Please sign this petition to continue countywide magnets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor: "Strong, existing programs are not being eliminated."

You need to know that in the context of that statement, Taylor means they "are not being eliminated" because MCPS is converting the countywide programs to regional programs.

Advocates of the current countywide magnets view that as "eliminating" the program, since it would no longer exist as it has been, as countywide programs.

So it's not being eliminated, it's being changed.

Decimated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Taylor: "Strong, existing programs are not being eliminated."

You need to know that in the context of that statement, Taylor means they "are not being eliminated" because MCPS is converting the countywide programs to regional programs.

Advocates of the current countywide magnets view that as "eliminating" the program, since it would no longer exist as it has been, as countywide programs.

So it's not being eliminated, it's being changed.

Decimated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It worked very well when we kept the CESs, but added ELC and made parents feel like their kids were getting the CES experience at their home schools. Why don’t we add a few extra cohorted math and science classes to each region, tell parents that’s the magnet experience, but still keep the existing STEM magnets so the truly gifted kids [b]can still take these tiny, super specialized advanced classes? Everyone will be happy.

Are they?

Right now bulk of Magnet seats are taken by WJ/Churchill/Wootton. I doubt that most tryly gifted kids are attending these magnets. They will be distributed all over the county.

Nobody is saying that there are no truly gifted kids who aren’t taking these highly specialized classes; what we’re saying is that the kids who do take these highly specialized classes are truly gifted. Each sixth of the county can’t necessarily field enough of these students to offer these classes.

A some portion of trully gifted attend magnet. If Entire portion can attend regional magnets then population size may be big enough to offer super specialized courses.

At 6 different locations?

Even worse, they are planning to slash the cohort sizes in half, from 100 to 50, which will obviously render the most advanced classes impossible to populate.

So going from 200 students countywide to 300? Seems like that would not "water down" the criteria much at all, and you could have virtual classes to group kids together across magnets for classes that can't be filled at an individual school...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TLR

Parent of PHS Global student. Commute 35 min. Carpool to bus stop makes it very doable.
Can’t say enough great things about this program. One of if not the most unique program in the country. Will not be able to replicate this gem of a program. I hope they keep this one. Will really be a shame if they don’t. My kid will be done before any change takes place and we will forever be grateful for this Incredible opportunity.

According to the most recent slide presentation, they are folding Global Ecology into SMCS, which means it won’t exist (I imagine they’ll add a few environmental science courses and call the job done.) It is a truly unique program. There’s no other magnet programming like it, especially in joining science with the humanities (we need way more of this in education), and the hands-on learning through field trips.

We do not live in one of the W high school regions that everyone on here is so obsessed with. My child catches the bus at 6am and the bus stop is 15 minutes away. We do this because our child is motivated to benefit from the learning opportunities of the program. That’s how special the program is. MCPS is killing the program and they have no idea what destruction they are causing. They just don’t care. They aren’t even curious to learn.

Not only are they killing GE, but even if they did allow it to continue, the rest of the county would be shut off from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLR

Parent of PHS Global student. Commute 35 min. Carpool to bus stop makes it very doable.
Can’t say enough great things about this program. One of if not the most unique program in the country. Will not be able to replicate this gem of a program. I hope they keep this one. Will really be a shame if they don’t. My kid will be done before any change takes place and we will forever be grateful for this Incredible opportunity.

According to the most recent slide presentation, they are folding Global Ecology into SMCS, which means it won’t exist (I imagine they’ll add a few environmental science courses and call the job done.) It is a truly unique program. There’s no other magnet programming like it, especially in joining science with the humanities (we need way more of this in education), and the hands-on learning through field trips.

We do not live in one of the W high school regions that everyone on here is so obsessed with. My child catches the bus at 6am and the bus stop is 15 minutes away. We do this because our child is motivated to benefit from the learning opportunities of the program. That’s how special the program is. MCPS is killing the program and they have no idea what destruction they are causing. They just don’t care. They aren’t even curious to learn.

Not only are they killing GE, but even if they did allow it to continue, the rest of the county would be shut off from it.

No one in BOE or central office is aware how unique the GE program is, and no one raised the concern of “equity” why other regions won’t have this program. Please advocating the uniqueness and irreplaceness to BOE members and Taylor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It worked very well when we kept the CESs, but added ELC and made parents feel like their kids were getting the CES experience at their home schools. Why don’t we add a few extra cohorted math and science classes to each region, tell parents that’s the magnet experience, but still keep the existing STEM magnets so the truly gifted kids [b]can still take these tiny, super specialized advanced classes? Everyone will be happy.

Are they?

Right now bulk of Magnet seats are taken by WJ/Churchill/Wootton. I doubt that most tryly gifted kids are attending these magnets. They will be distributed all over the county.

Nobody is saying that there are no truly gifted kids who aren’t taking these highly specialized classes; what we’re saying is that the kids who do take these highly specialized classes are truly gifted. Each sixth of the county can’t necessarily field enough of these students to offer these classes.

A some portion of trully gifted attend magnet. If Entire portion can attend regional magnets then population size may be big enough to offer super specialized courses.

