Big proposed class size increases for Title 1 and focus schools next year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

In his summary spreadsheet he doesn't even acknowledge that he is increasing class sizes for focus and Title 1 schools. It is just a class size reduction. Focus schools and Title 1 schools are so insignificant to him they aren't even worth mentioning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

+100,000

This is a lot of money that is being redistributed from poor to rich schools.

By the way this is money that the school gets from the state specifically based on the number of FARMS students. And they are transferring it rich students.

There really should be a massive community organizing campaign led by MCEA against this class size increase. I'd say the Black and Brown Coalition but they are in league with Taylor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

+100,000

This is a lot of money that is being redistributed from poor to rich schools.

By the way this is money that the school gets from the state specifically based on the number of FARMS students. And they are transferring it rich students.

There really should be a massive community organizing campaign led by MCEA against this class size increase. I'd say the Black and Brown Coalition but they are in league with Taylor.

The black and brown coalition have kids at wealthy schools or private or no school aged kids. They don’t advocate for who they schools.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have a problem with the proposed class size adjustments. Lower/moderate FARMS schools have unbearable class sizes and the proposed title 1/focus school class sizes will still be small/manageable, especially since attendance at those schools also tends to be lower and they have many more EML teachers and other support staff who push in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have a problem with the proposed class size adjustments. Lower/moderate FARMS schools have unbearable class sizes and the proposed title 1/focus school class sizes will still be small/manageable, especially since attendance at those schools also tends to be lower and they have many more EML teachers and other support staff who push in.

Smh you either don't know anything about how these schools operate or do and just don't care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

This can't be real, can it? I can't imagine they would actually plan to implement changes that are this short-sighted, inequitable, and terrible, or that the Board of Ed would let them get away with it. "Let's take teachers away from poor 5 and 6 year olds and give them to the richer schools instead?"

My guess is that this is just something else for us to yell about to distract people from advocating against some of the other changes Taylor is trying to make, plus give the illusion that the Board of Ed has independence and pushes back on MCPS... and that it will either end up being rolled back entirely, or maybe that they'll "compromise" by only increasing class sizes for the poorest schools by 1-2 kids rather than 3-4 kids and we'll all be expected to be grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

This can't be real, can it? I can't imagine they would actually plan to implement changes that are this short-sighted, inequitable, and terrible, or that the Board of Ed would let them get away with it. "Let's take teachers away from poor 5 and 6 year olds and give them to the richer schools instead?"

My guess is that this is just something else for us to yell about to distract people from advocating against some of the other changes Taylor is trying to make, plus give the illusion that the Board of Ed has independence and pushes back on MCPS... and that it will either end up being rolled back entirely, or maybe that they'll "compromise" by only increasing class sizes for the poorest schools by 1-2 kids rather than 3-4 kids and we'll all be expected to be grateful.

I mean it is what Taylor is proposing, and the BOE will have to go against him to prevent it. Perhaps the goal is to coerce the Council into giving MCPS more money to prevent these class size increases.

However, his budget document makes clear he thinks the current class size reductions for focus schools and Title 1 schools are inequitable. Which is ridiculous and offensive. So yeah, I think this is a real proposal and I genuinely think the BOE should fire him for it.

[Anonymous]

I think Taylor will need to explain why there is a difference between the allocation ratio and the class size range.

For example, it says kindergarten teachers at Tier 2 schools will be allocated at a ratio of 1:21, but the corresponding class size range is 16-22.



[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

This can't be real, can it? I can't imagine they would actually plan to implement changes that are this short-sighted, inequitable, and terrible, or that the Board of Ed would let them get away with it. "Let's take teachers away from poor 5 and 6 year olds and give them to the richer schools instead?"

My guess is that this is just something else for us to yell about to distract people from advocating against some of the other changes Taylor is trying to make, plus give the illusion that the Board of Ed has independence and pushes back on MCPS... and that it will either end up being rolled back entirely, or maybe that they'll "compromise" by only increasing class sizes for the poorest schools by 1-2 kids rather than 3-4 kids and we'll all be expected to be grateful.

I mean it is what Taylor is proposing, and the BOE will have to go against him to prevent it. Perhaps the goal is to coerce the Council into giving MCPS more money to prevent these class size increases.

However, his budget document makes clear he thinks the current class size reductions for focus schools and Title 1 schools are inequitable. Which is ridiculous and offensive. So yeah, I think this is a real proposal and I genuinely think the BOE should fire him for it.

But he made another cute video today!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

But why are you pitting the focus vs. the non-focus school class sizes as if those are the two only options for budget cuts? As someone whose ES kid has 31 kids in their classroom this year, I think it's overwhelming the teacher and it's not a good environment for my kid to learn. I think that does need improvement. I also recognize that Focus schools have much smaller classes on average, but that those are needed for good reason.

MCPS could reduce choose to reduce costs in a lot of other areas...I have older kids, and would happily cut the SSL requirement (service is great, but many of the hours are earned for activities) and the staffing required is supposedly 13 people in the central office plus part of an employee's time in each MS and HS. Or the many "specialized HS programs" (aviation, ecology, social justice) of dubious quality that require so much money to develop and administer.

