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

[Anonymous]

What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

[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.

I think reasonable parents can and should be talking to one another, either in this forum or another. Let's say MCPS is committed to the lottery - the way they've gone about it is slapdash and contradictory to their own stated goals. By eliminating kids who got Bs, and getting rid of the one test that was looking for aptitude over exposure, MCPS has painted themselves into a corner that forced them to lower the MAP cut-off so far that it's basically meaningless.

A more nuanced and equitable approach would be to keep the CogAT and cap it at 95%. Look at MAP and grades secondarily, because for the ES and MS levels, you want to find the kids who CAN do the work, not just those who have already been exposed to it.

[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.

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.

I think reasonable parents can and should be talking to one another, either in this forum or another. Let's say MCPS is committed to the lottery - the way they've gone about it is slapdash and contradictory to their own stated goals. By eliminating kids who got Bs, and getting rid of the one test that was looking for aptitude over exposure, MCPS has painted themselves into a corner that forced them to lower the MAP cut-off so far that it's basically meaningless.

A more nuanced and equitable approach would be to keep the CogAT and cap it at 95%. Look at MAP and grades secondarily, because for the ES and MS levels, you want to find the kids who CAN do the work, not just those who have already been exposed to it.

It is an inevitable race to the bottom. People with means will get out. Middle class will supplement and suffer. The people it is supposed to help will be stuck in a morass of mediocrity. Venal politicians for the win! Society loses. Tyranny of the majority. Solution: elect the right people. else shut up and bear it. Now only if the right people also promoted better gun laws and kept our students safe...I know. overall, doesn't look good for public schools and our kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

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.

I think reasonable parents can and should be talking to one another, either in this forum or another. Let's say MCPS is committed to the lottery - the way they've gone about it is slapdash and contradictory to their own stated goals. By eliminating kids who got Bs, and getting rid of the one test that was looking for aptitude over exposure, MCPS has painted themselves into a corner that forced them to lower the MAP cut-off so far that it's basically meaningless.

A more nuanced and equitable approach would be to keep the CogAT and cap it at 95%. Look at MAP and grades secondarily, because for the ES and MS levels, you want to find the kids who CAN do the work, not just those who have already been exposed to it.

It is an inevitable race to the bottom. People with means will get out. Middle class will supplement and suffer. The people it is supposed to help will be stuck in a morass of mediocrity. Venal politicians for the win! Society loses. Tyranny of the majority. Solution: elect the right people. else shut up and bear it. Now only if the right people also promoted better gun laws and kept our students safe...I know. overall, doesn't look good for public schools and our kids.

Easy to say but there aren't any right people as far as I can tell.

[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.

Those are the ones who do not want people to discuss. They use this strategy to muddle the water. Distract, discourage and sometimes disrespect. Many of us see through the intent of their comments and ignore them. Unfortunately, you have to sort throught he comments to see what is worth your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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?

Do you have any ideas? or looking for others to chime in? If it is the latter, just hang in there.. people will deliberate and come up with ideas. Be patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

Not true. looks like some parents are scared of transparency as much as BOE. What is your problem if parents wants to know more about the process? why does it have to be a secret?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

Not true. looks like some parents are scared of transparency as much as BOE. What is your problem if parents wants to know more about the process? why does it have to be a secret?

Was it a true lottery selection process last year? Did MCPS print student IDs on a piece of paper and draw one at a time from a fish bowl? Or they use a computer software to do random drawing from all the candidates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

Not true. looks like some parents are scared of transparency as much as BOE. What is your problem if parents wants to know more about the process? why does it have to be a secret?

Was it a true lottery selection process last year? Did MCPS print student IDs on a piece of paper and draw one at a time from a fish bowl? Or they use a computer software to do random drawing from all the candidates?

I've never seen a fishbowl large enough to hold that many pieces of paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

Not true. looks like some parents are scared of transparency as much as BOE. What is your problem if parents wants to know more about the process? why does it have to be a secret?

When they've been open about these things in the past, many parents and enrichment programs used this information to game the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

Not true. looks like some parents are scared of transparency as much as BOE. What is your problem if parents wants to know more about the process? why does it have to be a secret?

Was it a true lottery selection process last year? Did MCPS print student IDs on a piece of paper and draw one at a time from a fish bowl? Or they use a computer software to do random drawing from all the candidates?

Random is random regardless of the specifics. Well, except that a computer program would be pseudo-random which isn't really random, but an reasonable approximation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what is the real reason MCPS BOE uses lottery for CES program?
Why can't it be the consistency of performance against benchmarks in elementary school? and/or likewise consistency of performance in middle school for highschool magnet program

Are they using Lottery for selection into sports and games teams as well instead of performance benchmarks? or is the lottery exclusive for academic programs?

Well, the county said it was because of covid and since the makers of the CogAT test wouldn't allow them to admin it remotely last year that seems correct.

The reason they're keeping this is probably to see how it plays out before changing back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the next step in this lottery process? Parents will hear in January whether their kids are in the pool?

No one knows. What is the first step or next or last. That is the fundamental problem. Who is sitting in the basement and picking the numbers? No one knows. The irony is that lottery will not create the look of equity that current BOE wants to create. So there may not be any lottery either even though they say it is. Its crazy stuff

Whatever system MCPS uses, disgruntled parents will gripe.

Not true. looks like some parents are scared of transparency as much as BOE. What is your problem if parents wants to know more about the process? why does it have to be a secret?

False the PP was correct. They could provide every single detail and you would still complain that it wasn't transparent.