Does anyone have info about Newport Mill MS' "parent revolt"?

[Anonymous]

Is this policy ("advanced" classes for all) unique to Newport Mill or is this in place at all MCPS middle schools?"

[Anonymous]

It is in place in Silver Spring International Middle School as well. It's the reason I am not sending my kids there, even though it's our local middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is in place in Silver Spring International Middle School as well. It's the reason I am not sending my kids there, even though it's our local middle school.

Where are you sending your kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this policy ("advanced" classes for all) unique to Newport Mill or is this in place at all MCPS middle schools?"

It is in place at Neelsville Middle School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is also true at Neelsville MS. All kids are put into Advanced English classes for 6th, 7th and 8th grade. (Except if you score high enough on the MSA then you can skip 6th grade English and take a foreign language instead) That is the only English class offered for all the grade levels.
How is this beneficial and just what does "advanced" mean in an instance like this that this is the only class offered?

Then, as I understand it, in the 8th grade, if the grade you recieve doesn't pass a certain threshold then your transcripts to High School will not say that you took Advanced English but just plain old English.

Someone will have to explain the benefits of this to me as I can't understand why this makes good sense. Is this just a way for MCPS to manipulate that fact that they are closing the achievement gap because all students are taking "Advanced" classes? How is the classroom differentiated, or is it?

I think you mean children can skip reading class, not English.

Also, the "advanced for all" curriculum is to close the achievement gap, but it is has never been fully explained by MCPS. Within the "advanced" classroom, "teachers are supposed to adapt instruction to meet the individual needs of each student." Essentially, it turns into a one-room school house with different reading, grammar, and writing groups going on. That works well in elementary school, but it doesn't fit the needs of the adolescent learner.

[Anonymous]

I think the letter submitted by the parents asked for a response/action by July. MCPS is a huge bureaucracy. Even if MCPS generally agrees with the parents, I simply can't imagine a change going into effect that quickly (I'm not the parent of a middle schooler, but I've seen how slowly the wheels can turn). Maybe MCPS will agree to schedule a meeting where parents can repeat themselves. And then 4 months later they'll schedule a follow-up meeting to talk about it some more. And maybe MCPS will respond with a letter that seems to say something but somehow doesn't really get the parents anywhere. And maybe there will be testimony in front of the BOE. And maybe Starr will consider taking a position, but he won't have time to actually review the issue for a year or two. And all of this will find itself on a trajectory that is designed to ensure that the parents who were most involved in advocating for change have moved on and dropped the fight because their children are now in high school.

Enter the new class of 6th graders, and let the process repeat itself.

[Anonymous]

Sligo does not have advanced classes for all.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know what happens in North Bethesda Middle School (WJ school district)?
How many different levels would exist in an advanced English or Science class for example. I know they don't have "advanced for all" but I get the impression that most kids seem to end up in the advanced classes which might mean they get watered down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is in place in Silver Spring International Middle School as well. It's the reason I am not sending my kids there, even though it's our local middle school.

Where are you sending your kids?

Magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodlin does not feed into Newport. It feeds into Sligo.

same difference

[Anonymous]

Okay - what is the best way to put pressure on MCPS to take action (my child doesn't current attend so can't speak through PTA). Letter to Starr, letter to board of ed? I have five years before my child attends and plan to push for change until the last minute when we either decide to go for magnets or move. I really don't want to move - I love my house and my neighbors. The elementary school is wonderful so very upset that the principal has let things get to this point at the middle school.

Anyone with experience dealing with the MCPS system? A PP mentioned they tend to delay but I think there will be other elementary school parents like me who can push for several years to help with more consistent effort.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodlin does not feed into Newport. It feeds into Sligo.

same difference

Actually, Sligo does have separate advanced an regular classes and that is what the parents at Newport are protesting.

[Anonymous]

Any news on this? I heard there was a meeting with NMMS parents and they came to an agreement with administrators. There was suppose to be a community meeting but that never happened so elementary school parents didn't hear about the result.

[Anonymous]

I am also looking to hear if anyone has the status on NMMS.

[Anonymous]

I hope the parents at NMMS can get MCPS to re-think this policy. Last year, my child attended a MCPS middle school where one class which was deemed 'advanced' for everyone who took it. I am surprised that the children were able to learn anything at all; all I ever heard from my child was that a handful of them behaved and really wanted to learn the material and get a good grade and everyone else was either running in and out of the room or being reprimanded by the teacher.

The 'advanced for all' policy does not seem beneficial for anyone, and certainly cheats the children who are able to perform at a higher level out of the opportunity to do so. It is not helping the under-achievers rise to a higher level.

Good luck to everyone fighting this policy! MCPS has made a big mistake!