Why do parents from high FARMS school

[Anonymous]

feel that the "academic" programs need to be at their school? This is not supposed to be about making these schools have equal FARMS rates, but rather about having equal acccess for all students in the county. For too long, Blair, which is located down in the bottom of the county and not close to most students, has held the programs with the big draw. Students choose not to go due to the long bus rides. Certainly, my child at Churchill would not consider it. Now they are trying to make it so all students are not too far away and adding more seats- this is a good thing. Do I think it is going to be hard to implement- yes. But I like the thinking. And I do not think that they need to consider FARMS rates when choosing which program is placed in each school. Existing teachers, space, and interest should dominate the thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:feel that the "academic" programs need to be at their school? This is not supposed to be about making these schools have equal FARMS rates, but rather about having equal acccess for all students in the county. For too long, Blair, which is located down in the bottom of the county and not close to most students, has held the programs with the big draw. Students choose not to go due to the long bus rides. Certainly, my child at Churchill would not consider it. Now they are trying to make it so all students are not too far away and adding more seats- this is a good thing. Do I think it is going to be hard to implement- yes. But I like the thinking. And I do not think that they need to consider FARMS rates when choosing which program is placed in each school. Existing teachers, space, and interest should dominate the thinking.

It’s about not hoarding resources for already more resource-rich schools, plus giving families in wealthier areas some skin in the game in the less wealthy areas. But I think you already know this and are just stirring the pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:feel that the "academic" programs need to be at their school? This is not supposed to be about making these schools have equal FARMS rates, but rather about having equal acccess for all students in the county. For too long, Blair, which is located down in the bottom of the county and not close to most students, has held the programs with the big draw. Students choose not to go due to the long bus rides. Certainly, my child at Churchill would not consider it. Now they are trying to make it so all students are not too far away and adding more seats- this is a good thing. Do I think it is going to be hard to implement- yes. But I like the thinking. And I do not think that they need to consider FARMS rates when choosing which program is placed in each school. Existing teachers, space, and interest should dominate the thinking.

It’s about not hoarding resources for already more resource-rich schools, plus giving families in wealthier areas some skin in the game in the less wealthy areas. But I think you already know this and are just stirring the pot.

I am not trying to "stir the pot." Why should students in low FARMS schools need to take the bus ride, and not others? And wouldn't having an academic program at a low needs school benefit those stuents who need the higher academics if they are already being taught?

[Anonymous]

Why do we want our kids to have equal academic opportunities? You really have to ask that?

[Anonymous]

Putting the academic magnets at the most affluent schools is especially problematic given they've said that a disproportionate number of seats will be allocated to the host school.

Even if they change course on the above, students at the host school already have a benefit because:
- They don't have the transportation barrier that students in the other schools do
- Even if not accepted into the magnet program, in many cases they are allowed to take advantage of the course offerings a la carte.

That's why it really is hoarding to put these programs in schools like Whitman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:feel that the "academic" programs need to be at their school? This is not supposed to be about making these schools have equal FARMS rates, but rather about having equal acccess for all students in the county. For too long, Blair, which is located down in the bottom of the county and not close to most students, has held the programs with the big draw. Students choose not to go due to the long bus rides. Certainly, my child at Churchill would not consider it. Now they are trying to make it so all students are not too far away and adding more seats- this is a good thing. Do I think it is going to be hard to implement- yes. But I like the thinking. And I do not think that they need to consider FARMS rates when choosing which program is placed in each school. Existing teachers, space, and interest should dominate the thinking.

Putting high-demand academic programs in low-income schools is a time-tested strategy for raising the performance of the school and/or preventing families from leaving the area. That’s why the Blair magnet was placed there. Same with the RM magnet.

Placing high-demand academic programs in high-performing schools that already receive substantial community support is gilding the lily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:feel that the "academic" programs need to be at their school? This is not supposed to be about making these schools have equal FARMS rates, but rather about having equal acccess for all students in the county. For too long, Blair, which is located down in the bottom of the county and not close to most students, has held the programs with the big draw. Students choose not to go due to the long bus rides. Certainly, my child at Churchill would not consider it. Now they are trying to make it so all students are not too far away and adding more seats- this is a good thing. Do I think it is going to be hard to implement- yes. But I like the thinking. And I do not think that they need to consider FARMS rates when choosing which program is placed in each school. Existing teachers, space, and interest should dominate the thinking.

