current and potential immersion parents - watch out sneaky tactic to kick you out of bcc

[Anonymous]

I agree the changes should be phased in to future classes rather than abruptly, but honestly I shrug a bit at the argument that kids shouldn't be sent back to their home high school because they "won't know anyone." I ended up being the only kid in my 5th grade class zoned for a different middle school, all of my friends and classmates went to a different one. Believe me, I cried and made a big fuss about it, but you know what? I did just fine and made new friends. Turns out I knew a couple kids from church, Girl Scouts, an old preschool friend. Chances are by 8th grade kids will have larger social circles than the immersion program and will know some kids from the neighborhood, sports/activities, etc., that attend their home school.

[Anonymous]

Today I received a blast e-mail as susbscriber to MCPS QuckNotes announcing the comment period for the change in COSA. It includes a detailed explanation of the rationale for the proposed changes. No one can accuse the Board of a lack of transparency on this one.

[Anonymous]

NP. (not BCC or Immersion parent)
Me too. For those who did not ---

The Montgomery County Board of Education is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to Policy JEE, Student Transfers. This policy sets the standard under which Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students may be granted a transfer, referred to as a Change of School Assignment (COSA), to attend a school other than their home school or the school assigned to them under their Individualized Education Program (IEP).

The public comment period for this policy will remain open until September 30, 2013. The Board of Education’s Policy Committee will then consider all public comments before making a recommendation to the full Board in the fall. Any changes made to the policy will not impact the transfer requests for the 2013-2014 school year.

The Board of Education’s Policy Committee introduced the proposed changes to provide clarity and consistency in the COSA policy. At the June 13 Board of Education meeting, members of the Policy Committee expressed their commitment to neighborhood schools and a COSA process that provides options for students facing a unique hardship. The changes, in part, address issues raised by community members, including concerns about overcrowding in some MCPS schools. Board members said they have a responsibility to look at ways to address overcrowding that do not involve capital projects, but stressed that overcrowding was not the only consideration in suggesting changes to Policy JEE.

Proposed changes include:

- Requiring middle school students on approved COSAs to reapply to attend high school in the same cluster, and meeting the unique hardship standard or one of the exceptions delineated in the policy. This would make the policy consistent with how elementary to middle school transitions are handled.
- Clarifying the definition of sibling and the language about COSAs for siblings whose brother or sister attends a magnet or special program.
- Clarifying language requiring all students who receive an approved COSA to attend the new school for one year before being eligible to participate in athletics.
- Making April 1 the firm deadline for COSA applications with limited exceptions.

Copies of the draft policy are available through the Department of Public Information and Web Services by calling 301-279-3391. The policy can also be viewed on the MCPS website. Individuals who wish to provide comments should respond in writing by September 30, 2013. All written responses should be sent to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 122, Rockville, Maryland 20850 or sent by email to the Board of Education at [e-mail]. All responses will be shared with the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools.

Proposed Changes to Policy JEE, Student Transfers

[Anonymous]

This also changes the process for other kids. As one example, kids who live outside the Downcounty Consortium and currently go to Eastern may not be able to apply to the Blair CAP program if these changes go through.

[Anonymous]

Link to the proposed changes:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/student-transfers.aspx

Text of proposed policy here:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdfcomment/JEEcomment.pdf

(from the blast e-mail)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This also changes the process for other kids. As one example, kids who live outside the Downcounty Consortium and currently go to Eastern may not be able to apply to the Blair CAP program if these changes go through.

False, it just states Cosas are not automatic, not that they won't be granted.

[Anonymous]

There is nothing in the proposed COSA policy that impacts the CAP feeder pattern as described on the MCPS site:

The Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair HS is an application-only program. Current Grade 8 students living in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) attendance area as well as those students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment (transfer) may apply. For further information, contact Montgomery Blair HS.


