What is MoCo Good at Doing?

[Anonymous]

Their communcation department is really good at issuing press releases

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have amazing opportunities available (immersion, magnet, etc.), but it is largely up to parents to seek those out and the supply is less than the demand.

I was impressed by the level of art instruction in elementary. They seem to teach techniques, as opposed to the art classes I grew up with that were just random craft projects.

I understand they’re replacing the standard curriculum, so I am hopeful that will become something good, but I don’t yet have enough specifics to know rither way.

OP here. I'm in DC, but as the kids get older we are wondering if we should stay. After I read for hours on this site about the 2.0 debacle I told my spouse that there was no way I'd move to MoCo now. I understood that 2.0 was going away as of the 2018 JHI report. Is it still in place? Or what curriculum is in place?

C2.0 been gone and it was implemented in ES and MS, not HS.

To be replaced with the ‘outstanding’ (sarcasm) Benchmark curricula…the problem for MCPS is it is too big and the part time school board a major target for Texas based textbook sales companies peddling mediocre curricula. They must simply give small donations for these campaigns and get their votes - quite a good business strategy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have amazing opportunities available (immersion, magnet, etc.), but it is largely up to parents to seek those out and the supply is less than the demand.

I was impressed by the level of art instruction in elementary. They seem to teach techniques, as opposed to the art classes I grew up with that were just random craft projects.

I understand they’re replacing the standard curriculum, so I am hopeful that will become something good, but I don’t yet have enough specifics to know rither way.

OP here. I'm in DC, but as the kids get older we are wondering if we should stay. After I read for hours on this site about the 2.0 debacle I told my spouse that there was no way I'd move to MoCo now. I understood that 2.0 was going away as of the 2018 JHI report. Is it still in place? Or what curriculum is in place?

C2.0 been gone and it was implemented in ES and MS, not HS.

To be replaced with the ‘outstanding’ (sarcasm) Benchmark curricula…the problem for MCPS is it is too big and the part time school board a major target for Texas based textbook sales companies peddling mediocre curricula. They must simply give small donations for these campaigns and get their votes - quite a good business strategy.

See, you can never satisfy everybody.

[Anonymous]

I agree the immersion, special programs, and arts programs are amazing. My DC like PE so I would say this is an accomplishment. Our school principal and teachers are spectacular. They are mindful about diversity and go out of their way to make everyone (parents, students, staff) feel welcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've read through several dozen fascinating pages of MoCo talk. I realize and understand the issues, but as an outsider looking in, what would you say they do or execute well?

Protecting the environment. No question. Here in Fairfax County, the environment is a joke.

[Anonymous]

Avoiding accountability. MCPS has no independent auditor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoiding accountability. MCPS has no independent auditor.

Can't the state do that through the MD State Education IG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have amazing opportunities available (immersion, magnet, etc.), but it is largely up to parents to seek those out and the supply is less than the demand.

I was impressed by the level of art instruction in elementary. They seem to teach techniques, as opposed to the art classes I grew up with that were just random craft projects.

I understand they’re replacing the standard curriculum, so I am hopeful that will become something good, but I don’t yet have enough specifics to know rither way.

OP here. I'm in DC, but as the kids get older we are wondering if we should stay. After I read for hours on this site about the 2.0 debacle I told my spouse that there was no way I'd move to MoCo now. I understood that 2.0 was going away as of the 2018 JHI report. Is it still in place? Or what curriculum is in place?

Oh man you are smart! Curriculum 2.0 was perhaps the greatest crime hoisted upon public school children in the United States - and then MPCS COVID ‘school’.

The culture that came up with 2.0, let it remain in place, gaslit critics, and then minimized its damage are still in the system. Dr. McNight is a Jerry Weast disciple and was head of curriculum for county just before her tour at HoCo - as well as consultant at Discovery Channel curriculum.

My kids suffered for three years before we bolted - great regret those years spent in that school system. What do you do for a living? Can’t believe you zeroed in on the truth about MCPS enough to ask this important question. Super impressed.

