Black and Brown Coalition supports proposed regional model

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

But MCPS is claiming they CAN replicate these programs with the same rigor and quality across all 6 regions of the county.

So you say no can expect outcomes to be similar to existing magnets, but MCPS is saying otherwise.

Look, I think there are like 20 things MCPS is doing incredibly stupidly with these program changes, I am no fan or defender of them. But you're comparing apples to oranges here.

You can't conclude "almost all the RMIB kids taking. iB tests earned at least one score of 4+ and only about 60% of the Watkins Mill kids did so RMIB must be a way better program than Watkins Mill" when when only 8% of RMIB kids have ever received FARMS and 93% of WM IB kids have. I can pretty much guarantee you that if those cohorts were switched, the RMIB teachers would not be able to produce a pass rate anywhere near their current 99% and the WM teachers would end up with a pass rate way higher than their current 57%. Not because poor kids aren't smart, but because (on average, obviously this is not true of every poor kid) they are likely to face much greater barriers to learning, from stressful home lives, to having parents who generally have much less formal education themselves, to having less time to study because they may have to work and/or care for siblings, to weaker English proficiency (44% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are or once were receiving WLD services) to less effective ES/MS preparation, to a variety of other factors... all of this is *of course* going to impact their learning and success even with the best teachers in the world. (And conversely, RMIB has its pick of and selects kids with very high MAP scores who are well above grade-level and excellent test takers before they walk in the door at RM.)

Can I promise you that Watkins Mill IB teachers are just as good as RMIB teachers? No, I can't, they might not be. But you can't conclude they aren't, either, not based on student outcomes between such different groups of students. The fact that the outcomes are worse does not indicate that the quality of teaching is worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

But MCPS is claiming they CAN replicate these programs with the same rigor and quality across all 6 regions of the county.

So you say no can expect outcomes to be similar to existing magnets, but MCPS is saying otherwise.

MCPS is BSing the community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

But MCPS is claiming they CAN replicate these programs with the same rigor and quality across all 6 regions of the county.

So you say no can expect outcomes to be similar to existing magnets, but MCPS is saying otherwise.

Look, I think there are like 20 things MCPS is doing incredibly stupidly with these program changes, I am no fan or defender of them. But you're comparing apples to oranges here.

You can't conclude "almost all the RMIB kids taking. iB tests earned at least one score of 4+ and only about 60% of the Watkins Mill kids did so RMIB must be a way better program than Watkins Mill" when when only 8% of RMIB kids have ever received FARMS and 93% of WM IB kids have. I can pretty much guarantee you that if those cohorts were switched, the RMIB teachers would not be able to produce a pass rate anywhere near their current 99% and the WM teachers would end up with a pass rate way higher than their current 57%. Not because poor kids aren't smart, but because (on average, obviously this is not true of every poor kid) they are likely to face much greater barriers to learning, from stressful home lives, to having parents who generally have much less formal education themselves, to having less time to study because they may have to work and/or care for siblings, to weaker English proficiency (44% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are or once were receiving WLD services) to less effective ES/MS preparation, to a variety of other factors... all of this is *of course* going to impact their learning and success even with the best teachers in the world. (And conversely, RMIB has its pick of and selects kids with very high MAP scores who are well above grade-level and excellent test takers before they walk in the door at RM.)

Can I promise you that Watkins Mill IB teachers are just as good as RMIB teachers? No, I can't, they might not be. But you can't conclude they aren't, either, not based on student outcomes between such different groups of students. The fact that the outcomes are worse does not indicate that the quality of teaching is worse.

First, I agree with your points on RMIB getting to pick from a wealthier, whiter pool of kids.

But again, MCPS is the one claiming the regional program will be equitable because it will expand access and reduce variability in outcomes in schools across the county. Your beef about this not being apples to apples needs to be taken up with MCPS, not me.

