What are the real facts about MCPS inequities?

[Anonymous]

My kid goes to a DCC high school but is involved in a youth group with friends who go to "W" schools and other schools in wealthier neighborhoods. She is constantly saying things like "yeah, they have better uniforms because they go to a rich school," "they don't have bugs because they go to a rich school" etc. She loves her high school, but thinks that it is under-resourced in every way and that it is unfair that her friends schools have more because they're rich.

I don't really know any different - I don't have friends in that area and our kids have always been in DCC schools. My younger DC is bussed to a special needs program in a wealthier community but I don't see much difference but we aren't really involved in that community. Of course I have read and heard about the boundary issues, the racial disparities, etc. BUT, I don't feel like I can have an educated conversation with my kid or adults about the actual fiscal reality. Does MCPS actually provide more funding to certain schools? Is it taxes? Is it parent contributions to things like booster club that results in the sports and arts programs more wealthy and therefore better resourced? I know that the PTSA's can contribute to those programs, but not the actual academic programs (teacher salaries, school buildings and facilities, etc.), correct?

Is it all of the above?

I'm not trying to stir up debate, I just want to know the actual facts so that I can not only spew ideology but actually have an educated conversation. Of course DCUM will not be my only source for facts, but I am sure some will weigh in with information that will get me started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a DCC high school but is involved in a youth group with friends who go to "W" schools and other schools in wealthier neighborhoods. She is constantly saying things like "yeah, they have better uniforms because they go to a rich school," "they don't have bugs because they go to a rich school" etc. She loves her high school, but thinks that it is under-resourced in every way and that it is unfair that her friends schools have more because they're rich.

I don't really know any different - I don't have friends in that area and our kids have always been in DCC schools. My younger DC is bussed to a special needs program in a wealthier community but I don't see much difference but we aren't really involved in that community. Of course I have read and heard about the boundary issues, the racial disparities, etc. BUT, I don't feel like I can have an educated conversation with my kid or adults about the actual fiscal reality. Does MCPS actually provide more funding to certain schools? Is it taxes? Is it parent contributions to things like booster club that results in the sports and arts programs more wealthy and therefore better resourced? I know that the PTSA's can contribute to those programs, but not the actual academic programs (teacher salaries, school buildings and facilities, etc.), correct?

Is it all of the above?

I'm not trying to stir up debate, I just want to know the actual facts so that I can not only spew ideology but actually have an educated conversation. Of course DCUM will not be my only source for facts, but I am sure some will weigh in with information that will get me started.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a DCC high school but is involved in a youth group with friends who go to "W" schools and other schools in wealthier neighborhoods. She is constantly saying things like "yeah, they have better uniforms because they go to a rich school," "they don't have bugs because they go to a rich school" etc. She loves her high school, but thinks that it is under-resourced in every way and that it is unfair that her friends schools have more because they're rich.

I don't really know any different - I don't have friends in that area and our kids have always been in DCC schools. My younger DC is bussed to a special needs program in a wealthier community but I don't see much difference but we aren't really involved in that community. Of course I have read and heard about the boundary issues, the racial disparities, etc. BUT, I don't feel like I can have an educated conversation with my kid or adults about the actual fiscal reality. Does MCPS actually provide more funding to certain schools? Is it taxes? Is it parent contributions to things like booster club that results in the sports and arts programs more wealthy and therefore better resourced? I know that the PTSA's can contribute to those programs, but not the actual academic programs (teacher salaries, school buildings and facilities, etc.), correct?

Is it all of the above?

I'm not trying to stir up debate, I just want to know the actual facts so that I can not only spew ideology but actually have an educated conversation. Of course DCUM will not be my only source for facts, but I am sure some will weigh in with information that will get me started.

This is OP and that's what I thought - but my child insists that they are "richer schools" and that the county provides more money to them. Is it ONLY boosters? I mean, that could result in huge inequities I realize - I do know that the costumes and programs in my younger child's school theater program are extravagant and that my older child has crappy sports unforms and Churchill has a huge new scoreboard. But, I'm not sure I believe those things alone disadvantage our DCC kids that much. Does it make our programs scrappier and more desperate for funds? Yes. Is it unfair? Yes. But it doesn't mean our kids are getting a sub-par education. In fact, I see no difference in the administration and teachers at one school over the other.

This.

[Anonymous]

Staff salaries are the same from school to school. Facilities are obviously in a wide range of conditions across the county, and there are examples of run-down schools in wealthier areas and brand-new schools in less wealthy areas, and vice versa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Staff salaries are the same from school to school. Facilities are obviously in a wide range of conditions across the county, and there are examples of run-down schools in wealthier areas and brand-new schools in less wealthy areas, and vice versa.

Sadly the academic programs in these schools widely differ as well which is what concerns to most parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a DCC high school but is involved in a youth group with friends who go to "W" schools and other schools in wealthier neighborhoods. She is constantly saying things like "yeah, they have better uniforms because they go to a rich school," "they don't have bugs because they go to a rich school" etc. She loves her high school, but thinks that it is under-resourced in every way and that it is unfair that her friends schools have more because they're rich.