Don't mind this truth seeker. There, I fixed it for you.

Lunatic is more like it. You keep posting the same thing all over the forum.
Get a hobby and move on

Who made you Jeff? I am free to post as much as anyone else. There are new posters who may not be privy to the intricacies of MCPS…and it’s a free society. I’m sure you are simply an employee defending your place of work. Everyone has someone in the family who works for MCPS in Moco. You see it as your job to defend your workplace. I see it as my hobby to tell you you work for an unethical place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoiding accountability. MCPS has no independent auditor.

Can't the state do that through the MD State Education IG?

They can but MCPS is one of the largest public school systems in the nation without an independent Inspector General. That’s a lot of billions - and they have scandals every semester due to this lack of oversight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have amazing opportunities available (immersion, magnet, etc.), but it is largely up to parents to seek those out and the supply is less than the demand.

I was impressed by the level of art instruction in elementary. They seem to teach techniques, as opposed to the art classes I grew up with that were just random craft projects.

I understand they’re replacing the standard curriculum, so I am hopeful that will become something good, but I don’t yet have enough specifics to know rither way.

OP here. I'm in DC, but as the kids get older we are wondering if we should stay. After I read for hours on this site about the 2.0 debacle I told my spouse that there was no way I'd move to MoCo now. I understood that 2.0 was going away as of the 2018 JHI report. Is it still in place? Or what curriculum is in place?

C2.0 been gone and it was implemented in ES and MS, not HS.

2.0 was replaced in ES by Benchmark (ELA) and Eureka (Math), and in MS by StudySync (ELA) and LearnZillion Illustrative Math. The new math curricula have turned out better than the ELA.

[Anonymous]

AgentX wrote:Okay - so this begs questions for me. Wasn't 2.0 really "Common Core" and didn't many states/school systems adopt it around the corner.

I thought people loved Weast? Didn't he turn things around? I'm not super-involved in our kid's schools, but as we approach middle school I want to make sure I do my due diligence and if we should move or find other school options that we do that. But so far I am not liking anything I'm reading.

Yes, 2.0 and all four new curricula were/are Common Core-aligned.

[Anonymous]

OP here.
So focusing on the positive and things people like about MoCo Schools, it's elementary and high school, magnet and IB programs, art instruction. Some schools are more welcoming than others I would imagine.

The problems I read in the threads over the past few days are widespread. Teacher shortages are common, as is sloppy administration. I can't blame teachers at all. You couldn't pay me enough to deal with the nonsense and whims of a school district.

Anything else people like/love about MoCo schools?

[Anonymous]

AgentX wrote:Okay - so this begs questions for me. Wasn't 2.0 really "Common Core" and didn't many states/school systems adopt it around the corner.

I thought people loved Weast? Didn't he turn things around? I'm not super-involved in our kid's schools, but as we approach middle school I want to make sure I do my due diligence and if we should move or find other school options that we do that. But so far I am not liking anything I'm reading.

? Weast was many many years ago.

2.0 was an inhouse curriculum that aligned with common core. Yes, it sucked. Yes, they got rid of it.

MS is the weakest link in MCPS. But, not sure it's any better in other school districts.

I like the HS programs. My HSer DC likes the MoCo HS school, and my younger in coming freshman DC is really looking foward to going to this HS.

[Anonymous]

I teach in DC but live in MoCo and my kids go to MCPS. I’m very happy with their experience so far (2nd and 4th grades). They’ve had amazing teachers who have been responsive and nurturing. Both kids have learned a ton and love school. We don’t live in a high-performing area of the county either. Both of my kids have been adequately challenged though they have been at the top of their classes. So far I just don’t get all of the bellyaching I hear on this forum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Avoiding accountability. MCPS has no independent auditor.

Can't the state do that through the MD State Education IG?

It's a $2bln budget, so at that level they should do it in-house and have at least one full-time positino. This is waht Fairfax County does, and they are a similar size.