Got a letter today saying my middle schooler was recommended for summer school

[Anonymous]

Summer school letters come out so late because it depends on funding. Schools need to see how much funding they are receiving to determine if they can hold classes for math and reading, or just one subject.

My experience is students who are recommended are your average students. They are not necessarily struggling, but could do well with a preview of what is to come. That is usually what these classes are. They are not remedial, but a preview of the upcoming first quarter to give kids a leg up. They are not going to invite kids who need a ton of reteaching or individual support because they are not staffed for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is saying they are struggling. Struggling means they are not up to their current grade level. If this was happening, you would have heard, and heard lots because if a child hits the struggling level, MCPS has to start doing paperwork to track the issue. You got the letter because MCPS wants you to do something this summer so they are a little more sure that your DC won't hit the struggling level next year. With math there are at least 3 years before algebra that teach nearly the same thing. As 6th grade ends, you have another year to tutor and make sure your DC makes algebra in the 8th grade. As long as your child is in algebra in the 8th grade, they won't be limited in HS and college. That does not mean that algebra in the 8th grade and barely making honors English is going to get them into UMd or UVa.

I'm a newbie to all this MCPS stuff. Are you saying that if a kid doesn't take algebra in 8th then they get on a less advanced math track in HS and that doesn't translate into getting into a competitive college? I realize there Are many factors in college admissions but is this a big deterrence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is saying they are struggling. Struggling means they are not up to their current grade level. If this was happening, you would have heard, and heard lots because if a child hits the struggling level, MCPS has to start doing paperwork to track the issue. You got the letter because MCPS wants you to do something this summer so they are a little more sure that your DC won't hit the struggling level next year. With math there are at least 3 years before algebra that teach nearly the same thing. As 6th grade ends, you have another year to tutor and make sure your DC makes algebra in the 8th grade. As long as your child is in algebra in the 8th grade, they won't be limited in HS and college. That does not mean that algebra in the 8th grade and barely making honors English is going to get them into UMd or UVa.

I'm a newbie to all this MCPS stuff. Are you saying that if a kid doesn't take algebra in 8th then they get on a less advanced math track in HS and that doesn't translate into getting into a competitive college? I realize there Are many factors in college admissions but is this a big deterrence?

In theory no, but MCPS's goal is Alg I in eighth as the on grade level track. Students who take it in 9th tend to do much worse. When there was controversy about students not passing the finals it was HS students not the MS students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one is saying they are struggling. Struggling means they are not up to their current grade level. If this was happening, you would have heard, and heard lots because if a child hits the struggling level, MCPS has to start doing paperwork to track the issue. You got the letter because MCPS wants you to do something this summer so they are a little more sure that your DC won't hit the struggling level next year. With math there are at least 3 years before algebra that teach nearly the same thing. As 6th grade ends, you have another year to tutor and make sure your DC makes algebra in the 8th grade. As long as your child is in algebra in the 8th grade, they won't be limited in HS and college. That does not mean that algebra in the 8th grade and barely making honors English is going to get them into UMd or UVa.

My letter (PP, but not OP), specifically said my child was struggling and that it was based on PARCC.

[Anonymous]

Last year's PARCC? What were your child's grades on it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just got the letter. It's based on PARCC scores. My son is in above grade level math, and has a B. I guess he didn't score as high on the test.

He seems upset, but we won't be attending summer school due to schedule conflicts. I told him we'd work on the summer packet and supplement if he struggled.

You must mean MAP scores. PARCC scores aren't out for a while for this year.

[Anonymous]

At our elementary and middle school, for several years the teachers banded together for their own private summer school program - not an MCPS affiliated summer school. Every child received letters offering extra support but I viewed it as a way for the teachers to supplement the missing income over the summer months.

If your child has A's and B's, why would he/she need summer school? I would ask the teacher if there are online programs or packets that he/she could practice on their own over the summer to prevent regression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a kid is truly struggling, then shouldn't a teacher recognize that before the end of May and reach out to the parent?

Time for parents to complain to the principal and superintendent. This is ridiculous.

Whatever the reason for the late letters, if your kid is struggling in a subject, you should have been looped in months ago - whether or not there was a need or funding for summer school. If your kid is not struggling but had one bad test day - well then that is your answer. Would definitely talk to both the teacher and the principal about this before making any changes to your summer plans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just got the letter. It's based on PARCC scores. My son is in above grade level math, and has a B. I guess he didn't score as high on the test.

He seems upset, but we won't be attending summer school due to schedule conflicts. I told him we'd work on the summer packet and supplement if he struggled.

You must mean MAP scores. PARCC scores aren't out for a while for this year.

I wish I could post the letter. It says PARCC. Maybe the school received unofficial feedback? I'm not sure.