Cancel Virtual Academy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

Where are you getting this information? The district puts together an at-large operating budget each year.

From a BOE member.

Well that explains it. Most of the board members are idiots.

Yes, MCPS received extra finding during the pandemic which it has been using, in part, to fund VA.

But no, it is not a long-term source of funding, nor was it earmarked for VA. We could be spending that money to make schools better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

Where are you getting this information? The district puts together an at-large operating budget each year.

From a BOE member.

That holds about as much weight as a fart in the wind. They change priorities all the time.

I’d like to know who said it though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

Where are you getting this information? The district puts together an at-large operating budget each year.

From a BOE member.

Well that explains it. Most of the board members are idiots.

Yes, MCPS received extra finding during the pandemic which it has been using, in part, to fund VA.

But no, it is not a long-term source of funding, nor was it earmarked for VA. We could be spending that money to make schools better.

So, you just want to shut down VA. Then mcps would lose funding for those kids as many of us would not return. Nice. They are not making the schools better for our kids. Be real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

Where are you getting this information? The district puts together an at-large operating budget each year.

From a BOE member.

Well that explains it. Most of the board members are idiots.

Yes, MCPS received extra finding during the pandemic which it has been using, in part, to fund VA.

But no, it is not a long-term source of funding, nor was it earmarked for VA. We could be spending that money to make schools better.

So, maybe we should also cancel some of the new schools they are building as that is far more costly too. This is just opening another school which is badly needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not the PP, but it doesn't matter whether the PP wanted to sign up for it. If VA students have smaller classes, that is an advantage to VA participants that is not given to other students. VA requires parental availability and involvement for student success, making it a more attractive choice for families with means and flexible work schedules. It has the potential to be another way for higher-income families to gain advantages over other populations.

Again, I'm not saying there isn't a role for online learning for families who want it. However, I'm questioning whether a virtual option connected with home schools is equitable.

Virtual school is inequitable because it's worse than school school. Also, virtual school is inequitable because it's better than school school.

And, where are you getting this information!p? Are your kids in VA?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

It also sounds inequitable.

Stop throwing out silly terms to justify yourself. But let’s play along. How is it inequitable? Wouldn’t it be inequitable to send our kids in person when many of us have good reasons to choose VA? We provided medical documentation. Inequitable would be to force kids in person who have health issues or parents do that put someone in the home for high risk of death or hospitalization. Inequitable is when they are not providing services to SN kids in person so parents have to pay for private services or provide the supports themselves. Inequitable is VA students are not getting everything in person kids are getting but hopefully some of it is coming. Inequitable is MCPS not using the full funds for VA they are allowed for each student on VA students. Inequitable is SN parents having to pay for privates when MCPS refuses to meet their kids needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm not the PP, but it doesn't matter whether the PP wanted to sign up for it. If VA students have smaller classes, that is an advantage to VA participants that is not given to other students. VA requires parental availability and involvement for student success, making it a more attractive choice for families with means and flexible work schedules. It has the potential to be another way for higher-income families to gain advantages over other populations.

Again, I'm not saying there isn't a role for online learning for families who want it. However, I'm questioning whether a virtual option connected with home schools is equitable.

Virtual school is inequitable because it's worse than school school. Also, virtual school is inequitable because it's better than school school.

And, what are you basing this off of? It’s actually been better than in person for us. Our in person experiences were pretty bad. We only had one good teacher in elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

It also sounds inequitable.

Stop throwing out silly terms to justify yourself. But let’s play along. How is it inequitable? Wouldn’t it be inequitable to send our kids in person when many of us have good reasons to choose VA? We provided medical documentation. Inequitable would be to force kids in person who have health issues or parents do that put someone in the home for high risk of death or hospitalization. Inequitable is when they are not providing services to SN kids in person so parents have to pay for private services or provide the supports themselves. Inequitable is VA students are not getting everything in person kids are getting but hopefully some of it is coming. Inequitable is MCPS not using the full funds for VA they are allowed for each student on VA students. Inequitable is SN parents having to pay for privates when MCPS refuses to meet their kids needs.

So MCPS is meeting your kids' special needs in virtual but not in person?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope VA stays because class sizes are pretty small- my kids get much more personalized attention in all their classes, particularly the advanced ones. A much better experience than the classes with 30+ students at the school.

That doesn't sound economically sustainable.

They have funding for many years to come.

It also sounds inequitable.

Stop throwing out silly terms to justify yourself. But let’s play along. How is it inequitable? Wouldn’t it be inequitable to send our kids in person when many of us have good reasons to choose VA? We provided medical documentation. Inequitable would be to force kids in person who have health issues or parents do that put someone in the home for high risk of death or hospitalization. Inequitable is when they are not providing services to SN kids in person so parents have to pay for private services or provide the supports themselves. Inequitable is VA students are not getting everything in person kids are getting but hopefully some of it is coming. Inequitable is MCPS not using the full funds for VA they are allowed for each student on VA students. Inequitable is SN parents having to pay for privates when MCPS refuses to meet their kids needs.

So MCPS is meeting your kids' special needs in virtual but not in person?