I don't really know any different - I don't have friends in that area and our kids have always been in DCC schools. My younger DC is bussed to a special needs program in a wealthier community but I don't see much difference but we aren't really involved in that community. Of course I have read and heard about the boundary issues, the racial disparities, etc. BUT, I don't feel like I can have an educated conversation with my kid or adults about the actual fiscal reality. Does MCPS actually provide more funding to certain schools? Is it taxes? Is it parent contributions to things like booster club that results in the sports and arts programs more wealthy and therefore better resourced? I know that the PTSA's can contribute to those programs, but not the actual academic programs (teacher salaries, school buildings and facilities, etc.), correct?

Is it all of the above?

I'm not trying to stir up debate, I just want to know the actual facts so that I can not only spew ideology but actually have an educated conversation. Of course DCUM will not be my only source for facts, but I am sure some will weigh in with information that will get me started.

This is OP and that's what I thought - but my child insists that they are "richer schools" and that the county provides more money to them. Is it ONLY boosters? I mean, that could result in huge inequities I realize - I do know that the costumes and programs in my younger child's school theater program are extravagant and that my older child has crappy sports unforms and Churchill has a huge new scoreboard. But, I'm not sure I believe those things alone disadvantage our DCC kids that much. Does it make our programs scrappier and more desperate for funds? Yes. Is it unfair? Yes. But it doesn't mean our kids are getting a sub-par education. In fact, I see no difference in the administration and teachers at one school over the other.

This.

Yes. The boosters can have a budget of a million dollars a year - every year. You’re going to notice that level of extra spending.

[Anonymous]

There was a report released in 2020 talking about disparities amongst county parent groups. Didn't get much air time due to the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid goes to a DCC high school but is involved in a youth group with friends who go to "W" schools and other schools in wealthier neighborhoods. She is constantly saying things like "yeah, they have better uniforms because they go to a rich school," "they don't have bugs because they go to a rich school" etc. She loves her high school, but thinks that it is under-resourced in every way and that it is unfair that her friends schools have more because they're rich.

I don't really know any different - I don't have friends in that area and our kids have always been in DCC schools. My younger DC is bussed to a special needs program in a wealthier community but I don't see much difference but we aren't really involved in that community. Of course I have read and heard about the boundary issues, the racial disparities, etc. BUT, I don't feel like I can have an educated conversation with my kid or adults about the actual fiscal reality. Does MCPS actually provide more funding to certain schools? Is it taxes? Is it parent contributions to things like booster club that results in the sports and arts programs more wealthy and therefore better resourced? I know that the PTSA's can contribute to those programs, but not the actual academic programs (teacher salaries, school buildings and facilities, etc.), correct?

Is it all of the above?

I'm not trying to stir up debate, I just want to know the actual facts so that I can not only spew ideology but actually have an educated conversation. Of course DCUM will not be my only source for facts, but I am sure some will weigh in with information that will get me started.

Yes, MCPS has have and have not schools where the difference is night and day. I've h eard they even serve lunch on golden plates at the W's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Staff salaries are the same from school to school. Facilities are obviously in a wide range of conditions across the county, and there are examples of run-down schools in wealthier areas and brand-new schools in less wealthy areas, and vice versa.

Sadly the academic programs in these schools widely differ as well which is what concerns to most parents.

THe main thing I've noticed so far is many of these kids get math acceleration at an early age. I remember reading rising 6th graders who had scored 250+ on their MAP-M are often placed in Algebra in 6th. I remember one of my kids managed to score higher in 3rd grade when they were 8 on the exact same test but since we were at a DCC school they were forced to sit through compacted math which was a snoozefest for them. I even discussed this with the principal of our school but they said there was nothing they could do about it. I guess it bothers me that kids born on the other side of the tracks are offered these opportunities while this is denied them.

[Anonymous]

This is the link to the report that mcps did looking at pta/booster/educational foundation resources across the county. There is not a lot of transparency in budgets (and reporting), so it's hard to draw a lot of conclusions.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OLO/Resources/Files/2020%20Reports/OLOReport2020-8.pdf

[Anonymous]

Capital budget and operating budget should be separated as much as possible, and I would be very surprised if the operating budget per student at schools varied much across the county, with the exception of schools (e.g., Title 1) receiving additional federal funding. PTA funds cannot be used for “core” (there’s a term for it; I just cannot remember) resources like teachers or an addition, but yes, you might get a nice scoreboard for the football field or landscaping.

Arguing about budgets misses the bigger point, which is the massive difference in wealth across the county. Even if you think it’s the county’s job, the county will never be able to offset the amounts that wealthier families are willing to, and do, spend to support their kids’ education and activities.

[Anonymous]

some parents care, some don't. it's not really an issue with MCPS. it's an issue w/ families' involvement (or lack thereof)

[Anonymous]

This is why I applaud the BOE's efforts to analyze cluster boundaries and to bus the W kids away to other schools so that other kids can have these opportunities regardless of where their parents can afford to buy a home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I applaud the BOE's efforts to analyze cluster boundaries and to bus the W kids away to other schools so that other kids can have these opportunities regardless of where their parents can afford to buy a home.

The BOE has not made any efforts "to bus the W kids away to other schools."

[Anonymous]

Tutoring is the biggest difference