10/16 Board of Ed meeting

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

So why should taxpayers give millions more than we already pay for these underwhelming and inequitable programs?

We should focus on strengthening our core subjects, especially in K–8, which is where the inequity starts, as Maloo and I think Stewart pointed out. If we need to spend more taxpayer money, spend it on fixing the actual source of the inequity.

This is what is needed. Not a great program shuffle

They will come back later to demand more money for this too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:If MCPS's goal is to stop fighting for seats for magnet programs, it can just add programs. It does not need to enact a regional model.

Or, they can have advanced and equal course offerings at all schools.

Equality is not equitable.

What is the context for your comment? Maybe it’s not serious. I think having advanced and equal course offerings at all schools would be both equal and equitable. More importantly, we could dispense with either word and call it fair.

I am entirely serious. Let's take a look at regional IB programs (NOT Richard Montgomery), beginning on testing results starting at Table D3.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2025/240206_2024_APIB_Exam%20Enroll%20Part%20and%20Perf.pdf

Compare BCC results and for example, Springbrook results. Equal IB programs, but not equal results. Now I ask you to reflect on why that occurs.

I don’t know those schools or programs. That sounds like it’s less about course offerings and more about academic supports. I know that I think it’s unfair and makes no sense that high schools in MCPS don’t have equal course offerings so that some schools don’t go up as high in advanced course options, like I’ve heard about with Einstein and math.

The minimum math offering should be multivariable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting but are there slides posted (or will there be)?

There are no slides posted - it says it's only a discussion. For those who watched - did they have slides? If so we should push to see post them.

PP on page 11 : 10/16/2025 16:59
said the slides were up, but there is now an error message appears when you click on the link.

New link to slides:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMHTYU79B310/$file/10.16.25%20BOE%20Presentation%20-%20Boundary%20Study%20and%20Program%20Analysis%20REV.pdf[/url]
[url]

[Anonymous]

slide 79's SMCS pathway that the poorer regions will have does not look anything like Blair SMCS's, which is full of HL science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting but are there slides posted (or will there be)?

There are no slides posted - it says it's only a discussion. For those who watched - did they have slides? If so we should push to see post them.

PP on page 11 : 10/16/2025 16:59
said the slides were up, but there is now an error message appears when you click on the link.

New link to slides:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMHTYU79B310/$file/10.16.25%20BOE%20Presentation%20-%20Boundary%20Study%20and%20Program%20Analysis%20REV.pdf[/url]
[url]

Thanks, this looks sloppily put together. They are not following slide 16 and the schools get the stem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS's goal is to stop fighting for seats for magnet programs, it can just add programs. It does not need to enact a regional model.

Or, they can have advanced and equal course offerings at all schools.

Equality is not equitable.

What is the context for your comment? Maybe it’s not serious. I think having advanced and equal course offerings at all schools would be both equal and equitable. More importantly, we could dispense with either word and call it fair.

I am entirely serious. Let's take a look at regional IB programs (NOT Richard Montgomery), beginning on testing results starting at Table D3.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2025/240206_2024_APIB_Exam%20Enroll%20Part%20and%20Perf.pdf

Compare BCC results and for example, Springbrook results. Equal IB programs, but not equal results. Now I ask you to reflect on why that occurs.

BCC has a foundation that spends close to a quarter of a million dollars a year on academic support for students.

Put that kind of money into Watkins Mill and see what happens.

Where does the foundation get the money?

Donations.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521948149/202500279349300010/full

That’s crazy. Their assists and fundraising and they cannot help other schools. That should not be allowed.

B-CC has many lower-income students. Not just the 25% or so on FARMs, but many who don’t qualify but are from lower-income families in subsidized housing on East-West Highway in Silver Spring. Those students greatly benefit from the funds the foundation raises, including from tutoring and college counseling/help with applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are proposing folding education into public service.

For region 1, humanities moves to Whitman, medical science + healthcare moves to Einstein, Performing arts is split and Einstein gets music and Northwood keeps theater and dance

Does BCC keep IB?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

Correct. IB courses are generally less advanced than AP versions, but IB does have HL courses which are deeper.

A teacher who testified today noted that IB lets kids take the exam in their first language. AP exams don’t have that option. So in high ELL schools, IB has a benefit.

You assume that students are highly literate in their home languages. As an ELD teacher, I can tell you that this is an assumption that can't be made. Students may speak their home languages with fluency, but reading and writing in their home languages are additional skills.

[Anonymous]

Did they present anything about MS programs? This is what parents in grades 4 and 5 care about most right now. I want to make sure my kid’s MS program aligns with whatever their HS ends up offering since transportation won’t be provided. We’re in a spot in the DCC where we could end up at 2-3 different middle and high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS's goal is to stop fighting for seats for magnet programs, it can just add programs. It does not need to enact a regional model.

Or, they can have advanced and equal course offerings at all schools.

Equality is not equitable.

What is the context for your comment? Maybe it’s not serious. I think having advanced and equal course offerings at all schools would be both equal and equitable. More importantly, we could dispense with either word and call it fair.