Second of all, I have stated this several times in this thread: I have a kid who went through one of the regional IB programs. I know firsthand the teachers weren’t as good as RM’s. This is not theory or conjecture for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

So how do seclude Watkins Mill and Kennedy to their own respective regions help improve their IB programs? I don’t get the logic. Do they currently send their top students to RMIB?

Yes, both regions send lots of kids to RMIB. WJ and Churchill are in the Kennedy IB region currently and send over 100 kids to RMIB. Wootton is in the current Watkins Mill IB region and sends 62 kids to RMIB just from that school alone, with another almost 100 to RMIB from other schools in the WM IB region between Clarksburg, Damascus, Northwest, and QO.

WJ and Churchill being part of Kennedy’s Regional IB catchment was always a ridiculous idea.

If the wellbeing of your program relies on you importing wealthy white kids from the rich part of the county to make it work, then your program sucks.

You realize there are wealthy families in the DCC... of all races. Except they get exported to other schools because the schools cannot meet their needs. Now these families will either have to lottery, move or private.

Most wealthy families in the DCC go to Wheaton, Blair or go private.

No, some stay at their home schools for other reasons or its a better fit. Not all wealthy are super smart or want stem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

So how do seclude Watkins Mill and Kennedy to their own respective regions help improve their IB programs? I don’t get the logic. Do they currently send their top students to RMIB?

Yes, both regions send lots of kids to RMIB. WJ and Churchill are in the Kennedy IB region currently and send over 100 kids to RMIB. Wootton is in the current Watkins Mill IB region and sends 62 kids to RMIB just from that school alone, with another almost 100 to RMIB from other schools in the WM IB region between Clarksburg, Damascus, Northwest, and QO.

WJ and Churchill being part of Kennedy’s Regional IB catchment was always a ridiculous idea.

If the wellbeing of your program relies on you importing wealthy white kids from the rich part of the county to make it work, then your program sucks.

You realize there are wealthy families in the DCC... of all races. Except they get exported to other schools because the schools cannot meet their needs. Now these families will either have to lottery, move or private.

Most wealthy families in the DCC go to Wheaton, Blair or go private.

No, some stay at their home schools for other reasons or its a better fit. Not all wealthy are super smart or want stem.

Maybe Einstein, but not Northwood and Kennedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

So how do seclude Watkins Mill and Kennedy to their own respective regions help improve their IB programs? I don’t get the logic. Do they currently send their top students to RMIB?

Yes, both regions send lots of kids to RMIB. WJ and Churchill are in the Kennedy IB region currently and send over 100 kids to RMIB. Wootton is in the current Watkins Mill IB region and sends 62 kids to RMIB just from that school alone, with another almost 100 to RMIB from other schools in the WM IB region between Clarksburg, Damascus, Northwest, and QO.

WJ and Churchill being part of Kennedy’s Regional IB catchment was always a ridiculous idea.

If the wellbeing of your program relies on you importing wealthy white kids from the rich part of the county to make it work, then your program sucks.

You realize there are wealthy families in the DCC... of all races. Except they get exported to other schools because the schools cannot meet their needs. Now these families will either have to lottery, move or private.

Most wealthy families in the DCC go to Wheaton, Blair or go private.

No, some stay at their home schools for other reasons or its a better fit. Not all wealthy are super smart or want stem.

Maybe Einstein, but not Northwood and Kennedy.

Northwood is a good school. The commute to the holding school is a problem. Northwood has some comfortable families. Some want schools in walking distance for religious reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

Many families don't even want IB and some want AP.

Why do people keep insisting on comparing the regional IB program to RM IB. Like the regional IB programs are fairly new in comparison to RM IB. Its not an apples to apples comparison.

What are you talking about? The Regional IB Programs mirror the same structure and cohort modely from 9-12 as RMIB. It is an apples to apples comparison in that regard.

What isn't the same is the experience of the staff running the program, the quality of the teachers, and the resources each principal/school puts into supporting the program.

So then by your own words is not an apples to apples comparison because those are major parts of what make a program successful or not. Also, comparing a program that's been running for a short time to one that been running for decades is not apples to apples. Where is the comparison to when RMIB first began.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

Many families don't even want IB and some want AP.