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[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing in the proposed COSA policy that impacts the CAP feeder pattern as described on the MCPS site:

The Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair HS is an application-only program. Current Grade 8 students living in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) attendance area as well as those students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment (transfer) may apply. For further information, contact Montgomery Blair HS.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an excerpt of a longer email on this topic that was posted to the Eastern listserv by Michelle Gluck, MCCPTA Gifted Comm., based, she said, on conversations she had with MCPS. The bottom line is that it is not clear Eastern and TPMS non-DCC magnet students will continue to be permitted to apply to CAP. I have only excerpted the part that pertains to the non-DCC CAP application issue.


"What is not clear is whether non-DCC students attending countywide magnet programs at DCC middle schools (Eastern and Takoma Park) will continue to be granted DCC status for purposes of applying to the Blair CAP. The CAP is not a county-wide magnet program, but is limited to students in the DCC. Blair interprets students in the DCC to include "students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment," namely, the EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet populations (for the most part). I note two reasons this existing statement of eligibility may not be controlling going forward if the changes to Policy JEE are finalized:

(1) The statement was written under the existing policy, when articulation eligibility was automatic. As it stands now, I believe EMS students can articulate to any DCC high school whether or not they apply to an application-controlled program. Blair was not making any exceptions for the CAP by inviting such students to apply.

(2) MCPS policy as enacted by the BOE, not Blair, controls whether students receive a COSA. Therefore, regardless of what Blair wants or intends, MCPS could determine that the BOE policy change trumps the previous practice.

I have been told that DCCAPS asked for an explicit exception for the CAP program, was expecting more explicit language preserving the articulation pattern to the CAP, and is concerned that the draft language as it exists is too vague to protect access to the CAP for EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet students.

I suggest, therefore, that parents who want the existing articulation pattern to the CAP to be preserved should take advantage of the public comment period and contact the BOE before the matter comes up for a vote in September, asking for more explicit language or clarification."

[Anonymous]

The bottom line for me is that this policy revision has not been clearly thought through and will create lots of confusion. It was designed to target certain groups of kids but there will be other collateral damage.

It's a confusing and poorly written policy change. Despite the pleas of programs like CAP, it doesn't clarify a lot of issues. And it doesn't address the worst offenders -- in fact, last year the COSA office processed 1000 (out of a total 4000) COSA applications that were submitted AFTER the due date.

If MCPS would enforce their existing policies and do a little due diligence about kids who are enroll in desirable clusters by lying about where they live, these changes woudn't be necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing in the proposed COSA policy that impacts the CAP feeder pattern as described on the MCPS site:

The Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair HS is an application-only program. Current Grade 8 students living in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) attendance area as well as those students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment (transfer) may apply. For further information, contact Montgomery Blair HS.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an excerpt of a longer email on this topic that was posted to the Eastern listserv by Michelle Gluck, MCCPTA Gifted Comm., based, she said, on conversations she had with MCPS. The bottom line is that it is not clear Eastern and TPMS non-DCC magnet students will continue to be permitted to apply to CAP. I have only excerpted the part that pertains to the non-DCC CAP application issue.


"What is not clear is whether non-DCC students attending countywide magnet programs at DCC middle schools (Eastern and Takoma Park) will continue to be granted DCC status for purposes of applying to the Blair CAP. The CAP is not a county-wide magnet program, but is limited to students in the DCC. Blair interprets students in the DCC to include "students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment," namely, the EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet populations (for the most part). I note two reasons this existing statement of eligibility may not be controlling going forward if the changes to Policy JEE are finalized:

(1) The statement was written under the existing policy, when articulation eligibility was automatic. As it stands now, I believe EMS students can articulate to any DCC high school whether or not they apply to an application-controlled program. Blair was not making any exceptions for the CAP by inviting such students to apply.

(2) MCPS policy as enacted by the BOE, not Blair, controls whether students receive a COSA. Therefore, regardless of what Blair wants or intends, MCPS could determine that the BOE policy change trumps the previous practice.

I have been told that DCCAPS asked for an explicit exception for the CAP program, was expecting more explicit language preserving the articulation pattern to the CAP, and is concerned that the draft language as it exists is too vague to protect access to the CAP for EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet students.

