If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment? This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me. |
That's why we need to see the cost of doing it and then compare it to cost currenly in DCC for providng bus to all students for attending differnet high schools. It may be more than 2-3 courses. It may be 4-5 courses. I don't know, I was just specualting, but taking let's say 4 courses in field of interest will keep kids enganged in school. We simply need to see how much cost will come and compare it with current option provided in DCC for bussing everyone and thagt one is not even program based. This will be a better utilization of resources. |
So 42 regional application/interest high school programs? That seems impossible to do well. I think they should scale down their ambitions drastically. |
What I see is that the regional plan adds many more bus routes, within each region. For example, at least several buses at each high school to another 4 high schools since each high school covers a big zone). Each region will result in 20-30 more buses. And there are 6 regions. This doesn’t sound financially feasible. |
+1. That is a very serious point. If *most* of a student’s schedule is regular academic requirements like English and math that should be equally available at all schools, how many schedule slots are even available for specialty programs and is this whole round robin “worth” it. |
What's why we need to have exact data. Have the bussing cost and compare it with current bussing cost in DCC. If cost is going much higher than scale down the programs from 6-7 to 4. Most of thes eprograms are fluff and for keeping kids enganged anyway. All you need is strong courses choices availble to everyone one way or another. |
It could be 5-6 courses in each field providing enough concentration for anyone seriously interested. I don't know the number of seats but in Wheaton initially they had like 30 seats in program. That will be way less bussing that what we have in DCC with choice of high school right now which is not tied to programs. Let's say 5 programs with 30 seats each. 150 seats in each region and [robably distributed in region so boudary analysis does have to change too much for 20-30 seats in any one high school. |
Seeking clarification: “Offering” classes doesn’t appear to be the same as teaching classes. Is the idea that all kids would have assured access to (say) AP science classes that are actually taught? |
DP. Tbd this too many programs. So you are going to have 1-2 regional programs per school. MCPS should be focused on providing a good education program at all schools. These programs are smoke and mirror to cover up that MCPS is not doing that now. |
+1 I will prefer a strong course options in each HS. Keep regional to minumim number of kids like 25-30 in program with 3-4 programs in region. Otherwise we run into situation where one HS in region gets all STEM kids and then whove did nto make it has no course selection in thier home school. Keep regional magnet super lective and provide strong courses in all home schools. Keep bussing to minimum and keep schools stronger. |
This, lets gets some rich kids out of their enclave and get a some seats for poor kids to swap and the we will sprinkle the best classes where they need the biggest shifts. The Magnets are the same pretense but are not scalable due to costs. But there will still be poor schools in the east and rich schools in the west due to it will only ever be the top students hunting top classes where 75% of kids will take the shortest trip to school. Sure the SAT scores will equalize a tad compare to the chasm that exists today from say a Whitman to the DCC schools but that's paper equity. Poor Kids will still fail at the same rate and rich kids will still do rich kid stuff but Sally won't be quite as embarrassed at her BBQ in Kensington when she says her kids are zoned for Einstein. Bussing across the county for a rigorous class isn't the type of thing the avg poor kid can and will do, some sure but in practice will be gobbled up by the Middle class kids who live zoned for poor schools just like the current "gifted" and immersion programs do. |
I used to think that but after thinkign more, I think that's not true. You don't really get FARMS kids in large number in specail programs or magnets. Thos kids are mostly coming from families with some resourse. So yes, by regional stuff you may move some Wheaton kids to Churchill but it won't be FARMS kids who will be taking that option in large number to make any difference. To really make difference you have to reseve some seats fro FARMS kids in Churchill, Whitman etc. |
Do we really think MCPS cares about busing costs? They presented a boundary Option for Woodward that made a bunch of islands and would obviously increase busing costs. And yet the option is presented as though it is a possibility, suggesting the costs don’t matter. |
What is the goal of this? I’m not in the loop. |
They have to throw in options that meet some of the four factors. That usually means islands. That doesn't mean that those are the options that mcps will choose. |