Updates on status of Eastern Humanities magnet curriculum for *current* students?

[Anonymous]

Are there any confirmed updates regarding the curriculum for the Eastern Humanities magnet for *current* students - 6th and 7th graders who still have one or two more years to go? Will they get to finish out the current program and any changes would apply to new students, or will changes apply to current students as well?

[Anonymous]

I don't know, but is it definitely confirmed they will be changing the curriculum? I know MCPS has proposed that but current families were planning to fight it, does anyone have any updates on that?

[Anonymous]

I think BOE has approved MCPS's exploration of a new social studies curriculum for MS. But I expect that when the time comes, BOE won't say no to that curriculum. And then it will start Fall 2026.

[Anonymous]

So the real question is even though a new MS social studies curriculum is approved, how will that impact the MS Humanities magnets? Prob too early to know.

One one end, I could see them force change in the new school year, completely revamping the program. On the other, maybe the MS will just blow off the curriculum change and let the program continue as it has. Too early to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the real question is even though a new MS social studies curriculum is approved, how will that impact the MS Humanities magnets? Prob too early to know.

One one end, I could see them force change in the new school year, completely revamping the program. On the other, maybe the MS will just blow off the curriculum change and let the program continue as it has. Too early to know.

There are two separate issues:

1). MCPS wants to get rid of the above-grade-level English curriculum at the Humanities magnet and replace it with a boxed curriculum with some enriched "add ons," probably CKLA. They have announced this and parents are trying to push back but I don't know if they've made any progress on that or not. See here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vAnyPLxfh0vR9JMncj3SlqpM6R3N6JDYVx_-Y9Z2qtk and thread here: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1295472.page
2) MCPS has to revise 6th & 7th grade social studies for all middle school students. It is not yet clear if they will revise the HiGH curriculum too, or just have all kids in one on-level social studies class. (Would not be surprised if they drop HIGH and instead switch to "CKLA with enrichment" as the enriched option in local schools for kids who lose out in the lottery for the humanities magnets, either in cohorts or in mixed-level classes, similar to how they are doing 4th and 5th grade enriched literacy right now, which does not seem to be going well.)

More here as well: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1296561.page#30953613

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the real question is even though a new MS social studies curriculum is approved, how will that impact the MS Humanities magnets? Prob too early to know.

One one end, I could see them force change in the new school year, completely revamping the program. On the other, maybe the MS will just blow off the curriculum change and let the program continue as it has. Too early to know.

There are two separate issues:

1). MCPS wants to get rid of the above-grade-level English curriculum at the Humanities magnet and replace it with a boxed curriculum with some enriched "add ons," probably CKLA. They have announced this and parents are trying to push back but I don't know if they've made any progress on that or not. See here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vAnyPLxfh0vR9JMncj3SlqpM6R3N6JDYVx_-Y9Z2qtk and thread here: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1295472.page
2) MCPS has to revise 6th & 7th grade social studies for all middle school students. It is not yet clear if they will revise the HiGH curriculum too, or just have all kids in one on-level social studies class. (Would not be surprised if they drop HIGH and instead switch to "CKLA with enrichment" as the enriched option in local schools for kids who lose out in the lottery for the humanities magnets, either in cohorts or in mixed-level classes, similar to how they are doing 4th and 5th grade enriched literacy right now, which does not seem to be going well.)

More here as well: https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1296561.page#30953613

Folks should ask about both these issues (whether/why/when they are getting rid of the humanities magnet curriculum, as well as whether they are planning to update the HiGH curriculum or instead eliminate HIGH) at the middle school enrichment webinar tonight at 6:30: https://drive.google.com/file/d/115_pl-nB5F22qSumuZdNJSkaA5rzKtKO/view?fbclid=IwdGRjcAN3r8VjbGNrA3evv2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHpoYSzDgPVB5z5FRYcTbvuximyybJ0rIyaWQ-W1lAY7HQToaISRFZ1X43qRZ_aem_hEeDi1H4NeNgCpdeN-1ieQ

[Anonymous]

Call Kristie Clark, the supervisor of AEI, and ask for an update.

[Anonymous]

My question during today's meeting wasn't answered live. They said they'll upload a QnA doc later.

[Anonymous]

After watching the old BOE meeting 10/16, it just occurred to me that the students most impacted will be current 5th and 6th grade, who will be 6th and 7th grade next year.

The catch is that the current 5th graders don't know who they are because MS selection process has no results yet! And prob unlikely that the staff will have any updates by the time any admitted student open houses happen, so the current 5th graders will be walking in blind to potential changes to 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

I was looking on the Eastern website for info on open house timing (January FYI) and came across this video about the current English class:

Looks like a wonderful course that the kids really enjoy and get a lot out of-- such a shame MCPS is looking to kill it.

(My 4th grader, who loves to read and write, hates CKLA, even the enriched cohorted version. It's so depressing to think that she will have no possible alternative to 4.5 more years of it, when she's a kid who I think would absolutely love and excel at an actually engaging English class like the one at Eastern ..)

[Anonymous]

Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was looking on the Eastern website for info on open house timing (January FYI) and came across this video about the current English class:

Looks like a wonderful course that the kids really enjoy and get a lot out of-- such a shame MCPS is looking to kill it.

(My 4th grader, who loves to read and write, hates CKLA, even the enriched cohorted version. It's so depressing to think that she will have no possible alternative to 4.5 more years of it, when she's a kid who I think would absolutely love and excel at an actually engaging English class like the one at Eastern ..)

What does she hate about it? The Middle Ages? King Arthur? The American Revolution? Treasure Island? I'm wondering what she would have thought of the previous curriculum

[Anonymous]

They are definitely switching the curriculum, but it will not be CKLA. There will be enrichment overlays from AEI. They are maintaining the interdisciplinary links between social studies and English. It does not sound like the current teachers were consulted. It will be very different from what they do now, but also different from the home school MS course.

I would accept the spot. You always have the right to go back to your home middle school if it is not a good program or fit

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think BOE has approved MCPS's exploration of a new social studies curriculum for MS. But I expect that when the time comes, BOE won't say no to that curriculum. And then it will start Fall 2026.

Is the social studies curriculum going to be a home-grown curriculum like HS English? Might as well use Josh Starr's curriculum 2.0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of a 5th grader that got a spot in this Magnet program. We have 11 days to accept. We will attend next week’s welcome night, but want to hear from current families what we should look out for and what questions to ask.

Is it official that the magnet will switch to the CKLA English curriculum?

If so, how does this affect the interdisciplinary nature of the program? Will the other curriculums change to fit CKLA?

Am I understanding correctly that Eastern, TP and Blair Magnet kids ride the same bus?!?

How is the music program? Why only afterschool band for credit and not orchestra? Why don't all MS have the after school music for credit option?

Lunch at 10:17?!?!

1. Magnet changing curriculum, starting with incoming 6th graders (that's your kiddo). Actual curriculum TBD. Teachers prob not know themselves yet.

2. I imagine they will strive to still be interdisciplinary. That's a question for the school.

3. Yes. They all ride the same bus/route. Goes Blair to Eastern to TPMS. But that might change once the regional model bussing goes into effect in Fall 2027.

4. After school music, yes. Prob cuz most of the students who play are not local students, but that's just me speculating.

5. Yes, lunch can be that early.