I suggest, therefore, that parents who want the existing articulation pattern to the CAP to be preserved should take advantage of the public comment period and contact the BOE before the matter comes up for a vote in September, asking for more explicit language or clarification."

She's just speculating like anyone else. The language of the proposal as it s written has no impact on CAP or other programs it simply states that COSAS have to be applied for and are not automatic. When you apply to CAP as a non-resident of DCC but go to Eastern there is no basis to reject the application. COSAs have no bearing on this at all unless MCPS changes the application criteria.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing in the proposed COSA policy that impacts the CAP feeder pattern as described on the MCPS site:

The Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair HS is an application-only program. Current Grade 8 students living in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) attendance area as well as those students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment (transfer) may apply. For further information, contact Montgomery Blair HS.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an excerpt of a longer email on this topic that was posted to the Eastern listserv by Michelle Gluck, MCCPTA Gifted Comm., based, she said, on conversations she had with MCPS. The bottom line is that it is not clear Eastern and TPMS non-DCC magnet students will continue to be permitted to apply to CAP. I have only excerpted the part that pertains to the non-DCC CAP application issue.


"What is not clear is whether non-DCC students attending countywide magnet programs at DCC middle schools (Eastern and Takoma Park) will continue to be granted DCC status for purposes of applying to the Blair CAP. The CAP is not a county-wide magnet program, but is limited to students in the DCC. Blair interprets students in the DCC to include "students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment," namely, the EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet populations (for the most part). I note two reasons this existing statement of eligibility may not be controlling going forward if the changes to Policy JEE are finalized:

(1) The statement was written under the existing policy, when articulation eligibility was automatic. As it stands now, I believe EMS students can articulate to any DCC high school whether or not they apply to an application-controlled program. Blair was not making any exceptions for the CAP by inviting such students to apply.

(2) MCPS policy as enacted by the BOE, not Blair, controls whether students receive a COSA. Therefore, regardless of what Blair wants or intends, MCPS could determine that the BOE policy change trumps the previous practice.

I have been told that DCCAPS asked for an explicit exception for the CAP program, was expecting more explicit language preserving the articulation pattern to the CAP, and is concerned that the draft language as it exists is too vague to protect access to the CAP for EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet students.

I suggest, therefore, that parents who want the existing articulation pattern to the CAP to be preserved should take advantage of the public comment period and contact the BOE before the matter comes up for a vote in September, asking for more explicit language or clarification."

She's just speculating like anyone else. The language of the proposal as it s written has no impact on CAP or other programs it simply states that COSAS have to be applied for and are not automatic. When you apply to CAP as a non-resident of DCC but go to Eastern there is no basis to reject the application. COSAs have no bearing on this at all unless MCPS changes the application criteria.

This is what they said about the RCF-Westland-BCC track too.

[Anonymous]

"That's just the policy, it doesn't apply to you, we promise, we'll give you plenty of notice, no one is going to have to change clusters mid-stream ...." Boom.

If you have a kid at Eastern who wants to go to CAP and you don't live in the DCC, be forewarned. Sticking your head in the sand and saying it doesn't apply is a proven FAIL when it comes to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is nothing in the proposed COSA policy that impacts the CAP feeder pattern as described on the MCPS site:

The Communication Arts Program (CAP) at Montgomery Blair HS is an application-only program. Current Grade 8 students living in the Downcounty Consortium (DCC) attendance area as well as those students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment (transfer) may apply. For further information, contact Montgomery Blair HS.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an excerpt of a longer email on this topic that was posted to the Eastern listserv by Michelle Gluck, MCCPTA Gifted Comm., based, she said, on conversations she had with MCPS. The bottom line is that it is not clear Eastern and TPMS non-DCC magnet students will continue to be permitted to apply to CAP. I have only excerpted the part that pertains to the non-DCC CAP application issue.


