MCPS regional program "survey" for grades 4-7

[Anonymous]

MCPS just sent out a pointless survey to parents of 4th-7th graders (presumably down to 4th grade because they will be the 9th graders the first year the programs are 100% regional and enrolling all grades.) It collects demographic info, has a brief description of some of the program categories, and then asks "How would you rate your child’s interest in the following broad areas of study?", lists the 5 high-level categories like Medical Science/Healthcare, STEM, and Leadership and Public Service, and then you can check Very Interested, Somewhat Interested, Not Interested, and Need More Information.

That's it. That's all they're asking. You would think they would want to try to get some useful information to help them figure what to expect as they head into the first year of implementation (like which programs at which schools are likely to have far fewer applicants than they have penciled in), but this seems almost intentionally designed to be useless (probably just incompetence, though.)

They do have a "What questions or concerns do you have about the proposed high school program options?" box at the end, in case you want to shout into the abyss in hopes that it might convince anyone to handle any of this any better...

[Anonymous]

Feels like "we promised to do a survey, so here it is" as opposed to a survey to gather usable data

[Anonymous]

I gave MCPS too much credit. Thought we were going to get actual info on the regions, programs, dates, how the process will work, etc.

I suppose this is what happens when MCPS thinks its ok to roll out these programs only one year at a time.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]MCPS just sent out a pointless survey to parents of 4th-7th graders (presumably down to 4th grade because they will be the 9th graders the first year the programs are 100% regional and enrolling all grades.) It collects demographic info, has a brief description of some of the program categories, and then asks "How would you rate your child’s interest in the following broad areas of study?", lists the 5 high-level categories like Medical Science/Healthcare, STEM, and Leadership and Public Service, and then you can check Very Interested, Somewhat Interested, Not Interested, and Need More Information.

That's it. That's all they're asking. You would think they would want to try to get some useful information to help them figure what to expect as they head into the first year of implementation (like which programs at which schools are likely to have far fewer applicants than they have penciled in), but this seems almost intentionally designed to be useless (probably just incompetence, though.)

They do have a "What questions or concerns do you have about the proposed high school program options?" box at the end, in case you want to shout into the abyss in hopes that it might convince anyone to handle any of this any better...[/quote]
What's the problem????

[Anonymous]

NP here

Yeah I've been pretty horrified by the whole regional program "analysis" process for dismantling the DCC and NEC. None of it has felt honest or prudent.

That being said, this survey seems fine. It is good to have a survey that is short and gauges interest in broad areas. Not sure how detailed you expect people to be able to be about their kid's interests before they are even in high school.

[Anonymous]

I'd be interested in seeing the number of surveys that are returned. Not that MCPS cares, but too few responses could introduce a non-responsive bias that affects the validity of results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be interested in seeing the number of surveys that are returned. Not that MCPS cares, but too few responses could introduce a non-responsive bias that affects the validity of results.

Very few online surveys can offer truly valid results. There is always going to be massive nonresponse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be interested in seeing the number of surveys that are returned. Not that MCPS cares, but too few responses could introduce a non-responsive bias that affects the validity of results.

Very few online surveys can offer truly valid results. There is always going to be massive nonresponse.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here

Yeah I've been pretty horrified by the whole regional program "analysis" process for dismantling the DCC and NEC. None of it has felt honest or prudent.

That being said, this survey seems fine. It is good to have a survey that is short and gauges interest in broad areas. Not sure how detailed you expect people to be able to be about their kid's interests before they are even in high school.

For 7th graders expected to apply this fall, I think they could ask a few more questions that could help inform their planning process:

1. Would your family consider a program at a school other than your home school if transportation is only available from your home high school?

2. How long of a bus ride would you consider?

3. For criterion based programs, should they be application based or lottery based?

[Anonymous]

You could survey current seventh graders and ask Which of these programs in your region do you think you might apply for with the locations and info about whether it's criteria or not,

Then ask why they would and wouldn't apply/attend (not interested in topic, school is too far away, program is untested, prefer home school opportunities, don't meet minimum criteria, etc.).

Then you'd have a sense of demand and an idea of what barriers people face.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could survey current seventh graders and ask Which of these programs in your region do you think you might apply for with the locations and info about whether it's criteria or not,

Then ask why they would and wouldn't apply/attend (not interested in topic, school is too far away, program is untested, prefer home school opportunities, don't meet minimum criteria, etc.).

Then you'd have a sense of demand and an idea of what barriers people face.

Those are logical questions you would expect MCPS to be asking....but alas, logic and MCPS don't go together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could survey current seventh graders and ask Which of these programs in your region do you think you might apply for with the locations and info about whether it's criteria or not,

Then ask why they would and wouldn't apply/attend (not interested in topic, school is too far away, program is untested, prefer home school opportunities, don't meet minimum criteria, etc.).

Then you'd have a sense of demand and an idea of what barriers people face.

Ideally, the board would have insisted on some of this information before voting to approve a to be determined regional model. But here we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be interested in seeing the number of surveys that are returned. Not that MCPS cares, but too few responses could introduce a non-responsive bias that affects the validity of results.

Very few online surveys can offer truly valid results. There is always going to be massive nonresponse.

Well then, MCPS better come up with another plan to figure out just what programs students are likely to sign up for. Time's awasting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could survey current seventh graders and ask Which of these programs in your region do you think you might apply for with the locations and info about whether it's criteria or not,

Then ask why they would and wouldn't apply/attend (not interested in topic, school is too far away, program is untested, prefer home school opportunities, don't meet minimum criteria, etc.).

Then you'd have a sense of demand and an idea of what barriers people face.

Ideally, the board would have insisted on some of this information before voting to approve a to be determined regional model. But here we are.

This should have been step 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could survey current seventh graders and ask Which of these programs in your region do you think you might apply for with the locations and info about whether it's criteria or not,

Then ask why they would and wouldn't apply/attend (not interested in topic, school is too far away, program is untested, prefer home school opportunities, don't meet minimum criteria, etc.).

Then you'd have a sense of demand and an idea of what barriers people face.

Ideally, the board would have insisted on some of this information before voting to approve a to be determined regional model. But here we are.

Did anyone notice the claim in the survey that transportation is provided to these regional programs, leaving out the critical detail that you have to get to your home high school on your own in order to access that regional transportation?