Why do people keep insisting on comparing the regional IB program to RM IB. Like the regional IB programs are fairly new in comparison to RM IB. Its not an apples to apples comparison.

What are you talking about? The Regional IB Programs mirror the same structure and cohort modely from 9-12 as RMIB. It is an apples to apples comparison in that regard.

What isn't the same is the experience of the staff running the program, the quality of the teachers, and the resources each principal/school puts into supporting the program.

So then by your own words is not an apples to apples comparison because those are major parts of what make a program successful or not. Also, comparing a program that's been running for a short time to one that been running for decades is not apples to apples. Where is the comparison to when RMIB first began.

I mean, personally, I agree with you. Experience, time and supports matter. That’s precisely why I believe MCPS is making false promises when they claim their 6-region program model will deliver equitable, rigorous program access to MCPS students.

I merely brought up the Regional IB program as an example where MCPS promised the same thing and didn’t deliver as proof to why I was skeptical of their claim.

So again: your beef with the apples to apples comparison is with MCPS, not me. They are the ones who are discounting the time, experience and supports that it takes to create successful programs, which is precisely the feedback community members have been giving them from the beginning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

Absolutely not. Do not be intimidated in criticizing what is clearly a half-baked plan with egregious flaws and gaps. Silencing yourself is precisely what Taylor and MCPS wanted to do by enlisting BBC's statement in support of the model. Do not let Taylor win. I am saying this as a Black parent. They are using race/equity to intimidate people from speaking the truth. It's a game.

People who know and work toward true equity know and are speaking out about how this program models fails to truly deliver on those fronts.

It does seem like an intimidation tactic.

White women (which DCUM is largely) being intimidated by the Black and Brown coalition (with male spokespeople)….seems like white woman tears. Optics.

White women should lift up the Black and Brown Coalition's recommendation to focus on placing new programs in underserved communities before creating new programs in other areas.

It's a good idea for the superintendent to start building more programs at Gaithersburg HS, Wattkins Mill HS and Kennedy HS. He should start with these schools and build from there.

The problem is not quantity of programs in those schools, it’s the quality.

They already tried putting regional IBs at less-resourced schools. And those IBs are not performing as well as RM, or even the IBs that are local. Why does anyone think MCPS is going to do any better this time? You all are like charlie brown and the football.

I thought the Watkins Mill IB program was doing pretty well? I know the Kennedy one is not but not sure all the reasons behind that

None of them (WM, Springbrook and Kennedy) are performing at the same level as RMIB, which was the point of the regional expansion, and the purported goal of this regional program model.

Well of course they're not going to, because not only does RMIB serve mostly kids with the very highest test scores in the county (while the others do not), but less than 90% of them have ever been on FARMS. Meanwhile 90% of the Kennedy IB kids and 93% of the Watkins Mill IB kids are currently or have previously been on FARMS. There is absolutely no way anyone can possibly expect them to come close to RMIB outcomes given that. It's honestly incredibly impressive that Watkins Mill IB program has done as well as it has given the circumstances.

So how do seclude Watkins Mill and Kennedy to their own respective regions help improve their IB programs? I don’t get the logic. Do they currently send their top students to RMIB?

Yes, both regions send lots of kids to RMIB. WJ and Churchill are in the Kennedy IB region currently and send over 100 kids to RMIB. Wootton is in the current Watkins Mill IB region and sends 62 kids to RMIB just from that school alone, with another almost 100 to RMIB from other schools in the WM IB region between Clarksburg, Damascus, Northwest, and QO.

WJ and Churchill being part of Kennedy’s Regional IB catchment was always a ridiculous idea.

If the wellbeing of your program relies on you importing wealthy white kids from the rich part of the county to make it work, then your program sucks.

