MD COMAR in MCPS -- Magnet Program Info on FCPS page

[Anonymous]

https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

MCPS differentiates between gifted kids who can be served at their home school and the highly gifted who need magnets. This is similar to all schools offering English instruction to EMLs, but only some schools having METS or all schools teaching students with SN, but only some schools having a Autism program, GT/LD, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

MCPS differentiates between gifted kids who can be served at their home school and the highly gifted who need magnets. This is similar to all schools offering English instruction to EMLs, but only some schools having METS or all schools teaching students with SN, but only some schools having a Autism program, GT/LD, etc.

The current lottery system for the elementary and middle school magnets doesn’t do this, though. The older (pre-COVID) system did. The current system may claim that all identified kids are served, either through the magnets or through home school enrichment, but it doesn’t have a way to differentiate once kids are in the lottery pool.

[Anonymous]

The current selection system for academic-based magnets in MCPS is complete crap, OP. It's a lottery once you've been selected based on academic criteria. My kid, who tests above the 99th percentile every year on MAPs, was in-pool and not selected come lottery time. MCPS made this change during the pandemic, then refused to change it back. The rumor is that MCPS, for equity and budget reasons, wants to curtail academic magnets, twice exceptional programs, and high-level courses in math and world languages in middle school.

[Anonymous]

MCPS focuses more on home school cohorts. If you already have enough high achieving kids at your home school then your kid is getting plenty of challenges from the school and peers otherwise the scores wouldn’t be so high in the first place.

So, they are focusing magnets on students who are achieving highly but not with enough highly able students/schools.


I can see the MCPS logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. What we need are more and expanded magnet programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS focuses more on home school cohorts. If you already have enough high achieving kids at your home school then your kid is getting plenty of challenges from the school and peers otherwise the scores wouldn’t be so high in the first place.

So, they are focusing magnets on students who are achieving highly but not with enough highly able students/schools.


I can see the MCPS logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. What we need are more and expanded magnet programs.

Eastern expanded and couldn’t fill all the seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS focuses more on home school cohorts. If you already have enough high achieving kids at your home school then your kid is getting plenty of challenges from the school and peers otherwise the scores wouldn’t be so high in the first place.

So, they are focusing magnets on students who are achieving highly but not with enough highly able students/schools.


I can see the MCPS logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. What we need are more and expanded magnet programs.

Except that MCPS doesn’t keep those kids together in MS. The higher achieving kids are placed in ‘Advanced English’ with kids who are way below grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS focuses more on home school cohorts. If you already have enough high achieving kids at your home school then your kid is getting plenty of challenges from the school and peers otherwise the scores wouldn’t be so high in the first place.

So, they are focusing magnets on students who are achieving highly but not with enough highly able students/schools.


I can see the MCPS logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. What we need are more and expanded magnet programs.

Because this was supposed to be the point of magnets when they were initially developed long ago. It also makes the most logical and fiscal sense. MCPS has one of the most expansive magnet program availability (including HS special programs) of public schools in the US. If anything, before expanding magnet programs that need to review what is currently available, add in some standardization across like programs, and either elevate or get rid of those with lower application/enrollment. Then we can talk about expansion.

If there is any place I would give more money and people to in MCPS it would be the evaluation group. Then we could really see some things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS focuses more on home school cohorts. If you already have enough high achieving kids at your home school then your kid is getting plenty of challenges from the school and peers otherwise the scores wouldn’t be so high in the first place.

So, they are focusing magnets on students who are achieving highly but not with enough highly able students/schools.


I can see the MCPS logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. What we need are more and expanded magnet programs.

Eastern expanded and couldn’t fill all the seats.

Please elaborate on this? When has Eastern not been able to fill all its seats?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS focuses more on home school cohorts. If you already have enough high achieving kids at your home school then your kid is getting plenty of challenges from the school and peers otherwise the scores wouldn’t be so high in the first place.

So, they are focusing magnets on students who are achieving highly but not with enough highly able students/schools.


I can see the MCPS logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. What we need are more and expanded magnet programs.

Eastern expanded and couldn’t fill all the seats.