Getting ES class sizes right is important...other things, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Trying to make sense of the proposed class size changes in the operating budget that was just released (page 349/appendix C): https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/budget/fy2027/2027operatingbudget.pdf

Looks to me like they are planning to implement big class size increases next year in grades K-2 for Title 1 and Focus schools-- the staffing guidelines for these higher-poverty schools used to be 18 per class and have been at 19 the past two years, and the proposal has class sizes at 20-21 for K, 21-22 for 1st, and 22-23 for 2nd for higher-FARMS schools depending on FARMS share-- meaning as much as a 4-child increase in class size from this year and a 5-child increase from what it used to be pre-2024.

They are suggesting modest improvements in class size (around 1-3 fewer kids per class) for richer elementary schools and for grades 3-5 (no changes in MS or HS that I can see), but honestly it doesn't seem wise to me to do that at the expense of the youngest kids at the highest-FARMS schools... those are the formative years to get kids on a solid footing in reading and math, and if they fall further behind in these bigger classes, it's just going to cost more for intervention later on (besides just being the wrong thing to do for those kids and their future), especially with the new state requirement to hold back kids who aren't reading proficiently by 3rd.

Has anyone heard/seen anything more about this elsewhere, as far as how MCPS is justifying the change? It's pretty troubling to me.

Typical of Taylor. He likes to take from the poor to give to the rich.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Haven't you noticed everything is going to the richer schools and this is going to have a terrible impact on the rest. This is why reducing farms rates at some schools is a bad idea as its less funding.

Its often kids with special needs don't get the help they deserve. THis isn't anything new.

And, with the reduction of students at the HS level, and the reduction of staff because of that, the divide is going to be greater.

The BOE is doing this to make their schools better. Who knows where Taylor's kids go to school but he is really out of touch with what's going on outside the W schools.

I don’t think that’s fair to say “everything is going to the richer schools.” The ES class size guidelines are 28/29 for non-Focus schools and since they’re just guidelines, it’s not uncommon there are ES classes with 32 kids in them.

I’m sure if MCPS could have increased class sizes for non-Focus schools they would have. But it’s hard to fit more than 30 desks in a classroom and still be able to walk. Ask me how I know.

No, they are literally proposing improving class sizes for richer schools while worsening them for poorer schools. (So it's not a "if they could have increased class sizes for richer schools they would have" situation-- they certainly could have chosen to leave the richer schools as-is but instead are choosing to invest in bringing down class sizes there.) It's all spelled out in black and white. Schools with high FARMS rates will have higher class sizes than they do now, while schools with low FARMS rates will have lower class sizes than they do now.

I don't mean to be anti-rich schools. I do think that the class sizes at the richer schools are too big, and I think class sizes should be decreased at all the elementary schools in the county, both rich, poor, and in-between. But I also think it's just totally unacceptable to make those improvements for the richer schools on the back of the kids at the poorer schools. (Like, it would be bad enough if they only invested in improving class sizes at richer schools and left the poorer schools alone. But they are actively making things significantly worse for the youngest, poorest kids in MCPS in order to improve class sizes at the richer schools. That's just not okay.)

But why are you pitting the focus vs. the non-focus school class sizes as if those are the two only options for budget cuts? As someone whose ES kid has 31 kids in their classroom this year, I think it's overwhelming the teacher and it's not a good environment for my kid to learn. I think that does need improvement. I also recognize that Focus schools have much smaller classes on average, but that those are needed for good reason.

MCPS could reduce choose to reduce costs in a lot of other areas...I have older kids, and would happily cut the SSL requirement (service is great, but many of the hours are earned for activities) and the staffing required is supposedly 13 people in the central office plus part of an employee's time in each MS and HS. Or the many "specialized HS programs" (aviation, ecology, social justice) of dubious quality that require so much money to develop and administer.

Getting ES class sizes right is important...other things, not so much.

DP
Taylor is the one pitting the schools against each other. He is taking funding that the state gives MCPS based on the number of FARMS students and reallocating it from the poorest schools to the richest schools. I don't know in what world anyone should think that is okay? I personally support decreasing class sizes in all schools. He is pretending to do a class size reduction while actually only reducing class sizes in the wealthiest schools using money meant for poor kids. Are you okay with that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Taylor will need to explain why there is a difference between the allocation ratio and the class size range.

For example, it says kindergarten teachers at Tier 2 schools will be allocated at a ratio of 1:21, but the corresponding class size range is 16-22.



I think the idea is that, unlike the current system where schools get allocated a certain number of teachers based on enrollment but then the principal has total freedom to assign them to whichever grades he/she wants, there will actually be a range they have to stick within. (I don't think adding some constraints there is a bad idea, although I do think the range should be wider, especially in upper elementary-- doing some rough calculations for our school, I think our 5th grade classes would have to drop down from 27ish to 22ish while our 2nd grade classes would have to jump up to 23ish, and I think the principal should have the authority to reverse that if he wants.)

So in the case you mention, one teacher gets allocated to the school for every 21 kindergarteners, and then the principal is not allowed to create any kindergarten classes smaller than 16 or larger than 22.