At 6 different locations?

Even worse, they are planning to slash the cohort sizes in half, from 100 to 50, which will obviously render the most advanced classes impossible to populate.

So going from 200 students countywide to 300? Seems like that would not "water down" the criteria much at all, and you could have virtual classes to group kids together across magnets for classes that can't be filled at an individual school...

No. Going from 100+85 each grade for two SMACS program in total to 85*6 spreading in 6 regions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids both changed schools for the CES and I’m all for the magnet programs changing. They were accepted to a magnet middle school and turned it down do the extreme time it would take to get to and from school. My DS was very interested in the Poolesville program but didn’t even apply because of the distance—they get up early enough.

There are very bright, motivated kids all over the county. Just because some are willing and able to do a ridiculous commute doesn’t make them any smarter and it doesn’t mean that the 6 programs will be “diluted”

Again, it's the dichotomous proposition that is the problem. Keep the current magnets and add additional ones more slowly. It takes a lot to stand up quality education programming, so that it is done with fidelity to curriculum, with appropriate professional learning and with faculty that are highly qualified. Magnet teachers have PhDs.

If you think that the district's approach will provide you something that will engage your students at a high level, I believe you might be wrong.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TLR

Parent of PHS Global student. Commute 35 min. Carpool to bus stop makes it very doable.
Can’t say enough great things about this program. One of if not the most unique program in the country. Will not be able to replicate this gem of a program. I hope they keep this one. Will really be a shame if they don’t. My kid will be done before any change takes place and we will forever be grateful for this Incredible opportunity.

According to the most recent slide presentation, they are folding Global Ecology into SMCS, which means it won’t exist (I imagine they’ll add a few environmental science courses and call the job done.) It is a truly unique program. There’s no other magnet programming like it, especially in joining science with the humanities (we need way more of this in education), and the hands-on learning through field trips.

We do not live in one of the W high school regions that everyone on here is so obsessed with. My child catches the bus at 6am and the bus stop is 15 minutes away. We do this because our child is motivated to benefit from the learning opportunities of the program. That’s how special the program is. MCPS is killing the program and they have no idea what destruction they are causing. They just don’t care. They aren’t even curious to learn.

Not only are they killing GE, but even if they did allow it to continue, the rest of the county would be shut off from it.

The magnets impact so few kids, most parents will not be fighting for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It worked very well when we kept the CESs, but added ELC and made parents feel like their kids were getting the CES experience at their home schools. Why don’t we add a few extra cohorted math and science classes to each region, tell parents that’s the magnet experience, but still keep the existing STEM magnets so the truly gifted kids [b]can still take these tiny, super specialized advanced classes? Everyone will be happy.

Are they?

Right now bulk of Magnet seats are taken by WJ/Churchill/Wootton. I doubt that most tryly gifted kids are attending these magnets. They will be distributed all over the county.

Nobody is saying that there are no truly gifted kids who aren’t taking these highly specialized classes; what we’re saying is that the kids who do take these highly specialized classes are truly gifted. Each sixth of the county can’t necessarily field enough of these students to offer these classes.

A some portion of trully gifted attend magnet. If Entire portion can attend regional magnets then population size may be big enough to offer super specialized courses.

At 6 different locations?

Even worse, they are planning to slash the cohort sizes in half, from 100 to 50, which will obviously render the most advanced classes impossible to populate.

So going from 200 students countywide to 300? Seems like that would not "water down" the criteria much at all, and you could have virtual classes to group kids together across magnets for classes that can't be filled at an individual school...

Virtual chemistry and robotics labs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It worked very well when we kept the CESs, but added ELC and made parents feel like their kids were getting the CES experience at their home schools. Why don’t we add a few extra cohorted math and science classes to each region, tell parents that’s the magnet experience, but still keep the existing STEM magnets so the truly gifted kids [b]can still take these tiny, super specialized advanced classes? Everyone will be happy.

Are they?

Right now bulk of Magnet seats are taken by WJ/Churchill/Wootton. I doubt that most tryly gifted kids are attending these magnets. They will be distributed all over the county.

Nobody is saying that there are no truly gifted kids who aren’t taking these highly specialized classes; what we’re saying is that the kids who do take these highly specialized classes are truly gifted. Each sixth of the county can’t necessarily field enough of these students to offer these classes.

A some portion of trully gifted attend magnet. If Entire portion can attend regional magnets then population size may be big enough to offer super specialized courses.

At 6 different locations?

Even worse, they are planning to slash the cohort sizes in half, from 100 to 50, which will obviously render the most advanced classes impossible to populate.

So going from 200 students countywide to 300? Seems like that would not "water down" the criteria much at all, and you could have virtual classes to group kids together across magnets for classes that can't be filled at an individual school...

No. Going from 100+85 each grade for two SMACS program in total to 85*6 spreading in 6 regions.

Where do you see 85?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It worked very well when we kept the CESs, but added ELC and made parents feel like their kids were getting the CES experience at their home schools. Why don’t we add a few extra cohorted math and science classes to each region, tell parents that’s the magnet experience, but still keep the existing STEM magnets so the truly gifted kids [b]can still take these tiny, super specialized advanced classes? Everyone will be happy.