This is exactly the Blair magnet.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery Perspective has the coalition's full statement:

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/11/12/black-and-brown-coalition-supports-mcps-region-model/

Still no clarity about why they think this is what the plan is, which it clearly is not:

MCPS should forge ahead with implementing its plan, making sure to prioritize traditionally disadvantaged areas before adding programs elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery Perspective has the coalition's full statement:

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/11/12/black-and-brown-coalition-supports-mcps-region-model/

Still no clarity about why they think this is what the plan is, which it clearly is not:

MCPS should forge ahead with implementing its plan, making sure to prioritize traditionally disadvantaged areas before adding programs elsewhere.

Also no signatures

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Copied from another thread that has already discussed about this topic:

“Byron Johns is a vendor for Montgomery College IT on an annual contract that has been about $500,000 for a decade.”

For people who aren't terminally online, who is Byron Johns?

He was one of the leaders of the Montgomery County NAACP. It doesn't look like he is anymore.

BUT,

Wolfe and Evans are board members of the Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators, as is Byron Johns.

https://mcabsemcps.org/?page_id=64

He's part of the Black and Brown Coalition:

https://www.bandbcoalition.org/about-us

They need to change their mission statement:

"The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence envisions that Black and Brown students who attend Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will have equitable access to the resources, opportunities and supports they need to be successful in college, career and life.

Our vision was born out of a 2019 resource study commissioned by MCPS that revealed glaring gaps exist in the allocation of resources to Black, Latino and low-income students. Following the release of this study, in the summer of 2019, Byron Johns (chair of the Education Committee and Parents Council for the NAACP—Montgomery County, Maryland chapter) and Diego Uriburu (executive director and co-founder of Identity, Inc.) joined forces to found the Coalition. Today, our Coalition stands more than 30 organizations strong, all advocating for quality education for MCPS’s’ Black and Brown students. We are committed to increasing educational equity for the 90,000 Black and Brown students who attend MCPS schools."

And just what are those 30 organizations? The coalition's website is a bit thin on details...mostly this is Diego and Byron.

https://www.bandbcoalition.org/about-us

Here are some. Interesting they don't list all.

This is from AI:

480 Club LLC
Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence
Child Trends
City of Gaithersburg
Emerging Triumphantly LLC
EveryMind
Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center
Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative
Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.
Jewish Community Relations Council
KID Museum
KindWorks
Latin American Youth Center / Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC)
Latino Child Care Association
Latino Health Initiative
Levine School of Music
Manhattan Strategy Group
Manna Food Center
Maryland Treatment Centers
Mind Matters Counseling LLC
Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy
Montgomery Coalition for the Homeless
Montgomery College
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
Montgomery County Department of Recreation
Montgomery County Food Council
Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery Village Foundation
Neighbors Rising
Nurturing Hope Counseling
Olney Theater
Parent Encouragement Program
Potomac River Keepers
Primary Care Coalition
Street Outreach Network
The Invisible Hand
Tickets for Kids
True Connection Counseling LLC
Universities at Shady Grove
University of Maryland College of Education
University of Maryland Extension Service
University of Maryland School of Public Health

MCCPTA is a member of the Black and Brown Coalition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:yeah I would be very very cautious about optics from here on out if you are opposing the regional program model. even what you write here.

The Black and Brown Coalition recommended implementing programs in underserved areas first before adding programs elsewhere and I think that's a fantastic idea that a lot of people should support and amplify and hold MCPS accountable for, especially if they are going to dismiss all opposition based on the opinion of two people with financial ties to BOE/MCPS.

But rolling this program model out will shift the highest performing kids from lower performing schools. For example, in Region 1, expect Einstein families to flee and go to B-CC or Blair if they can.

Dude, those kids already flee to Wheaton, RMIB and Blair if they can.

Yes, kids are fleeing to from Einstein and Kennedy to Wheaton because it's a newer building.

But they aren't able to flee to RMIB and Blair. MCPS admitted that the enrollment numbers for both RMIB and Blair's magnet programs show that kids come overwhelmingly from W schools such as Blair, Whitman, Churchill, etc. This is in fact part of their justification for dismantling the countywide magnet programs, since only a handful of school communities are benefitting from the program.

