What is the real reason MCPS uses Lottery for Middle School Magnet Program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one is addressing the point that the county resorted to lottery because of covid (and therefore no Cogats). The point we should be addressing is when they'll get back to using Cogats. I don't think they'll do it in the spring, but they could do it starting the 2022-2023 school year.

IProblem is there is no transparency in the process. Lottery due to COVID is what they said earlier. However, if you read the case text related to the lawsuit someone posted earlier? MCPS states that if there is cohort of 20 or more kids in homeschool, they will not consider those kids in CES program. If there are less than 20, and the homeschool cannot meet their accilerated need, then they will be placed in Regional programs. It is unclear whether MCPS even considers academic performance at par when they place the kids in regional program.

There is no plan at the moment from MCPS to get back to CoGAT even though kids are back in school in person. Also there is a problem with Virtual Academy in the mix. There are no accelerated program in VA and there is no cohort either. CoGAT is also discontinued.
It is not clear whether MCPS will consider VA students for Regional CES programs based on performance. MCPS BOE gets an F for creating all this mess.

The process seems completely clear to me. I think you're confused. Not liking the process is different than not understanding it.

A lot of people only seem to hear what they want to hear and would like to present it isn't clear. I get it. I don't like the lottery either but I understand it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Enjoy your sour grapes because your above-average learner didn't get into a special program. If your child is so damn brilliant then it shouldn't matter if they got into the program.

Not the PP. I have a child at Eastern, so I have no sour grapes here. I think it's a travesty that the choices for a literature/humanities focused kid are either: 1) Win the lottery; or 2) Get zero enrichment at your home school.

For math-focused kid, at least there is the potential for AIM or Algebra I in 6th, but if you have a child who is ready to engage in higher-level literary analysis and writing, you are out of luck.

If MCPS would just agree to differentiate at the MS level, I think the whole magnet question becomes almost moot. Leave the magnets for kids with no home school cohort, and provide differentiated instruction to kids with cohorts. Done and done.

On the wealthy elementary schools let kids accelerate to where they can take Algebra in 6th.

I'm the PP and that's demonstrably false. My child was in a CES at one of the poorest schools in the county and there were kids doing AIM in 5th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one is addressing the point that the county resorted to lottery because of covid (and therefore no Cogats). The point we should be addressing is when they'll get back to using Cogats. I don't think they'll do it in the spring, but they could do it starting the 2022-2023 school year.

IProblem is there is no transparency in the process. Lottery due to COVID is what they said earlier. However, if you read the case text related to the lawsuit someone posted earlier? MCPS states that if there is cohort of 20 or more kids in homeschool, they will not consider those kids in CES program. If there are less than 20, and the homeschool cannot meet their accilerated need, then they will be placed in Regional programs. It is unclear whether MCPS even considers academic performance at par when they place the kids in regional program.

There is no plan at the moment from MCPS to get back to CoGAT even though kids are back in school in person. Also there is a problem with Virtual Academy in the mix. There are no accelerated program in VA and there is no cohort either. CoGAT is also discontinued.
It is not clear whether MCPS will consider VA students for Regional CES programs based on performance. MCPS BOE gets an F for creating all this mess.

The process seems completely clear to me. I think you're confused. Not liking the process is different than not understanding it.

A lot of people only seem to hear what they want to hear and would like to present it isn't clear. I get it. I don't like the lottery either but I understand it.

What is not transparent and clear is how different factors (FARMS & gender) are weighted in the lottery and subsequent waitlist. If it was a true lottery your child would be assigned a number, You would have a clear order for the waitlist. For example, numbers 1-100 get offered spots. If you were 101, you'd know that your child had the next spot on the waitlist and would likely be offered a spot. If you were number 3,500, you'd know that your kid was not getting a spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one is addressing the point that the county resorted to lottery because of covid (and therefore no Cogats). The point we should be addressing is when they'll get back to using Cogats. I don't think they'll do it in the spring, but they could do it starting the 2022-2023 school year.

IProblem is there is no transparency in the process. Lottery due to COVID is what they said earlier. However, if you read the case text related to the lawsuit someone posted earlier? MCPS states that if there is cohort of 20 or more kids in homeschool, they will not consider those kids in CES program. If there are less than 20, and the homeschool cannot meet their accilerated need, then they will be placed in Regional programs. It is unclear whether MCPS even considers academic performance at par when they place the kids in regional program.