Are they?

Right now bulk of Magnet seats are taken by WJ/Churchill/Wootton. I doubt that most tryly gifted kids are attending these magnets. They will be distributed all over the county.

Nobody is saying that there are no truly gifted kids who aren’t taking these highly specialized classes; what we’re saying is that the kids who do take these highly specialized classes are truly gifted. Each sixth of the county can’t necessarily field enough of these students to offer these classes.

A some portion of trully gifted attend magnet. If Entire portion can attend regional magnets then population size may be big enough to offer super specialized courses.

At 6 different locations?

Even worse, they are planning to slash the cohort sizes in half, from 100 to 50, which will obviously render the most advanced classes impossible to populate.

So going from 200 students countywide to 300? Seems like that would not "water down" the criteria much at all, and you could have virtual classes to group kids together across magnets for classes that can't be filled at an individual school...

Virtual chemistry and robotics labs?

We had zero labs in person for biology and chemistry. Virtual we had many more. Teachers told us what to buy.

[Anonymous]

Op, all these parents with dumb kids not gonna sign that. Come on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will not sign, and my kids have both been in a magnet. One graduated in 2025, and the other is in HS.

It's been a good experience for them, but there's far too much talent in the county to limit the participation to a few hundred students per grade level per year.

This. Regional magnet programs are a good idea.

+1 The "I got mine" posters are out in force, including hijacking parent chat groups at TPMS.

No. More opportunity is good and if we have to "dilute" classes that only 10 kids per year take in MCPS, so be it.

Thank you. There are 10,000 students in MCPS going into 9th grade this year. Do these people really claim that only 100 of them are qualified to do SMCS work? We can expand opportunity without watering it down.

+1. There is no reason to claim that only 100 kids are highly gifted when the selection is based on nothing more than MAP-M or MAP-R scores which are not even a test of cognitive ability.

Selection is based on demonstrated interest and commitment to the sort of advanced, accelerated, and enriched STEM work the magnet supports. It's not solely based on MAP-M, and SMCS doesn't even look at MAP-R.

Could that be part of the problem? Sounds like those things can be bought and are expensive. Regionalizing the program can include students who are smart and ready for the work but might not have been prepped from a young age with pricey STEM extracurriculars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It worked very well when we kept the CESs, but added ELC and made parents feel like their kids were getting the CES experience at their home schools. Why don’t we add a few extra cohorted math and science classes to each region, tell parents that’s the magnet experience, but still keep the existing STEM magnets so the truly gifted kids [b]can still take these tiny, super specialized advanced classes? Everyone will be happy.

Are they?

Right now bulk of Magnet seats are taken by WJ/Churchill/Wootton. I doubt that most tryly gifted kids are attending these magnets. They will be distributed all over the county.

Nobody is saying that there are no truly gifted kids who aren’t taking these highly specialized classes; what we’re saying is that the kids who do take these highly specialized classes are truly gifted. Each sixth of the county can’t necessarily field enough of these students to offer these classes.

A some portion of trully gifted attend magnet. If Entire portion can attend regional magnets then population size may be big enough to offer super specialized courses.

At 6 different locations?

Even worse, they are planning to slash the cohort sizes in half, from 100 to 50, which will obviously render the most advanced classes impossible to populate.

So going from 200 students countywide to 300? Seems like that would not "water down" the criteria much at all, and you could have virtual classes to group kids together across magnets for classes that can't be filled at an individual school...

No. Going from 100+85 each grade for two SMACS program in total to 85*6 spreading in 6 regions.

Where do you see 85?

In one of the slides for a medical science program example, it's listed 200 for out-of-local and 100 for local students, so it's like 75 each grade (sorry my math went wrong, but close enough).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will not sign, and my kids have both been in a magnet. One graduated in 2025, and the other is in HS.

It's been a good experience for them, but there's far too much talent in the county to limit the participation to a few hundred students per grade level per year.

This. Regional magnet programs are a good idea.

+1 The "I got mine" posters are out in force, including hijacking parent chat groups at TPMS.

No. More opportunity is good and if we have to "dilute" classes that only 10 kids per year take in MCPS, so be it.

Thank you. There are 10,000 students in MCPS going into 9th grade this year. Do these people really claim that only 100 of them are qualified to do SMCS work? We can expand opportunity without watering it down.

+1. There is no reason to claim that only 100 kids are highly gifted when the selection is based on nothing more than MAP-M or MAP-R scores which are not even a test of cognitive ability.

Selection is based on demonstrated interest and commitment to the sort of advanced, accelerated, and enriched STEM work the magnet supports. It's not solely based on MAP-M, and SMCS doesn't even look at MAP-R.

Could that be part of the problem? Sounds like those things can be bought and are expensive. Regionalizing the program can include students who are smart and ready for the work but might not have been prepped from a young age with pricey STEM extracurriculars.

So which rubrics would you use to select these "smart and ready for the work but might not have been prepped from a young age with pricey STEM extracurriculars" students?