MCPS gutting humanities MS magnets and replacing with CKLA? (Are CESes next?)

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

[Anonymous]

You should ask the same question to Niki Porter, who knows nothing and has no interest to know about the curriculum in a variety of special programs.

[Anonymous]

Where are you getting this information OP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

Wow, this is basically saying all CES and MS humanity magnet programs are going to be eliminated, right? Where did you get the source, OP? This is some big and unsettling change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

Wow, this is basically saying all CES and MS humanity magnet programs are going to be eliminated, right? Where did you get the source, OP? This is some big and unsettling change.

It was on the listserv for the gifted committee of the MCCPTA this weekend. There wasn't anything said about them not continuing as magnets, just that the curriculum would be watered down.

To be clear there was nothing said at all about CES as far as I know-- that is entirely my personal speculation. (But "switching the middle school humanities magnet curriculum from a specialized one designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" plus "switching 4th and 5th graders at local schools from the specialized ELC curriculum designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" certainly points in that direction to me...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

Wow, this is basically saying all CES and MS humanity magnet programs are going to be eliminated, right? Where did you get the source, OP? This is some big and unsettling change.

It was on the listserv for the gifted committee of the MCCPTA this weekend. There wasn't anything said about them not continuing as magnets, just that the curriculum would be watered down.

To be clear there was nothing said at all about CES as far as I know-- that is entirely my personal speculation. (But "switching the middle school humanities magnet curriculum from a specialized one designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" plus "switching 4th and 5th graders at local schools from the specialized ELC curriculum designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" certainly points in that direction to me...)

If you don't mind, could you post the email you mentioned here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

Wow, this is basically saying all CES and MS humanity magnet programs are going to be eliminated, right? Where did you get the source, OP? This is some big and unsettling change.

It was on the listserv for the gifted committee of the MCCPTA this weekend. There wasn't anything said about them not continuing as magnets, just that the curriculum would be watered down.

To be clear there was nothing said at all about CES as far as I know-- that is entirely my personal speculation. (But "switching the middle school humanities magnet curriculum from a specialized one designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" plus "switching 4th and 5th graders at local schools from the specialized ELC curriculum designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" certainly points in that direction to me...)

If you don't mind, could you post the email you mentioned here?

I don't feel comfortable sharing the email without permission of the writer, but apparently there is a public "action alert" on this in progress that should be ready to be shared soon and I will link or copy it here when it's done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

Wow, this is basically saying all CES and MS humanity magnet programs are going to be eliminated, right? Where did you get the source, OP? This is some big and unsettling change.

It was on the listserv for the gifted committee of the MCCPTA this weekend. There wasn't anything said about them not continuing as magnets, just that the curriculum would be watered down.

To be clear there was nothing said at all about CES as far as I know-- that is entirely my personal speculation. (But "switching the middle school humanities magnet curriculum from a specialized one designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" plus "switching 4th and 5th graders at local schools from the specialized ELC curriculum designed for gifted kids to the on-level CKLA with enrichment" certainly points in that direction to me...)

If you don't mind, could you post the email you mentioned here?

I don't feel comfortable sharing the email without permission of the writer, but apparently there is a public "action alert" on this in progress that should be ready to be shared soon and I will link or copy it here when it's done.

Thanks! That's good enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like the head of AEI, Kristie Clark, has told parents that they are planning to get rid of the current rigorous/advanced humanities curriculum at the middle school magnets and just switch to CKLA (with "enrichment") starting next year (apparently in part because not all of the magnet kids are passing their MCAPs and they think it's because of the current curriculum?)

And then this is just speculation, but reading the tea leaves, I would assume they will roll this approach out to CESes next. And maybe to regular middle schools in place of HiGH too (I think they would have to revise HiGH anyway to meet the new state standards, so I suspect they will just drop it for on-level SS and instead do "enriched" English through CKLA.)

1) Why are they so obsessed with using the on-level CKLA for kids who need enrichment? It seems like a big downgrade at the ES level-- I have heard complaints that kids who loved ELC in 4th have been very disappointed with CKLA in 5th even when cohorted. Is this the typical perception and if so is there a way to come together to communicate that kids, parents, and teachers think that using CKLA in place of a truly enriched curriculum is a bad approach that they should roll back in ES rather than expand to MS?
2). Who is this Kristie Clark person? What is her background? Did she actually study gifted education (I don't see any indication of that) and if so how can she think this is a good plan for gifted kids? Or if she doesn't have a background in gifted education, why is she in charge of the Accelerated and Enriched Instruction office and able to make these decisions?

I think this is the right Kristie Clark? https://www.instagram.com/principalkclark?igsh=M21nYjc1cmhib3o4
https://www.linkedin.com/mwlite/profile/in/kristie-clark-b893956

Looks like she has a bachelors in Information Systems & Decision Science, a masters in Software Engineering, and a masters in Education Administration & Supervision, so I doubt there was time for many if any courses on gifted education in there. Her background in gifted education might just bei that she was principal of an elementary school in PG County for a few years that had a gifted program? Is that really all it takes to be the person in charge of Accelerated and Enriched Instruction for the entire district?

[Anonymous]

Ugh. If this is true, it's a terrible decision. The special curriculum in the magnet made it the only school in the county that taught kids explicitly and thru practice to write. The IDRP paper assignment in 7th grade taught them how to write the kind of research paper they will be required to write in college. Then they also did a lot of writing for blogs or online formats, plus script writing for video. It's extremely valuable. My kid has coasted on the IDRP experience through college and grad school, making her miles ahead of her peers in class.

[Anonymous]

What a disaster. So they will have a “magnet” in name only.

[Anonymous]

If they’re changing the Eastern magnet, what does that mean for CAP at Blair? Will they change that too?

[Anonymous]

I've had kids in both the STEM and Humanities magnets, and the Humanities program was much better preparation for HS in terms of critical thinking, writing, and organizational skills.

Dismantling this program to provide "grade level" content, which was all know from experience is actually below grade level, makes zero sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've had kids in both the STEM and Humanities magnets, and the Humanities program was much better preparation for HS in terms of critical thinking, writing, and organizational skills.

Dismantling this program to provide "grade level" content, which was all know from experience is actually below grade level, makes zero sense.

CKLA is at grade level (not below) but is just that - at grade level. Local schools shoudl provide above grade level enrichment & acceleration, and magnets should be well beyond that.

[Anonymous]

Good. As a parents of kids who completely qualified and would have thrived at a CES or MS magnet, I am tired of paying for other kids to get what my kids need, while my kids are ignored. Without magnets there will be more high achievers at my schools.