Did MCPS do a sneaky thing for the magnet lotteries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually they do but with all the inflated scores of the less gifted preppers they get drowned out. There just aren't enough seats.

They don't. They're letting some kids in the ghetto schools into the program with an 85%. That's average.

"Ghetto schools." Cute.

Trolls gotta make a living, too, I guess.

Since my 85% is from CCES that's one of the ghetto schools?

I wonder how someone got into the GT program with an 85% at CCES. Hmmmm.
Ghetto schools is a pretty gross comment. But I just wanted to point out that because of local norming, a 85% from CCES is not the same as an 85% from Sligo Creek ES. The student at SGES likely had a raw score significantly lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No one knows anything. I would love for the person who keeps insulting people to provide a link on the MCPS website that "clearly" explains what they are doing this year. MCPS is just an embarrassing organization.

Not that PP, but the MCPS website does clearly state that information is coming, possibly as soon as this week. Not having released it YET is not actually the same as never releasing it.

The school year has already started. Central Office doesn’t have summer off. Yet they have not posted any information yet aside from a crafty person seeing that they have included CogAT testing in the calendar. So the question is are they intentionally withholding this information? Are they so incompetent that they are still trying to figure out what they are doing? Or are they taking so long because they need to run numbers to figure out how to design a process to maximize the outcome they want to achieve?

Without transparency from MCPS, what we are left with is guess either incompetence or malevolence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one knows anything. I would love for the person who keeps insulting people to provide a link on the MCPS website that "clearly" explains what they are doing this year. MCPS is just an embarrassing organization.

Not that PP, but the MCPS website does clearly state that information is coming, possibly as soon as this week. Not having released it YET is not actually the same as never releasing it.

The school year has already started. Central Office doesn’t have summer off. Yet they have not posted any information yet aside from a crafty person seeing that they have included CogAT testing in the calendar. So the question is are they intentionally withholding this information? Are they so incompetent that they are still trying to figure out what they are doing? Or are they taking so long because they need to run numbers to figure out how to design a process to maximize the outcome they want to achieve?

Without transparency from MCPS, what we are left with is guess either incompetence or malevolence.

Why do you want to know this information? Without you telling me that I am left with a guess. I guess you are feeling pressured in deciding which paid programs will best serve you in gaming the system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one knows anything. I would love for the person who keeps insulting people to provide a link on the MCPS website that "clearly" explains what they are doing this year. MCPS is just an embarrassing organization.

Not that PP, but the MCPS website does clearly state that information is coming, possibly as soon as this week. Not having released it YET is not actually the same as never releasing it.

The school year has already started. Central Office doesn’t have summer off. Yet they have not posted any information yet aside from a crafty person seeing that they have included CogAT testing in the calendar. So the question is are they intentionally withholding this information? Are they so incompetent that they are still trying to figure out what they are doing? Or are they taking so long because they need to run numbers to figure out how to design a process to maximize the outcome they want to achieve?

Without transparency from MCPS, what we are left with is guess either incompetence or malevolence.

Why do you want to know this information? Without you telling me that I am left with a guess. I guess you are feeling pressured in deciding which paid programs will best serve you in gaming the system.

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

Why? Kids that did math prep would score high. Kids who didn't get advanced math instruction would score low. Do you think that's a good way to identify high-ability students who aren't getting their needs met at their home schools? I don't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

Why? Kids that did math prep would score high. Kids who didn't get advanced math instruction would score low. Do you think that's a good way to identify high-ability students who aren't getting their needs met at their home schools? I don't.

So how would you propose we identify high ability?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one knows anything. I would love for the person who keeps insulting people to provide a link on the MCPS website that "clearly" explains what they are doing this year. MCPS is just an embarrassing organization.

Not that PP, but the MCPS website does clearly state that information is coming, possibly as soon as this week. Not having released it YET is not actually the same as never releasing it.

The school year has already started. Central Office doesn’t have summer off. Yet they have not posted any information yet aside from a crafty person seeing that they have included CogAT testing in the calendar. So the question is are they intentionally withholding this information? Are they so incompetent that they are still trying to figure out what they are doing? Or are they taking so long because they need to run numbers to figure out how to design a process to maximize the outcome they want to achieve?

Without transparency from MCPS, what we are left with is guess either incompetence or malevolence.

While I agree it would be nice to have more information, I think there are a lot of other possibilities for not sharing everything yet besides incompetence and running numbers, consider...
-There are multiple offices and stakeholders to consult with and incorporate feedback from
-There is a new acting Superintendent who hasn't approved things yet
-They had a plan and when Delta hit they realized it may not be feasible, so are adjusting before sharing instead of sharing something they know will have to change
-They worked all summer on things like summer school, updated Covid protocols, and addressing learning loss
-They want to be sure the plan addresses the large number of students that are in or might be in quarantine on a test day
-Parent reaction to the test scores from last year shared at the board meeting caused them to reconsider
-The required assessment timeline for 2021-2022 hasn't been released yet (that I can find- website still has 2020-2021)

It's POSSIBLE they are actually being proactive and working to get it right the first time, it's also possible they don't know, but I'm inclined to wait a bit before passing judgement and see if they share more soon. I see they have updated information about the programs and options for current 8th graders and say the application comes out next week. What are you going to do right now with more information anyway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No one knows anything. I would love for the person who keeps insulting people to provide a link on the MCPS website that "clearly" explains what they are doing this year. MCPS is just an embarrassing organization.