There is no plan at the moment from MCPS to get back to CoGAT even though kids are back in school in person. Also there is a problem with Virtual Academy in the mix. There are no accelerated program in VA and there is no cohort either. CoGAT is also discontinued.
It is not clear whether MCPS will consider VA students for Regional CES programs based on performance. MCPS BOE gets an F for creating all this mess.

The process seems completely clear to me. I think you're confused. Not liking the process is different than not understanding it.

A lot of people only seem to hear what they want to hear and would like to present it isn't clear. I get it. I don't like the lottery either but I understand it.

What is not transparent and clear is how different factors (FARMS & gender) are weighted in the lottery and subsequent waitlist. If it was a true lottery your child would be assigned a number, You would have a clear order for the waitlist. For example, numbers 1-100 get offered spots. If you were 101, you'd know that your child had the next spot on the waitlist and would likely be offered a spot. If you were number 3,500, you'd know that your kid was not getting a spot.

The objective is to increase diversity so the outcome is to put a thumb on the scale for certain kids over others. It's not complicated. If you think this is good and proper you support it. If you think its ridiculous, then you oppose it. I'm in the latter camp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one is addressing the point that the county resorted to lottery because of covid (and therefore no Cogats). The point we should be addressing is when they'll get back to using Cogats. I don't think they'll do it in the spring, but they could do it starting the 2022-2023 school year.

IProblem is there is no transparency in the process. Lottery due to COVID is what they said earlier. However, if you read the case text related to the lawsuit someone posted earlier? MCPS states that if there is cohort of 20 or more kids in homeschool, they will not consider those kids in CES program. If there are less than 20, and the homeschool cannot meet their accilerated need, then they will be placed in Regional programs. It is unclear whether MCPS even considers academic performance at par when they place the kids in regional program.

There is no plan at the moment from MCPS to get back to CoGAT even though kids are back in school in person. Also there is a problem with Virtual Academy in the mix. There are no accelerated program in VA and there is no cohort either. CoGAT is also discontinued.
It is not clear whether MCPS will consider VA students for Regional CES programs based on performance. MCPS BOE gets an F for creating all this mess.

The process seems completely clear to me. I think you're confused. Not liking the process is different than not understanding it.

A lot of people only seem to hear what they want to hear and would like to present it isn't clear. I get it. I don't like the lottery either but I understand it.

What is not transparent and clear is how different factors (FARMS & gender) are weighted in the lottery and subsequent waitlist. If it was a true lottery your child would be assigned a number, You would have a clear order for the waitlist. For example, numbers 1-100 get offered spots. If you were 101, you'd know that your child had the next spot on the waitlist and would likely be offered a spot. If you were number 3,500, you'd know that your kid was not getting a spot.

The objective is to increase diversity so the outcome is to put a thumb on the scale for certain kids over others. It's not complicated. If you think this is good and proper you support it. If you think its ridiculous, then you oppose it. I'm in the latter camp.

Equality, defn. "the state of being equal, especially in social status, rights, and opportunities." Ex. Top children are selected for Magnet, regardless of skin color.
Equity, defn. "fairness or justice in the way people are treated." Ex. Children not selected are either provided a number of slots to balance race, or are provided a program to better prepare them.

If anyone believes the lottery is both an equal and equitable means to decide a child's academic future, I respectfully disagree.

[Anonymous]

Yep, this thread is still just a troll's playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep, this thread is still just a troll's playground.

Its ok. you can ignore it and move on. Let the concerned parents discuss the problem and possible solutions so that we can, as a society deal with incompetencies at BOE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
No one is addressing the point that the county resorted to lottery because of covid (and therefore no Cogats). The point we should be addressing is when they'll get back to using Cogats. I don't think they'll do it in the spring, but they could do it starting the 2022-2023 school year.

IProblem is there is no transparency in the process. Lottery due to COVID is what they said earlier. However, if you read the case text related to the lawsuit someone posted earlier? MCPS states that if there is cohort of 20 or more kids in homeschool, they will not consider those kids in CES program. If there are less than 20, and the homeschool cannot meet their accilerated need, then they will be placed in Regional programs. It is unclear whether MCPS even considers academic performance at par when they place the kids in regional program.

