Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting

[Anonymous]

[starts 2 hours and 20 seconds in]

During the BOE meeting on 9/26, as the board was discussing MCPS's depressing and pitiful math scores and proficiency levels, Board Member Brenda Wolff asked Jennifer Loznak, Supervisor of Secondary Mathematics, if MCPS in fact followed standards-based grading. Loznak gave a long-winded, word salad response, as is typical of MCPS staff, and that's when Brenda cut to the chase and asked, "I guess what I'm really trying to get at is do you see grade inflation in these math grades?"

There was an uncomfortable pause in the room as MCPS staff hesitated to answer. Dr. Taylor, exasperated with the avoiding stating the obvious, turned on his mic and said, "YES! Yes."

You can tell Dr. Taylor was annoyed that he had to be the one to state the obvious, and he's right. His staff should've just answered the question directly. But that's not the MCPS way. Kudos to him for stating what is plain to anyone who has been paying attention and just looks at the glaring disparities between classroom grades and standardized tests like MAP-M, MAP-R, SAT/ACT, AP and IB exams and MCAP. He needs to get the rest of his leadership in order so that questions like this are answered plainly and directly as he did. And furthermore, now that he's acknowledged, on the record, that there is grade inflation in MCPS, what does he plan to do about it?

Hopefully, now that Taylor has stated it clearly, all of the MCPS advocates who criticized those of us who said that MCPS was engaging in grade inflation were lying or falling prey to conspiracy theories can shut up and move on to their next delusional talking point.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, this is OP. I guess the portion of the meeting I described happens closer to to 2 hours and 21 minutes in. I know people's attention span and patience is much shorter these days, so don't want that one minute difference to throw anyone off.

[Anonymous]

Yes, let's hear Cram et al on this "anonymous" forum to respond to this. Shame on MCPS, shame on That Central Office's MATH office. They NEVER call back/reply to parents!!! Shame shame shame!!!

[Anonymous]

The mealy mouthed education speak word salad nonsense from central office staff absolutely erodes parent and teacher confidence in MCPS. If the new superintendent is going to make people start taking responsibility and stop hiding behind long-winded jargon, a lot of us will be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

It is horrific how students are being told "just write down something" when assignments are being turned in only for completion. We all know in present day America not ALL students will go on to higher levels of math, major in math, or even use math past algebra in their life, but maybe more students would be interested in industries that needed math if they could actually understand what they are being told in math class from an early grade and getting the one-on-one or very small group tutoring they desperately need. And hopefully have teachers can keep mouths shut of unnecessary comments such as "I don't get math, I can't teach that level to you." And, need to seriously look at what and how education schools who are training future teachers at universities are approaching math teaching. Or is the plan to continue to hire from elsewhere in the world for STEM subjects?

[Anonymous]

Fake teaching and who are we kidding fellow parents

[Anonymous]

Duh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The mealy mouthed education speak word salad nonsense from central office staff absolutely erodes parent and teacher confidence in MCPS. If the new superintendent is going to make people start taking responsibility and stop hiding behind long-winded jargon, a lot of us will be thrilled.

Absolutely. The level of double speak and talking around serious issues that comes from the MCPS administrative ranks is infuriating. This is one part of MCPS's culture that Dr. Taylor needs to stamp out ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Duh

It seems obvious but the number of people who will argue with you till they're blue in the face that MCPS does not in fact engage in grade inflation and is in fact still a best-in-class school district is exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The mealy mouthed education speak word salad nonsense from central office staff absolutely erodes parent and teacher confidence in MCPS. If the new superintendent is going to make people start taking responsibility and stop hiding behind long-winded jargon, a lot of us will be thrilled.

Absolutely. The level of double speak and talking around serious issues that comes from the MCPS administrative ranks is infuriating. This is one part of MCPS's culture that Dr. Taylor needs to stamp out ASAP.

Start a thread here on who are the ones who need to be put out. Only way to hopefully start making actual changes.

[Anonymous]

So...did he put Loznak on leave after her poor performance at the meeting??

[Anonymous]

If Wolff really wanted to ask about grade inflation, why did she ask about standards-based grading in the first place? Two different questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Wolff really wanted to ask about grade inflation, why did she ask about standards-based grading in the first place? Two different questions.

Here comes mCPS central office staff, oh Cram is that you? Or is it Lynne Harris MCPS cheerleader?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So...did he put Loznak on leave after her poor performance at the meeting??

Loznak in fact answered Wolff's question directly. "The grades in high school are not standards-based."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So...did he put Loznak on leave after her poor performance at the meeting??

Loznak in fact answered Wolff's question directly. "The grades in high school are not standards-based."

Then, Wolff said what I'm asking is...
Answer that damn question.