Not that PP, but the MCPS website does clearly state that information is coming, possibly as soon as this week. Not having released it YET is not actually the same as never releasing it.

The school year has already started. Central Office doesn’t have summer off. Yet they have not posted any information yet aside from a crafty person seeing that they have included CogAT testing in the calendar. So the question is are they intentionally withholding this information? Are they so incompetent that they are still trying to figure out what they are doing? Or are they taking so long because they need to run numbers to figure out how to design a process to maximize the outcome they want to achieve?

Without transparency from MCPS, what we are left with is guess either incompetence or malevolence.

While I agree it would be nice to have more information, I think there are a lot of other possibilities for not sharing everything yet besides incompetence and running numbers, consider...
-There are multiple offices and stakeholders to consult with and incorporate feedback from
-There is a new acting Superintendent who hasn't approved things yet
-They had a plan and when Delta hit they realized it may not be feasible, so are adjusting before sharing instead of sharing something they know will have to change
-They worked all summer on things like summer school, updated Covid protocols, and addressing learning loss
-They want to be sure the plan addresses the large number of students that are in or might be in quarantine on a test day
-Parent reaction to the test scores from last year shared at the board meeting caused them to reconsider
-The required assessment timeline for 2021-2022 hasn't been released yet (that I can find- website still has 2020-2021)

It's POSSIBLE they are actually being proactive and working to get it right the first time, it's also possible they don't know, but I'm inclined to wait a bit before passing judgement and see if they share more soon. I see they have updated information about the programs and options for current 8th graders and say the application comes out next week. What are you going to do right now with more information anyway?

Let me take a wild guess...you happily work for mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Actually they do but with all the inflated scores of the less gifted preppers they get drowned out. There just aren't enough seats.

They don't. They're letting some kids in the ghetto schools into the program with an 85%. That's average.

"Ghetto schools." Cute.

Trolls gotta make a living, too, I guess.

Since my 85% is from CCES that's one of the ghetto schools?

I wonder how someone got into the GT program with an 85% at CCES. Hmmmm.
It was a lottery. One in 15 are 85%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

Why? Kids that did math prep would score high. Kids who didn't get advanced math instruction would score low. Do you think that's a good way to identify high-ability students who aren't getting their needs met at their home schools? I don't.

So how would you propose we identify high ability?

Still thinking?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

Why? Kids that did math prep would score high. Kids who didn't get advanced math instruction would score low. Do you think that's a good way to identify high-ability students who aren't getting their needs met at their home schools? I don't.

So how would you propose we identify high ability?

Still thinking?

Here's the thing. There is no way to identify high ability through testing that isn't impacted by practicing for the test. So either we all agree not to practice or we all agree not to use tests. Or...the school systems uses "multiple measures" and a lottery to reduce the distortions caused by practice effects which in turn result from differences in family resources. But you want to know the test so your DC can benefit from differences in family resources. That's fine too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

Why? Kids that did math prep would score high. Kids who didn't get advanced math instruction would score low. Do you think that's a good way to identify high-ability students who aren't getting their needs met at their home schools? I don't.

So how would you propose we identify high ability?

Still thinking?

Here's the thing. There is no way to identify high ability through testing that isn't impacted by practicing for the test. So either we all agree not to practice or we all agree not to use tests. Or...the school systems uses "multiple measures" and a lottery to reduce the distortions caused by practice effects which in turn result from differences in family resources. But you want to know the test so your DC can benefit from differences in family resources. That's fine too.

"multiple measures" aka the black box of magnet admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Prepping for a test is in no way ‘gaming the system’.

Prepping for a CoGar test is as much ‘gaming the system’ as shooting 50 free throws is or practicing soccer drills.

Both are practice. And practice helps your improve your skills. In test-taking or in sports. Why is one acceptable to you and not the other? Or is it just dependent on the race of the kid doing the practicing.

You're making a good case for MCPS dropping the CogAT test permanently.

DP.. let's say they drop cogat. What measure should they use?

I'd be ok with MAP scores. But, do you think that if the only looked at MAP scores that the demographics of the high scorers would look that differently?

Why? Kids that did math prep would score high. Kids who didn't get advanced math instruction would score low. Do you think that's a good way to identify high-ability students who aren't getting their needs met at their home schools? I don't.

So how would you propose we identify high ability?

Still thinking?

Here's the thing. There is no way to identify high ability through testing that isn't impacted by practicing for the test. So either we all agree not to practice or we all agree not to use tests. Or...the school systems uses "multiple measures" and a lottery to reduce the distortions caused by practice effects which in turn result from differences in family resources. But you want to know the test so your DC can benefit from differences in family resources. That's fine too.

"multiple measures" aka the black box of magnet admissions.

The MCPS Way!

If they tell everything, people will try to game it.