Making sense of MCPS regional program transportation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s DCC bus only has FIVE students. My kid is a freshman. I do not for a second believe that MCPS will pay for a bus with that few kids on it on top of new bus routes for the new boundaries and programs.

Our DCC bus is overcrowded and often there are no seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s DCC bus only has FIVE students. My kid is a freshman. I do not for a second believe that MCPS will pay for a bus with that few kids on it on top of new bus routes for the new boundaries and programs.

If both schools are in Region 1 or Region 3, then the route would still exist. But yes, if you’re going from say, Kennedy to Blair then highly doubtful that route would continue after/if this proposal goes into effect.

What makes you think routes from neighborhood stops to program schools will still exist after this change? I thought it was just supposed to be buses from your local high school to the other school the program is at?

Oh, you’re right, I forgot. Yes, since they’ve proposed school-to-school buses, the route your kid uses would probably be affected.

I thought the current DCC buses would still exist until the students starting those programs next year graduate.

Actually they never promised that. They promised the kids could stay at the programs until they graduate. They could definitely change the transportation set up in a way that is more efficient for them but less convenient for families.

[Anonymous]

The new FAQ says this about transportation:
"Yes. Central stop transportation to regional programs will be provided."

What does "central stop transportation" mean?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sYH8G9mVKZI0Bkm_-ZXoSszwRGnrsemE_ksF7DZR4fs/edit?usp=drivesdk

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new FAQ says this about transportation:
"Yes. Central stop transportation to regional programs will be provided."

What does "central stop transportation" mean?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sYH8G9mVKZI0Bkm_-ZXoSszwRGnrsemE_ksF7DZR4fs/edit?usp=drivesdk

You get your kid to their home school and then they get transported to their program school.

[Anonymous]

Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

[Anonymous]

I was on the design team and they told us the goal was to make sure that kids would have to travel 30 minutes or less to get to programs, and that based on the spring survey the majority of families thought that more than 30 minutes was too much. That doesn't seem to line up with this? How will kids walk to their local high school and then take the bus from there and have it only take 30 minutes or less? For some kids the walk alone would take more than 30 minutes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

Huh. That seems logistically difficult (how do you fit transportation to and from each school into the school day and still let students get transportation home from their home schools?). But would reduce impacts on the home schools of taking the highest performing students away.

Who tf knows if this is their plan but they should definitely clarify that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

Nah, pretty sure this is just telling DCC and NEC families that there won't be a choice process anymore and you'll get assigned to your home high school unless you decide to apply to a special program, which is very different from now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

Huh. That seems logistically difficult (how do you fit transportation to and from each school into the school day and still let students get transportation home from their home schools?). But would reduce impacts on the home schools of taking the highest performing students away.

Who tf knows if this is their plan but they should definitely clarify that.

Precisely. Which is why I fear this is exactly the path MCPS is headed toward....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

Huh. That seems logistically difficult (how do you fit transportation to and from each school into the school day and still let students get transportation home from their home schools?). But would reduce impacts on the home schools of taking the highest performing students away.

Who tf knows if this is their plan but they should definitely clarify that.

Precisely. Which is why I fear this is exactly the path MCPS is headed toward....

No way this is what they're thinking. It contradicts everything they've said so far, and there's nothing in the quoted answer that suggests this at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

Huh. That seems logistically difficult (how do you fit transportation to and from each school into the school day and still let students get transportation home from their home schools?). But would reduce impacts on the home schools of taking the highest performing students away.

Who tf knows if this is their plan but they should definitely clarify that.

Precisely. Which is why I fear this is exactly the path MCPS is headed toward....

No way this is what they're thinking. It contradicts everything they've said so far, and there's nothing in the quoted answer that suggests this at all.

They lie about pretty much everything. This contradicting what they’re saying, means it’s exactly what is happening.

Either that, or they’ve now decided to be transparent and sincere, which I doubt is the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was on the design team and they told us the goal was to make sure that kids would have to travel 30 minutes or less to get to programs, and that based on the spring survey the majority of families thought that more than 30 minutes was too much. That doesn't seem to line up with this? How will kids walk to their local high school and then take the bus from there and have it only take 30 minutes or less? For some kids the walk alone would take more than 30 minutes...

Our regular bus takes over 30 minutes to get home from HS. This makes no sesne.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hold on. What does this mean:

What will happen to school choice in the DCC and NEC?

The current Choice Process will be phased out for current 7th graders and younger. Students will attend their home high school but may apply to regional programs within their assigned region.

Does this mean all students will attend their home schools and ONLY attend the schools that are hosting regional programs for those periods a la Edison? I really hope that's not the case....cause if it is, that's even more reason to be opposed to this proposal.

Huh. That seems logistically difficult (how do you fit transportation to and from each school into the school day and still let students get transportation home from their home schools?). But would reduce impacts on the home schools of taking the highest performing students away.

Who tf knows if this is their plan but they should definitely clarify that.

Precisely. Which is why I fear this is exactly the path MCPS is headed toward....

Its not going to reduce the impact as families will move or go private. They don't have enough offerings at all home schools.

[Anonymous]

MCPS says this about central stop transportation. There are apparently no guarantees of a stop within walking distance. How is this possibly equitable? The programs will only be for kids whose parents can drive them to a central stop?

"According to MCPS Regulation EEA-RA, Student
Transportation, Section II.B.2, “Centralized bus
service, defined as transportation from a central
location such as a neighborhood elementary
school, to the program site, may be provided to
students attending specific programs as identi-
fied in the MCPS Options (Guide to Countywide
Programs) booklet, in accordance with Board
action, attendance areas, transportation services,
and funding levels. Parents/guardians are respon-
sible for students’ transportation to and from
centralized bus stops, whether or not there is an
appropriate walking route.” Central stops are
placed at MCPS schools and other government
facilities. Not all students will have a bus stop
within walking distance of their home."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS says this about central stop transportation. There are apparently no guarantees of a stop within walking distance. How is this possibly equitable? The programs will only be for kids whose parents can drive them to a central stop?

"According to MCPS Regulation EEA-RA, Student
Transportation, Section II.B.2, “Centralized bus
service, defined as transportation from a central
location such as a neighborhood elementary
school, to the program site, may be provided to
students attending specific programs as identi-
fied in the MCPS Options (Guide to Countywide
Programs) booklet, in accordance with Board
action, attendance areas, transportation services,
and funding levels. Parents/guardians are respon-
sible for students’ transportation to and from
centralized bus stops, whether or not there is an
appropriate walking route.” Central stops are
placed at MCPS schools and other government
facilities. Not all students will have a bus stop
within walking distance of their home."

Yeah, I live in the NEC and have a kid who goes to Blair. The central bus stop is not within walking distance of our house, so it's our responsibility to get our kid to and from the bus stop so they can get to Blair. It's a pain, and it was a major consideration when deciding whether the kid would accept the Blair spot. Being in the NEC, we know a lot of people with kids at the Springbrook regional IB program. Currently, that works well because there are neighborhood bus stops as part of NEC transportation. If that stops, I imagine that many kids whose home school is Blake or Paint Branch will find it harder to attend the Springbrook IB program than it currently is, reducing accessibility. (Blake is not a very walkable high school location, so its utility as a central bus stop is limited).