New curriculum selection process delayed— new RFP must be issues now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not true. Google Cristo Rey. It's a catholic school model that caters exclusively to low-income minority students. If you look at catholic schools in big cities that operate with a charitable mission, you'll see how an old fashioned approach succeeds in closing the gap.

Unfortunately, mcps is searching for a silver bullet that doesn't exist. They punt to technology. They dumb it down so they can race through it in 10-15 minute chunks to cycle through small groups. If your kid is in compacted math, then they get a full math block of instruction. Otherwise, they get 10-15 mins with the teacher followed by independent work...also known as screwing around at a table with 5 other kids for 45 mins. Ditto for reading. And the writing instruction is very poor. In their defense, it's tough to teach writing once you've eliminated formal grammar instruction from the curriculum.

It's a private school model that can choose whom to admit.

"Low-income minority students" aren't fungible, any more than any other students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think if they haven't done so, we need an unbiased and knowledgeable group to rewrite the RFP and we need the evaluation team to comprise of again, non biased individuals that include teachers external to the central office. The problem is Central Office.. Maybe Hogan needs to step in and stop the shitshow that MCPS beaurocrats are causing.

I think if he did, Hogan might gain some supporters in this county. As a parent, I feel pretty helpless and hopeless about what I see going on in MCPS. And, with young kids, we have a long way ahead of us.

[Anonymous]

PP

It feels like no one is really in charge and the people who should be in charge are not actually doing anything. And possibly, even doing corrupt things. Whether it is in regard to curriculum development or in regards to protecting kids from sexual predators.

[Anonymous]

Damn, they can’t even figure out how to make the calendar work! So inept.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because there is no supervision of anyone, that is why.

This is very true.

And echoing a PP - the county is large enough to hide things, as issues are easily buried in the bureaucracy.

And I’m certain Discovery knows the how to play by the RFP rules . . .

As parents, don't we have a say on how all this should go down? Where can we complain and if we do, will it matter? I do think that if Discovery participated the next time, there's enough reason for another vendor to protest. The fact that Discovery has another chance at this is so messed up!!

Write to the Board of Education and Jack Smith. Probably for optics, the admin rushed this through the Board to rescind the RFP before parents could give feedback. But they should know how disappointed we are with their inability to get this right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Write to the Board of Education and Jack Smith. Probably for optics, the admin rushed this through the Board to rescind the RFP before parents could give feedback. But they should know how disappointed we are with their inability to get this right.

I'm disappointed that there won't be a new curriculum next fall. I'm not disappointed that they withdrew the RFP. That was the right decision.

-a parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Write to the Board of Education and Jack Smith. Probably for optics, the admin rushed this through the Board to rescind the RFP before parents could give feedback. But they should know how disappointed we are with their inability to get this right.

I'm disappointed that there won't be a new curriculum next fall. I'm not disappointed that they withdrew the RFP. That was the right decision.

-a parent

Agreed. What I am concerned about though is the thought that Discovery could resubmit their bid and potentially winning the contract. Delaying the RFP doesn't change the fact that Discovery along with the corrupt MCPS administrators who are moving on to work for them ARE shady!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think if they haven't done so, we need an unbiased and knowledgeable group to rewrite the RFP and we need the evaluation team to comprise of again, non biased individuals that include teachers external to the central office. The problem is Central Office.. Maybe Hogan needs to step in and stop the shitshow that MCPS beaurocrats are causing.

I think if he did, Hogan might gain some supporters in this county. As a parent, I feel pretty helpless and hopeless about what I see going on in MCPS. And, with young kids, we have a long way ahead of us.

Same here. Incoming 1st grader and never saw so many central office and basic (curriculum, training, staff) issues. Way too large a system and they just keep proving that weekly.

[Anonymous]

Yes 2 PPs, the Board and Jacob Smith should hear about your disappointment about the lack of new curriculum, and all your other concerns related to this debacle. Complaining here does not send the message to them that parents are watching and are unhappy with this situation in many different ways.

[Anonymous]

** autocorrect Jacob = Jack. Ha, Ha!

[Anonymous]

And it’s just got just worse from there.
Starts w terrible curriculum in ES, way too large of class sizes. Very young teachers, Chromebook overuse.

Moves on to extremely large middle schools with no differentiation, little sense of community, cuts on most arts and sports teams, overcrowded schools and 30-33 kids per class, continued bad curriculum and low quality assignments.

Finishes with a sink or swim huge high school experience with 33-35 kids per class, no final exams cumulative learning, rounds up grades to highest single grade (no way to dilineate betweeen top students or ok students, most get As), cuts on almost extracurricular, sports teams are only for club/travel team trained kids, minimal college application counseling.

[Anonymous]

The comments section of the Bethesda mag article is informative:

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2018/MCPS-Pauses-Search-for-New-Curriculum-After-Learning-Staff-Members-Are-Taking-Jobs-with-Vendor/

Connecting the dots. The Chief Academic Officer/VP of Curriculum and Instruction of Discovery Education is Marty Creel. Mr. Creel worked for MCPS for 25 years and left in 2015. His last position was Director in charge of curriculum. Mr. Creel is not the only Discovery Education employee to come from MCPS.

https://www.discoveryeducation.com/who-we-are/meet-the-curriculum-team/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The comments section of the Bethesda mag article is informative:

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2018/MCPS-Pauses-Search-for-New-Curriculum-After-Learning-Staff-Members-Are-Taking-Jobs-with-Vendor/

Connecting the dots. The Chief Academic Officer/VP of Curriculum and Instruction of Discovery Education is Marty Creel. Mr. Creel worked for MCPS for 25 years and left in 2015. His last position was Director in charge of curriculum. Mr. Creel is not the only Discovery Education employee to come from MCPS.

https://www.discoveryeducation.com/who-we-are/meet-the-curriculum-team/

None of this is surprising to anyone who understands how corrupt government is at all levels. Remember, it's not what you know, it's who you know.

[Anonymous]

There are no circumstances where awarding this to Discovery Education will ever be acceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are no circumstances where awarding this to Discovery Education will ever be acceptable.

I wish I could be so sure of MCPS judgment on this issue, but let's not forget the OP of this thread. All that is missing is a delivery of flowers to Discovery Education from Maria Navarro and co.

Dear Colleagues:

As you know, MCPS has engaged in a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select new curricula for grades Kindergarten through Grade 8, for English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics. As our curriculum review indicated, a new curriculum is needed to support teaching and learning.

Unfortunately, we will need to postpone this important process. We recently learned that two MCPS staff members, the associate superintendent in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs and the supervisor for English/Language Arts in the Department of Secondary Curriculum and Districtwide Programs, are retiring and intend to accept job offers with Discovery Education, one of the vendors that submitted a proposal in response to the RFP. These staff members have recused themselves from any further involvement in the RFP process.

It is important to note that Discovery Education’s leadership acted proactively, diligently and collaboratively throughout this process. As soon as it was brought to the attention of Discovery Education’s leadership that these individuals were connected to the RFP process, the company, citing an abundance of caution, took the initiative and immediately withdrew from consideration.

While these job offers do not appear to have influenced the RFP process, we want to ensure public confidence in the integrity of this effort. Therefore, Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith is recommending that the Board of Education rescind the current RFP so that a new RFP can be issued at a later time.

We apologize for the disruption for our students and schools. We remain committed to acquiring a high quality curriculum, but it is critical that our teachers, students and families can have trust in the process.

Regards,

Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Montgomery County Public Schools
850 Hungerford Drive, Room 129
Rockville, Maryland 20850
301-279-3127
301-279-3099 Fax
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org