What If I Told You The Regional Model Isn’t About Advanced Academics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Maryland Blueprint for Education wants kids in job training programs, not in arts and humanities classes. MCPS is on a deadline to get half of the student body into an apprenticeship or credentialing program.

"The Blueprint sets a goal for 45% of high school graduates completing an apprenticeship or an industry-recognized occupational credential by the 2030-2031 school year.”
https://blueprint.marylandpublicschools.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/10/CCRReportSummer2022.pdf

Look at the list of state approved industry credentials. This is what Maryland wants for 45% of students.
https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/approved-credentials.aspx

Most of the “new” programs MCPS is proposing are the CTE programs a lot of schools already have. By turning them into magnets, MCPS is trying to get more students into them and make sure they finish all the classes instead of deciding to take other electives instead. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/career-readiness/plans/hs-plans/

If a program is interest-based in the new proposal, it’s probably it’s a Blueprint-aligned CTE program and MCPS wants as many kids as possible in the pathway so they can meet the Blueprint goal.

Programs are criteria based for one of two reasons:

1) To limit the number of kids in magnets that don’t align with Blueprint mandates.
2) To make sure the kids in Blueprint-aligned programs like IB and the SMCS magnets complete the program. The Blueprint only cares about program completion, not how many kids take program related courses.

Welcome to the future of public education in Maryland, where only the most privileged kids get access to advanced academic programs, everyone else gets redirected to job-training programs.

This, from a state with NIH and NIST.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, if you don’t go to a W school, you’ll be lucky to get the bare basics in APs. Good luck trying to sign up for interesting electives. If a class doesn’t lead to a career certification, MCPS won’t offer it. God forbid students be allowed to take a fun class instead of getting certified in Quickbooks. (Not kidding - that’s one of the approved certifications on that state list somewhere upthread.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is not turning the programs into magnets. They are expanding magnets AND interest based programs and if they are smart putting some criteria and evaluation measures around all programs (local or centrally managed). Will that align with the goals of the Blueprint? Yes. How is this a problem?

Students can gain real world skills and make choices about career/college decisions. Example: Kod does a science program, gets a Pharmacy Tech certificate. Goes to college to get a Pharmacy and is able to have a job during the school year.

I swear ya’ll are just finding reasons to be against progress.

Fight for great implementation. Fight for quality teacher training. Fight for proactive recruitment. Fight for course and program evaluation.

Thank you MCPS staff. Serving up the Kool-Aid here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

So is it about being/sounding "equitable?" To show/say they are offering something (programs) to ALL students?
--new poster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is not turning the programs into magnets. They are expanding magnets AND interest based programs and if they are smart putting some criteria and evaluation measures around all programs (local or centrally managed). Will that align with the goals of the Blueprint? Yes. How is this a problem?

Students can gain real world skills and make choices about career/college decisions. Example: Kod does a science program, gets a Pharmacy Tech certificate. Goes to college to get a Pharmacy and is able to have a job during the school year.

I swear ya’ll are just finding reasons to be against progress.

Fight for great implementation. Fight for quality teacher training. Fight for proactive recruitment. Fight for course and program evaluation.

MCPS uses the term magnet for both criteria based and interest based magnets. There are also differences between whole school magnets, where any kid in the building can take any class, and these new programs where only the 200ish lucky winners get to take certain classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, if you don’t go to a W school, you’ll be lucky to get the bare basics in APs. Good luck trying to sign up for interesting electives. If a class doesn’t lead to a career certification, MCPS won’t offer it. God forbid students be allowed to take a fun class instead of getting certified in Quickbooks. (Not kidding - that’s one of the approved certifications on that state list somewhere upthread.)

Oh FFS. You are acting like the 3 main magnets and W schools are the only schools offering a decent education in the county.

Guess what. Advanced students in non-W schools already have access to strong AP/IB courses. What the regional model does, at least for mid and upper county, is provide more consistent access to a variety of additional programs than currently exists. Some of that expansion already happened when they started customizing the 8th information letters so people knew which programs in nearby schools they could apply to. But again, opportunities vary greatly across the county.

At the end of the day, most students will choose to stay at their home HS and have access to a consistent set of advanced or career focused programming. Some students will choose to shift to another school that fits their interests better. There may be more commuting locally, but less long distance compared to now.

Some people are acting like this is the end of the world, and it just isn’t. As a PP said, a better use of time and energy would be to help ensure this is implemented consistently and that there is monitoring in place to alert if adjustments are needed after the switchover.