There is no plan at the moment from MCPS to get back to CoGAT even though kids are back in school in person. Also there is a problem with Virtual Academy in the mix. There are no accelerated program in VA and there is no cohort either. CoGAT is also discontinued.
It is not clear whether MCPS will consider VA students for Regional CES programs based on performance. MCPS BOE gets an F for creating all this mess.

The process seems completely clear to me. I think you're confused. Not liking the process is different than not understanding it.

A lot of people only seem to hear what they want to hear and would like to present it isn't clear. I get it. I don't like the lottery either but I understand it.

What is not transparent and clear is how different factors (FARMS & gender) are weighted in the lottery and subsequent waitlist. If it was a true lottery your child would be assigned a number, You would have a clear order for the waitlist. For example, numbers 1-100 get offered spots. If you were 101, you'd know that your child had the next spot on the waitlist and would likely be offered a spot. If you were number 3,500, you'd know that your kid was not getting a spot.

The objective is to increase diversity so the outcome is to put a thumb on the scale for certain kids over others. It's not complicated. If you think this is good and proper you support it. If you think its ridiculous, then you oppose it. I'm in the latter camp.

Equality, defn. "the state of being equal, especially in social status, rights, and opportunities." Ex. Top children are selected for Magnet, regardless of skin color.
Equity, defn. "fairness or justice in the way people are treated." Ex. Children not selected are either provided a number of slots to balance race, or are provided a program to better prepare them.

If anyone believes the lottery is both an equal and equitable means to decide a child's academic future, I respectfully disagree.

A lot of people do not understand the implications of these decisions long into the future. They just want momentary satisfaction derived from "look of the class rooms". I am so surprised that some look through lens of race and think that the competition is not good. This is crazy because competition always resulted in better outcomes and better results. Be it academics or sports. Imagine if you apply same equity principles applied to competitive sports. The resutls will be disastrous

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yep, this thread is still just a troll's playground.

Its ok. you can ignore it and move on. Let the concerned parents discuss the problem and possible solutions so that we can, as a society deal with incompetencies at BOE.

+1 It's disturbing that someone thinks this is a game (i.e. a troll's playground).

Parents that care about their children's educational futures will care about the programs that MCPS implements, including the Magnet Program.

[Anonymous]

This thread had fallen off of the front page from 11/30 until 12/4.

You had to be looking for it in order to see it.

As important as the conversation is the way THIS particular thread just keeps getting brought back to life has a real Frankenstein feeling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread had fallen off of the front page from 11/30 until 12/4.

You had to be looking for it in order to see it.

As important as the conversation is the way THIS particular thread just keeps getting brought back to life has a real Frankenstein feeling.

Wel you're right in that nothing posted here is remotely helpful. I'm against the lottery but these posters make me want to defend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread had fallen off of the front page from 11/30 until 12/4.

You had to be looking for it in order to see it.

As important as the conversation is the way THIS particular thread just keeps getting brought back to life has a real Frankenstein feeling.

Wel you're right in that nothing posted here is remotely helpful. I'm against the lottery but these posters make me want to defend it.

So why not contribute if you have anything to say instead of saying that you have but do not care?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread had fallen off of the front page from 11/30 until 12/4.

You had to be looking for it in order to see it.

As important as the conversation is the way THIS particular thread just keeps getting brought back to life has a real Frankenstein feeling.

You have a choice to ignore it. Why not do that? Why do you feel that other parents should not have this discussion?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread had fallen off of the front page from 11/30 until 12/4.

You had to be looking for it in order to see it.

As important as the conversation is the way THIS particular thread just keeps getting brought back to life has a real Frankenstein feeling.

You have a choice to ignore it. Why not do that? Why do you feel that other parents should not have this discussion?

Several participants don't seem to be having a discussion in good faith.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread had fallen off of the front page from 11/30 until 12/4.

You had to be looking for it in order to see it.

As important as the conversation is the way THIS particular thread just keeps getting brought back to life has a real Frankenstein feeling.

You have a choice to ignore it. Why not do that? Why do you feel that other parents should not have this discussion?

Several participants don't seem to be having a discussion in good faith.

Agree and nothing that's been said here is actionable. It's just a bunch of bitter people complaining. Of course, it's unfair. Now what?