Is Blair now considered a W?

Wontgomery Blair does have a nice ring to it. Thank you for including us in the rarified strata of the Ws

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Copied from another thread that has already discussed about this topic:

“Byron Johns is a vendor for Montgomery College IT on an annual contract that has been about $500,000 for a decade.”

For people who aren't terminally online, who is Byron Johns?

He was one of the leaders of the Montgomery County NAACP. It doesn't look like he is anymore.

BUT,

Wolfe and Evans are board members of the Montgomery County Alliance of Black School Educators, as is Byron Johns.

https://mcabsemcps.org/?page_id=64

He's part of the Black and Brown Coalition:

https://www.bandbcoalition.org/about-us

They need to change their mission statement:

"The Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence envisions that Black and Brown students who attend Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will have equitable access to the resources, opportunities and supports they need to be successful in college, career and life.

Our vision was born out of a 2019 resource study commissioned by MCPS that revealed glaring gaps exist in the allocation of resources to Black, Latino and low-income students. Following the release of this study, in the summer of 2019, Byron Johns (chair of the Education Committee and Parents Council for the NAACP—Montgomery County, Maryland chapter) and Diego Uriburu (executive director and co-founder of Identity, Inc.) joined forces to found the Coalition. Today, our Coalition stands more than 30 organizations strong, all advocating for quality education for MCPS’s’ Black and Brown students. We are committed to increasing educational equity for the 90,000 Black and Brown students who attend MCPS schools."

And just what are those 30 organizations? The coalition's website is a bit thin on details...mostly this is Diego and Byron.

https://www.bandbcoalition.org/about-us

Here are some. Interesting they don't list all.

This is from AI:

480 Club LLC
Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence
Child Trends
City of Gaithersburg
Emerging Triumphantly LLC
EveryMind
Gaithersburg Financial Empowerment Center
Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative
Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.
Jewish Community Relations Council
KID Museum
KindWorks
Latin American Youth Center / Maryland Multicultural Youth Centers (MMYC)
Latino Child Care Association
Latino Health Initiative
Levine School of Music
Manhattan Strategy Group
Manna Food Center
Maryland Treatment Centers
Mind Matters Counseling LLC
Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy
Montgomery Coalition for the Homeless
Montgomery College
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services
Montgomery County Department of Recreation
Montgomery County Food Council
Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery Village Foundation
Neighbors Rising
Nurturing Hope Counseling
Olney Theater
Parent Encouragement Program
Potomac River Keepers
Primary Care Coalition
Street Outreach Network
The Invisible Hand
Tickets for Kids
True Connection Counseling LLC
Universities at Shady Grove
University of Maryland College of Education
University of Maryland Extension Service
University of Maryland School of Public Health

MCCPTA is a member of the Black and Brown Coalition.

So we can assume this statement probably reflects Byron Johns and Diego Uriburu's perspectives and is not representative of the members of the Black and Brown Coalition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Montgomery Perspective has the coalition's full statement:

https://montgomeryperspective.com/2025/11/12/black-and-brown-coalition-supports-mcps-region-model/

Still no clarity about why they think this is what the plan is, which it clearly is not:

MCPS should forge ahead with implementing its plan, making sure to prioritize traditionally disadvantaged areas before adding programs elsewhere.

+1
I completely agree with the Black and Brown Coalition that they should phase the implementation of programs and NOT place new programs in wealthy schools until they have successfully established programs in underserved areas. But from what I have heard from MCPS, they are vehemently against anything other than immediate dissolution of the consortia and immediate creation of all the proposed programs that next year's 8th graders will be applying to. So unfortunately, they will be implementing programs in wealthy schools along with all the other schools, and those programs in the wealthy schools will be the most likely to succeed for obvious reasons. We'll end up with a system where kids in low income schools with access to cars will travel to wealthy schools for programs and low income kids will mostly not be able to access specialized programs.