Putting high-demand academic programs in low-income schools is a time-tested strategy for raising the performance of the school and/or preventing families from leaving the area. That’s why the Blair magnet was placed there. Same with the RM magnet.

Placing high-demand academic programs in high-performing schools that already receive substantial community support is gilding the lily.

then why did the Kennedy IB program fail?

[Anonymous]

Low income students can't travel far. They have jobs and sibling care responsibilities. So if you put magnets in the high income schools, you basically siphon off highest resourced high performing students from the low income schools. The kids that are left have a very small cohort and the school can no longer sustain advanced coursework. It is truly better not to have a magnet at all
High income students already have advanced classes at their home schools.

It

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do we want our kids to have equal academic opportunities? You really have to ask that?

No- I did not say that. How would having a regional program at a different school prevent East county students from having equal academic opportunities? I am only asking why the academic programs MUST be in high FARMS schools according to those in the DCC who have already had increased access to programs for years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Low income students can't travel far. They have jobs and sibling care responsibilities. So if you put magnets in the high income schools, you basically siphon off highest resourced high performing students from the low income schools. The kids that are left have a very small cohort and the school can no longer sustain advanced coursework. It is truly better not to have a magnet at all
High income students already have advanced classes at their home schools.

It

This. No more all county magnets. Focus resources on all the home schools so all kids have access to challenging course. And be ok that sometimes it's 10 kids in a hard class in some schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we want our kids to have equal academic opportunities? You really have to ask that?

No- I did not say that. How would having a regional program at a different school prevent East county students from having equal academic opportunities? I am only asking why the academic programs MUST be in high FARMS schools according to those in the DCC who have already had increased access to programs for years?

Because equity is not about equality. East county students disproportionally have a hard time traveling fitter. Fewer have cars, have jobs and need to watch siblings. Putting those programs at Whitman would exacerbate the "poor kids have to travel here to the "good school" mentality as well".

[Anonymous]

Why don't we move all the high level classes from your school to put them at schools that have much less, and you see how your kids feel when they don't have access to the classes they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:feel that the "academic" programs need to be at their school? This is not supposed to be about making these schools have equal FARMS rates, but rather about having equal acccess for all students in the county. For too long, Blair, which is located down in the bottom of the county and not close to most students, has held the programs with the big draw. Students choose not to go due to the long bus rides. Certainly, my child at Churchill would not consider it. Now they are trying to make it so all students are not too far away and adding more seats- this is a good thing. Do I think it is going to be hard to implement- yes. But I like the thinking. And I do not think that they need to consider FARMS rates when choosing which program is placed in each school. Existing teachers, space, and interest should dominate the thinking.

Putting high-demand academic programs in low-income schools is a time-tested strategy for raising the performance of the school and/or preventing families from leaving the area. That’s why the Blair magnet was placed there. Same with the RM magnet.

Placing high-demand academic programs in high-performing schools that already receive substantial community support is gilding the lily.

then why did the Kennedy IB program fail?

IIRC, it became a regional magnet in 2020 or 2021. COVID made it hard to build it up in the first few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we want our kids to have equal academic opportunities? You really have to ask that?

No- I did not say that. How would having a regional program at a different school prevent East county students from having equal academic opportunities? I am only asking why the academic programs MUST be in high FARMS schools according to those in the DCC who have already had increased access to programs for years?

They don't have to be only at high FARMS rate schools. But taking one away and putting it somewhere else screams preferential treatment for the richer side of the county. If proven it's not so, then great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do we want our kids to have equal academic opportunities? You really have to ask that?

No- I did not say that. How would having a regional program at a different school prevent East county students from having equal academic opportunities? I am only asking why the academic programs MUST be in high FARMS schools according to those in the DCC who have already had increased access to programs for years?

Because equity is not about equality. East county students disproportionally have a hard time traveling fitter. Fewer have cars, have jobs and need to watch siblings. Putting those programs at Whitman would exacerbate the "poor kids have to travel here to the "good school" mentality as well".

With younger students, they also aren't driving and parents may not have flexibility to drive them. Also, after school activities, sports, etc.