-another NP, upcounty parent of 3 kids who went to/are in 3 different magnets

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, if you don’t go to a W school, you’ll be lucky to get the bare basics in APs. Good luck trying to sign up for interesting electives. If a class doesn’t lead to a career certification, MCPS won’t offer it. God forbid students be allowed to take a fun class instead of getting certified in Quickbooks. (Not kidding - that’s one of the approved certifications on that state list somewhere upthread.)

Oh FFS. You are acting like the 3 main magnets and W schools are the only schools offering a decent education in the county.

Guess what. Advanced students in non-W schools already have access to strong AP/IB courses. What the regional model does, at least for mid and upper county, is provide more consistent access to a variety of additional programs than currently exists. Some of that expansion already happened when they started customizing the 8th information letters so people knew which programs in nearby schools they could apply to. But again, opportunities vary greatly across the county.

At the end of the day, most students will choose to stay at their home HS and have access to a consistent set of advanced or career focused programming. Some students will choose to shift to another school that fits their interests better. There may be more commuting locally, but less long distance compared to now.

Some people are acting like this is the end of the world, and it just isn’t. As a PP said, a better use of time and energy would be to help ensure this is implemented consistently and that there is monitoring in place to alert if adjustments are needed after the switchover.

-another NP, upcounty parent of 3 kids who went to/are in 3 different magnets

FFS, you keep on talking, poster. This will be a botched effort on numerous fronts, including a school transportation system unable to prepare and unequal to the task. Hope you enjoyed those Poolesville magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, I have a recollection from a couple years ago that San Fran tried to implement Algebra 1 only available starting in 9th grade to be equitable. Until they realized that if they did that, the parents with resources would get instruction outside of school. So San Fran dropped that proposal.

Waiting for MCPS to have that revelation...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, I have a recollection from a couple years ago that San Fran tried to implement Algebra 1 only available starting in 9th grade to be equitable. Until they realized that if they did that, the parents with resources would get instruction outside of school. So San Fran dropped that proposal.

Waiting for MCPS to have that revelation...

Algebra at 9th is way behind most countries in this world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, I have a recollection from a couple years ago that San Fran tried to implement Algebra 1 only available starting in 9th grade to be equitable. Until they realized that if they did that, the parents with resources would get instruction outside of school. So San Fran dropped that proposal.

Waiting for MCPS to have that revelation...

Algebra at 9th is way behind most countries in this world.

What does this have to do with MCPS? They are saying every school should offer at least up to Calculus BC so it looks like they are expecting some kids at every school to come into high school with Algebra 1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, I have a recollection from a couple years ago that San Fran tried to implement Algebra 1 only available starting in 9th grade to be equitable. Until they realized that if they did that, the parents with resources would get instruction outside of school. So San Fran dropped that proposal.

Waiting for MCPS to have that revelation...

Algebra at 9th is way behind most countries in this world.

What does this have to do with MCPS? They are saying every school should offer at least up to Calculus BC so it looks like they are expecting some kids at every school to come into high school with Algebra 1

Just commenting on the San Francisco equity policy. If most school districts try the same for the sake of equity, US will be the dumbest country in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Of course the regional model isn't about advanced academics. That's not rocket science. But I also don't think it's about the conspiracy theory you present here. And it doesn't matter frankly what we think--it's pretty obvious that MCPS is going to move forward with this bad plan no matter what the impact is.

Reading this and the other thread about dismantling the MS magnet makes me wonder: the latter might likely be just another step to push the regional model to the MS level as they can't figure out plans for regional MS magnets under the name of "academic excellence", so let's just destroy every existing acceleration avenue at MS level.

All of these are just to push more segregation and inequity. The wealthy and/or resourceful family will still accelerate and enrich their children with outside-classroom resources. The poor and family-in-the-unknown realm will be left further behind from ES level and it will be too late to try to catch at HS level.

I agree. It will matter more than ever what your home school is.

Yeah, I have a recollection from a couple years ago that San Fran tried to implement Algebra 1 only available starting in 9th grade to be equitable. Until they realized that if they did that, the parents with resources would get instruction outside of school. So San Fran dropped that proposal.

Waiting for MCPS to have that revelation...

Algebra at 9th is way behind most countries in this world.

What does this have to do with MCPS? They are saying every school should offer at least up to Calculus BC so it looks like they are expecting some kids at every school to come into high school with Algebra 1

Just commenting on the San Francisco equity policy. If most school districts try the same for the sake of equity, US will be the dumbest country in the world.

Okay? This is a thread about MCPS's regional program proposal.