund or staff.

Home instruction is 6 hours of group virtual instruction a week. Not exactly much of an education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief! Florida Virtual has been around for years. Many other school districts accept FVS. Just have the state of MD accredit FVS or another similar program.

There really is no reason to reinvent the wheel.

Mcps would have to pay for that and it would cost more than the mva.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New report on MVA closure where MCPS spokesperson confirms the decision and one family impacted is featured: https://wjla.com/news/local/montgomery-virtual-academy-montgomery-county-public-schools-mcps-maryland-education-special-needs-students-accessibility-learning#

After watching the report, I'm not sure why the Lasko family can't be served by IIS or home schooling.

It's interesting that the article said "the closing will affect 708 students from 2nd through 12th grade."

Was that intended to refer to the students that will be going into 2nd-12th grade?

And yes, that family could benefit from IIS or the special program at the Longview school.

Iis is 6 hours a week. They don’t want their child in person. And, mcps would have to pay a para for 1-1 care which costs a lot more.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but no.

Unfortunately, hard decisions need to be made with the budget. and programs like this, that serve such a small number of students, have to be the first to go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There should be a statewide virtual option for everyone.

+1 I went to a state virtual school for remedial classes and was able to enroll in AP classrooms by high school. I even stayed enrolled in the online program while going to my local high school. I had enough credits to graduate in my junior year, because it ignited my passion for learning.

This is the obvious solution. It doesn't make sense to do virtual at a local level. There just aren't enough students, even in a district the size of MoCo.

There are enough students. The MVA has a waitlist and they could offer a hybrid program as well.

Enrollment in the program dropped by over 40% each year it’s been in place. Overall since its inception it has lost more than 65% of its participants. The fact that there’s a waitlist is meaningless. It’s a program that’s hemorrhaging kids.

They aren't letting new kids in. Kids graduate, families move....

Naw that’s not it but keep trying to make up excuses and maybe something will stick. 7.87% of the MVA’s enrollment in 2021-2022 was 12th graders yet enrollment dropped over 40% after that school year ended. So 32% of the program’s cohort moved that summer? Similarly, 7.79% of the MVA program’s enrollment was 12th graders in 2022-2023 but enrollment dropped 43.9% after they graduated. So another 36% of the program moved out of moco? That’s why enrollment has plummeted?

They aren't letting new students in as they don't have the staffing. It was always clear some would just the there a year or so till covid got better.

And covid isn't better.

Be sure to use that in your testimony, Sterling. It definitely won't make you sound hysterical.

Just factual. Covid in Maryland wastewater is still higher than last summer.

It’s not about Covid for all families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parents Coalition posted to FB a MCPS letter to parents to at MVA stating MVA was closing and offering help transitioning. Anyone have more info?

More information on what. That is all families were told and basically they are on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but no.

Unfortunately, hard decisions need to be made with the budget. and programs like this, that serve such a small number of students, have to be the first to go

The cost to mcps is minimal and the impact is huge. Plenty if better things to cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there not any kind of home instruction program for homebound students? I don’t know what MCPS calls it, but it existed pre-pandemic. Just because MVA seems cheaper doesn’t mean it’s better. MCpS has many programs they can’t fund or staff.

Medically qualified students are served by IIS. IIS is fully funded and serves students who due to medical reasons submitted by doctors cannot attend school. This is a long standing program. Teachers actually work one on one with home bound medically eligible students. Your child qualifies in 60 day increments so if a healthy child has a medically qualifying event at any point in the school year they can start IIS and then as needed extend in 60 day increments.

No, they don’t. It’s a horrible alternative to what was offered in the VA. I’m a teacher, I’ve taught it, and my son was in it. No. No. No.