Please elaborate on this? When has Eastern not been able to fill all its seats?

It expanded to 150 grade 6 seats this year. There are about 125 students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current selection system for academic-based magnets in MCPS is complete crap, OP. It's a lottery once you've been selected based on academic criteria. My kid, who tests above the 99th percentile every year on MAPs, was in-pool and not selected come lottery time. MCPS made this change during the pandemic, then refused to change it back. The rumor is that MCPS, for equity and budget reasons, wants to curtail academic magnets, twice exceptional programs, and high-level courses in math and world languages in middle school.

Yes, the most effective way to close the gap is by eliminating all the enrichment opportunities, especially for high-scorers like your child. They can show that the gap is closing by making it harder for them to reach their true potential. The problem is they can't do this from the bottom up since many of these families just don't prioritize education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

I am confused. MD COMAR = Maryland Code of Maryland Regulations. It's the official compilation of all administrative regulations issued by agencies of the state of Maryland. What are you asking about?

https://lib.guides.umd.edu/mdlawresources/COMAR

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

MCPS differentiates between gifted kids who can be served at their home school and the highly gifted who need magnets. This is similar to all schools offering English instruction to EMLs, but only some schools having METS or all schools teaching students with SN, but only some schools having a Autism program, GT/LD, etc.

The current lottery system for the elementary and middle school magnets doesn’t do this, though. The older (pre-COVID) system did. The current system may claim that all identified kids are served, either through the magnets or through home school enrichment, but it doesn’t have a way to differentiate once kids are in the lottery pool.

Completely agree with this. MCPS is really doing the top kids a disservice especially at the middle school level. I think the universal selection method they used was the most fair process they've used recently but I guess it did not result in the desired demographics (too many Asians still.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

MCPS differentiates between gifted kids who can be served at their home school and the highly gifted who need magnets. This is similar to all schools offering English instruction to EMLs, but only some schools having METS or all schools teaching students with SN, but only some schools having a Autism program, GT/LD, etc.

The current lottery system for the elementary and middle school magnets doesn’t do this, though. The older (pre-COVID) system did. The current system may claim that all identified kids are served, either through the magnets or through home school enrichment, but it doesn’t have a way to differentiate once kids are in the lottery pool.

It did not. It identified kids who scored well on standardized tests and had parents who pushed.

-person whose kids went to ES and MS magnets pre-covid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.fcps.org/advanced/elementary-gifted-and-talented-services-frequently-asked-questions

Of note (towards the bottom of the page): "We were hoping our child could participate in the FCPS Magnet Program. Why are the FCPS Magnet Programs being phased out?
Gifted and talented students are now an accountability group for every school in Maryland, just like English language learners and students with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Gifted and talented students must be identified and served at every elementary school. Services must address the unique academic and emotional needs of gifted and talented students.

COMAR for Gifted and Talented Education mandates equity for gifted and talented identification and services. FCPS Magnet Programs have a limited number of “seats.” Not every child who is identified as gifted and talented is admitted to these programs."

We don't hear a lot about COMAR in MCPS (or maybe we do and I'm in a bubble). Thoughts from those more experienced with COMAR in MCPS? What about the MCCPTA Gifted Committee?

MCPS differentiates between gifted kids who can be served at their home school and the highly gifted who need magnets. This is similar to all schools offering English instruction to EMLs, but only some schools having METS or all schools teaching students with SN, but only some schools having a Autism program, GT/LD, etc.

The current lottery system for the elementary and middle school magnets doesn’t do this, though. The older (pre-COVID) system did. The current system may claim that all identified kids are served, either through the magnets or through home school enrichment, but it doesn’t have a way to differentiate once kids are in the lottery pool.

Completely agree with this. MCPS is really doing the top kids a disservice especially at the middle school level. I think the universal selection method they used was the most fair process they've used recently but I guess it did not result in the desired demographics (too many Asians still.)

The “top kids” (by test scores) already attend schools with exceptionally strong peer groups. They don’t need the magnet to access rigor. The kid whose home school is in 20906 or 20904 does.