Virtual Academy students lagging behind in person

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That being said, the per-home-school numbers aren't particularly meaningful anyway. The cumulative numbers tell the story. VA is too small on its own and should be combined at the state level.

This. The best thing VA proponents can do is lobby for a robust statewide option. I'm not sure why they are so invested in keeping VA at the MCPS level when they have no intention of ever returning in person anyway. As enrollment at the MCPS level dwindles, so will course offerings, etc. You need a bigger pool of student long-term to make it work.

A state wide would not be a good option. Mcps is pushing hs kids to MC.

NP. I think PP makes a lot of sense--statewide VA is likely the only way to get any virtual option, given how few kids are choosing it.

And until Annapolis does anything, MCPS will continue offering it. Annapolis will probably throw money at MCPS to include students in other counties rather than try to set a statewide system up. Much like the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra became the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra for a few bucks. Maryland follows MoCo around like a kid brother.

Or, maybe they did it to be more inclusive because its not just MoCo kids.

[Anonymous]

If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

That’s not how it works. It is working.

[Anonymous]

MoCo isn't the only district in MD that has a virtual program. Baltimore County does as does Anne Arundel. Just for reference. So it does seem there still is a desire/need for this type of programming. I do hope it doesn't go away for those who need it.

[Anonymous]

Baltimore City has one too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see lots of absences, is there data if these are excused or unexcused and if they’re related to medical appointments? That is a very high number.

Yes, I thought the chronic absenteeism made sense if these are medically fragile kids. If not, MCPS should set a standard where enrollment is revoked after a certain number of absences.

[Anonymous]

The budget per pupil also looked quite low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see lots of absences, is there data if these are excused or unexcused and if they’re related to medical appointments? That is a very high number.

Yes, I thought the chronic absenteeism made sense if these are medically fragile kids. If not, MCPS should set a standard where enrollment is revoked after a certain number of absences.

I’d question the accuracy. My kid was regularly marked absent from home room when she was there. We started taking screen shots daily but the teacher refused to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The budget per pupil also looked quite low.

This is part of the problem as there are no extras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

That’s not how it works. It is working.

Why don’t you want to let in more kids from other counties? VA is not your personal tutoring program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

That’s not how it works. It is working.

Why don’t you want to let in more kids from other counties? VA is not your personal tutoring program.

What are you taking about and why are you just making up stuff? The virtual academy is a program in mcps. Mcps does not sell its services or education. The state has education set up through each county. If it does away, a lot of the committed families will probably do other virtual schools. Mcps did not honor a lot of their promises. The home schools are getting the funding vs the va and the home schools, except completely excluded the students so it’s absurd to give them that money.

If you are against virtual, other families are against in person why don’t we go back to virtual for all by your logic. It has to be all or none. Why are you so uncomfortable with other families choosing virtual? How does it improve impact your life if others choose it? It doesn’t. You just use it to blog to get your five minutes of fame.

And, why the mcyo hate? The only two things they have in common is parental involvement. Mcps does not give them funding. The state and county might but that’s through the arts programming and isn’t that a good thing to enrich students who don’t get what they need through mcps. Are you thinking of the field trip in 2nd or so? That is not mcyo, that is strathmore and completely separate. Several nonprofits and for profits share that building.

Better question is when is mcps funding that place in Bethesda and other nonprofits that don’t provide services for those funds to students. That money would be better put in the va.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

That’s not how it works. It is working.

Why don’t you want to let in more kids from other counties? VA is not your personal tutoring program.

What are you taking about and why are you just making up stuff? The virtual academy is a program in mcps. Mcps does not sell its services or education. The state has education set up through each county. If it does away, a lot of the committed families will probably do other virtual schools. Mcps did not honor a lot of their promises. The home schools are getting the funding vs the va and the home schools, except completely excluded the students so it’s absurd to give them that money.

If you are against virtual, other families are against in person why don’t we go back to virtual for all by your logic. It has to be all or none. Why are you so uncomfortable with other families choosing virtual? How does it improve impact your life if others choose it? It doesn’t. You just use it to blog to get your five minutes of fame.

And, why the mcyo hate? The only two things they have in common is parental involvement. Mcps does not give them funding. The state and county might but that’s through the arts programming and isn’t that a good thing to enrich students who don’t get what they need through mcps. Are you thinking of the field trip in 2nd or so? That is not mcyo, that is strathmore and completely separate. Several nonprofits and for profits share that building.

Better question is when is mcps funding that place in Bethesda and other nonprofits that don’t provide services for those funds to students. That money would be better put in the va.

I’m confused. PPs have said it would make more sense to have a virtual program administered at the state level, which u agree with, but the response was that the state has no interest and will start paying MCPS to take students from other districts. Which is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

Why are you so heavily invested in this? MCPS is a public school system. They don't go selling spots. That's not why people left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the state is willing to pay MCPS to take on kids from outside the county, that's a win-win. VA is not right for my kid, but it works for some, but it won't be offered if there is not enough interest -- bringing in kids from outside might be enough to make it work.

That’s not how it works. It is working.

Why don’t you want to let in more kids from other counties? VA is not your personal tutoring program.

What are you taking about and why are you just making up stuff? The virtual academy is a program in mcps. Mcps does not sell its services or education. The state has education set up through each county. If it does away, a lot of the committed families will probably do other virtual schools. Mcps did not honor a lot of their promises. The home schools are getting the funding vs the va and the home schools, except completely excluded the students so it’s absurd to give them that money.

If you are against virtual, other families are against in person why don’t we go back to virtual for all by your logic. It has to be all or none. Why are you so uncomfortable with other families choosing virtual? How does it improve impact your life if others choose it? It doesn’t. You just use it to blog to get your five minutes of fame.

And, why the mcyo hate? The only two things they have in common is parental involvement. Mcps does not give them funding. The state and county might but that’s through the arts programming and isn’t that a good thing to enrich students who don’t get what they need through mcps. Are you thinking of the field trip in 2nd or so? That is not mcyo, that is strathmore and completely separate. Several nonprofits and for profits share that building.

Better question is when is mcps funding that place in Bethesda and other nonprofits that don’t provide services for those funds to students. That money would be better put in the va.

I’m confused. PPs have said it would make more sense to have a virtual program administered at the state level, which u agree with, but the response was that the state has no interest and will start paying MCPS to take students from other districts. Which is it?

MCPS needs to run their own program, not the state as there is no standard curriculum and it would make it hard to go back in person or go to virtual. The state does not provide educational services. The only thing MCPS could do is pay for a private company to take the current students. But, there are few equal programs to what MCPS is offering with live teaching.