Not talking about my kids but virtual allows parents to be involved and assist during class and assist with the assignments. We had a very bad experience in the early years with supports from MCPS so I would have loved the VA option vs. pulling one of my kids out for therapies several times a week. MCPS doesn't really meet most kids needs who have SN. Instead of worrying about canceling a very small program, lets talk about getting kids they help they need early on so they can be successful later. That's far more important. Many of our kids went without services and supports in person when they needed them. I know mine did. We either had to hire an advocate and fight or pay for private services. It can take years to fight so we decided to do private services as that was something we could do immediately and we didn't want to miss that key window when the child needed help then, not in two years. Early intervention work for some kids. One of mine is proof of that!

[Anonymous]

Good thing the OP is not making decisions for our county. Unbelievably selfish; perhaps some kids need the VA because they are immunocompromised? Only concerned about your child getting into CES instead of the well-being of many. How typical of MCPS parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good thing the OP is not making decisions for our county. Unbelievably selfish; perhaps some kids need the VA because they are immunocompromised? Only concerned about your child getting into CES instead of the well-being of many. How typical of MCPS parents.

VA is getting far less funding than a typical school. It is silly to cancel VA, especially now when covid is getting worse and in our schools. It is no different than MCPS opening up another in person school to help with overcrowding.

If anything, VA needs far more funding to make it equal to other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good thing the OP is not making decisions for our county. Unbelievably selfish; perhaps some kids need the VA because they are immunocompromised? Only concerned about your child getting into CES instead of the well-being of many. How typical of MCPS parents.

VA is getting far less funding than a typical school. It is silly to cancel VA, especially now when covid is getting worse and in our schools. It is no different than MCPS opening up another in person school to help with overcrowding.

If anything, VA needs far more funding to make it equal to other schools.

Where is your source for VA getting far less funding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good thing the OP is not making decisions for our county. Unbelievably selfish; perhaps some kids need the VA because they are immunocompromised? Only concerned about your child getting into CES instead of the well-being of many. How typical of MCPS parents.

VA is getting far less funding than a typical school. It is silly to cancel VA, especially now when covid is getting worse and in our schools. It is no different than MCPS opening up another in person school to help with overcrowding.

If anything, VA needs far more funding to make it equal to other schools.

Where is your source for VA getting far less funding?

Keep up with what's going on as it impacts my kids. We don't have enough staff, no activities, and don't have many other things a traditional school has. Lower school doesn't have enough teachers to fully staff classes and its a lot of asynchronous teaching and very limited class hours. We strictly got a computer (which all kids get) and a few useless supplies and for some classes a workbook and that's it. The staff are trying very hard but funding/staffing is a huge issue. But, they are doing a great job at making it work with the resources they have and we are very happy in it. We do hope to return in person in the fall but thankful for it this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good thing the OP is not making decisions for our county. Unbelievably selfish; perhaps some kids need the VA because they are immunocompromised? Only concerned about your child getting into CES instead of the well-being of many. How typical of MCPS parents.

VA is getting far less funding than a typical school. It is silly to cancel VA, especially now when covid is getting worse and in our schools. It is no different than MCPS opening up another in person school to help with overcrowding.

If anything, VA needs far more funding to make it equal to other schools.

Where is your source for VA getting far less funding?

Keep up with what's going on as it impacts my kids. We don't have enough staff, no activities, and don't have many other things a traditional school has. Lower school doesn't have enough teachers to fully staff classes and its a lot of asynchronous teaching and very limited class hours. We strictly got a computer (which all kids get) and a few useless supplies and for some classes a workbook and that's it. The staff are trying very hard but funding/staffing is a huge issue. But, they are doing a great job at making it work with the resources they have and we are very happy in it. We do hope to return in person in the fall but thankful for it this year.

ok, so you have nothing to support your assertion other than VA sucking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good thing the OP is not making decisions for our county. Unbelievably selfish; perhaps some kids need the VA because they are immunocompromised? Only concerned about your child getting into CES instead of the well-being of many. How typical of MCPS parents.

VA is getting far less funding than a typical school. It is silly to cancel VA, especially now when covid is getting worse and in our schools. It is no different than MCPS opening up another in person school to help with overcrowding.

If anything, VA needs far more funding to make it equal to other schools.

Where is your source for VA getting far less funding?

Keep up with what's going on as it impacts my kids. We don't have enough staff, no activities, and don't have many other things a traditional school has. Lower school doesn't have enough teachers to fully staff classes and its a lot of asynchronous teaching and very limited class hours. We strictly got a computer (which all kids get) and a few useless supplies and for some classes a workbook and that's it. The staff are trying very hard but funding/staffing is a huge issue. But, they are doing a great job at making it work with the resources they have and we are very happy in it. We do hope to return in person in the fall but thankful for it this year.

ok, so you have nothing to support your assertion other than VA sucking?

It doesn't suck and its been a very good experience but we don't have the same funding/staff. We don't have many of the things an in person school would have. They aren't transparent with the funding so no we don't know what's going on but we need more teachers, staff and many other things. They are doing a great job with the limited resources they do have. We are very appreciative to be offered this opportunity.