I am entirely serious. Let's take a look at regional IB programs (NOT Richard Montgomery), beginning on testing results starting at Table D3.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2025/240206_2024_APIB_Exam%20Enroll%20Part%20and%20Perf.pdf

Compare BCC results and for example, Springbrook results. Equal IB programs, but not equal results. Now I ask you to reflect on why that occurs.

BCC has a foundation that spends close to a quarter of a million dollars a year on academic support for students.

Put that kind of money into Watkins Mill and see what happens.

Where does the foundation get the money?

Donations.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521948149/202500279349300010/full

That’s crazy. Their assists and fundraising and they cannot help other schools. That should not be allowed.

B-CC has many lower-income students. Not just the 25% or so on FARMs, but many who don’t qualify but are from lower-income families in subsidized housing on East-West Highway in Silver Spring. Those students greatly benefit from the funds the foundation raises, including from tutoring and college counseling/help with applications.

Thank goodness that BCC also has families with means to support the foundation and provide the extra advantages to BCC students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS's goal is to stop fighting for seats for magnet programs, it can just add programs. It does not need to enact a regional model.

Or, they can have advanced and equal course offerings at all schools.

Equality is not equitable.

What is the context for your comment? Maybe it’s not serious. I think having advanced and equal course offerings at all schools would be both equal and equitable. More importantly, we could dispense with either word and call it fair.

I am entirely serious. Let's take a look at regional IB programs (NOT Richard Montgomery), beginning on testing results starting at Table D3.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2025/240206_2024_APIB_Exam%20Enroll%20Part%20and%20Perf.pdf

Compare BCC results and for example, Springbrook results. Equal IB programs, but not equal results. Now I ask you to reflect on why that occurs.

BCC has a foundation that spends close to a quarter of a million dollars a year on academic support for students.

Put that kind of money into Watkins Mill and see what happens.

Where does the foundation get the money?

Donations.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521948149/202500279349300010/full

That’s crazy. Their assists and fundraising and they cannot help other schools. That should not be allowed.

B-CC has many lower-income students. Not just the 25% or so on FARMs, but many who don’t qualify but are from lower-income families in subsidized housing on East-West Highway in Silver Spring. Those students greatly benefit from the funds the foundation raises, including from tutoring and college counseling/help with applications.

All students should get tutoring and college help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Missed the meeting but are there slides posted (or will there be)?

There are no slides posted - it says it's only a discussion. For those who watched - did they have slides? If so we should push to see post them.

PP on page 11 : 10/16/2025 16:59
said the slides were up, but there is now an error message appears when you click on the link.

New link to slides:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMHTYU79B310/$file/10.16.25%20BOE%20Presentation%20-%20Boundary%20Study%20and%20Program%20Analysis%20REV.pdf[/url]
[url]

Thanks, this looks sloppily put together. They are not following slide 16 and the schools get the stem.

The further along we get, the worse this new programs scheme looks. We can look forward to only going further in the wrong direction.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS's goal is to stop fighting for seats for magnet programs, it can just add programs. It does not need to enact a regional model.

Or, they can have advanced and equal course offerings at all schools.

Equality is not equitable.

What is the context for your comment? Maybe it’s not serious. I think having advanced and equal course offerings at all schools would be both equal and equitable. More importantly, we could dispense with either word and call it fair.

I am entirely serious. Let's take a look at regional IB programs (NOT Richard Montgomery), beginning on testing results starting at Table D3.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2025/240206_2024_APIB_Exam%20Enroll%20Part%20and%20Perf.pdf

Compare BCC results and for example, Springbrook results. Equal IB programs, but not equal results. Now I ask you to reflect on why that occurs.

BCC has a foundation that spends close to a quarter of a million dollars a year on academic support for students.

Put that kind of money into Watkins Mill and see what happens.

Where does the foundation get the money?

Donations.
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521948149/202500279349300010/full

That’s crazy. Their assists and fundraising and they cannot help other schools. That should not be allowed.

B-CC has many lower-income students. Not just the 25% or so on FARMs, but many who don’t qualify but are from lower-income families in subsidized housing on East-West Highway in Silver Spring. Those students greatly benefit from the funds the foundation raises, including from tutoring and college counseling/help with applications.

Thank goodness that BCC also has families with means to support the foundation and provide the extra advantages to BCC students.

Mcps should take indent and provide other schools to make it more equitable. BCC can self fund.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

There’s no interest at Einstein to hold that magnet!

There is absolutely NO evidence to back up your statement. There is no evidence because the county has no done a single survey to ask parents and students what they would like to study at any school. The whole process is ridiculous without a survey of this kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why separating music out of theatre and dance? That doesn’t make sense at all…

Trying to throw Einstein the smallest possible bone?

Why not give Einstein humanities??

Because they haven't done the minimum research necessary to know if any school (including Einstein) wants any of these programs. It's like none of these people have had children attending any of these high schools. Completely out of touch.