"What is not clear is whether non-DCC students attending countywide magnet programs at DCC middle schools (Eastern and Takoma Park) will continue to be granted DCC status for purposes of applying to the Blair CAP. The CAP is not a county-wide magnet program, but is limited to students in the DCC. Blair interprets students in the DCC to include "students who attend a DCC feeder middle school on approved change of school assignment," namely, the EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet populations (for the most part). I note two reasons this existing statement of eligibility may not be controlling going forward if the changes to Policy JEE are finalized:

(1) The statement was written under the existing policy, when articulation eligibility was automatic. As it stands now, I believe EMS students can articulate to any DCC high school whether or not they apply to an application-controlled program. Blair was not making any exceptions for the CAP by inviting such students to apply.

(2) MCPS policy as enacted by the BOE, not Blair, controls whether students receive a COSA. Therefore, regardless of what Blair wants or intends, MCPS could determine that the BOE policy change trumps the previous practice.

I have been told that DCCAPS asked for an explicit exception for the CAP program, was expecting more explicit language preserving the articulation pattern to the CAP, and is concerned that the draft language as it exists is too vague to protect access to the CAP for EMS/TPMS out of boundary magnet students.

I suggest, therefore, that parents who want the existing articulation pattern to the CAP to be preserved should take advantage of the public comment period and contact the BOE before the matter comes up for a vote in September, asking for more explicit language or clarification."

She's just speculating like anyone else. The language of the proposal as it s written has no impact on CAP or other programs it simply states that COSAS have to be applied for and are not automatic. When you apply to CAP as a non-resident of DCC but go to Eastern there is no basis to reject the application. COSAs have no bearing on this at all unless MCPS changes the application criteria.

This is what they said about the RCF-Westland-BCC track too.

Same thing, nothing says you can't continue the track. I would imagine these COSAS will get approved.

[Anonymous]

I can assure the K parent that those of us who didn't go all through our school years with the same kids turned out as well as those who did (given no other factors involved!). By HS, your child may be dying to get the heck away from those kids. Friendships change, kids grow and mature and adapt -- as they are meant to do.
Also, there's no MoCo high school language immersion. And, though middle school immersion is "partial," French IM covers two subjects several days a week, and regular MS language classes don't compare. The kids who stay in MS immersion are of course more fluent by HS than those who ended it in ES and then took up regular language classes in MS and HS, all other circumstances being equal. But whether that matters is the family's decision. By 8th grade MS immersion kids on a stay in France were fluent and fooled many native speakers. At the end of HS, I imagine the non-immersion or ES-only immersion kids who took language all the years it was offered and who committed themselves to keeping it up would be near-fluent themselves. It's just much easier with immersion, and those classes are also very oriented toward world citizenship and cultural studies. For our child, that was more important than giving it up for a narrowly focused MS magnet. But that's a personal decision for those simply lucky enough to get to choose. And either choice is a good/valid one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can assure the K parent that those of us who didn't go all through our school years with the same kids turned out as well as those who did (given no other factors involved!). By HS, your child may be dying to get the heck away from those kids. Friendships change, kids grow and mature and adapt -- as they are meant to do.
Also, there's no MoCo high school language immersion. And, though middle school immersion is "partial," French IM covers two subjects several days a week, and regular MS language classes don't compare. The kids who stay in MS immersion are of course more fluent by HS than those who ended it in ES and then took up regular language classes in MS and HS, all other circumstances being equal. But whether that matters is the family's decision. By 8th grade MS immersion kids on a stay in France were fluent and fooled many native speakers. At the end of HS, I imagine the non-immersion or ES-only immersion kids who took language all the years it was offered and who committed themselves to keeping it up would be near-fluent themselves. It's just much easier with immersion, and those classes are also very oriented toward world citizenship and cultural studies. For our child, that was more important than giving it up for a narrowly focused MS magnet. But that's a personal decision for those simply lucky enough to get to choose. And either choice is a good/valid one.

I would like to get the point of this post but I don't really see waht you are saying. Is your point that kids SHOULD have opportunities in high school to continue language at the level that's appropriate for them? What was more important than giving up a MS magnet and are you referring to the immersion magnets? I'm confused.