Is it time for private school vouchers in Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

Or, MCPS need to offer more to students. This has always been the issue with MCPS.

The safety issues are getting worse and worse... now a rape. That poor girl.

[Anonymous]

MCPS wastes so much money. The BOE and Dr. McKnight have lost focus on teaching students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

Or, MCPS need to offer more to students. This has always been the issue with MCPS.

The safety issues are getting worse and worse... now a rape. That poor girl.

This isn’t the first rape and won’t be the last.

I have a girl in an MCPS ES and am saving up for private for HS. Possibly an all girls school. Clearly MCPS doesn’t care about our kids at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

As a parent at a W school, I have seen a PTA President secure a private educational placement at public expense for her oldest child. I have seen high ranking county Government officials secure placement for their children in selective gifted placement (with a younger sibling in tow to the out of boundary school). I have seen parents get attendance rules bent for vacations at the same time they contribute thousands of dollars to a booster fund at the school. School administrators - especially Central Office administrators - get services for their children that are inaccessible for the average MCPS parent. Parents with means don’t wait on MCPS to evaluate a child with a disability because we know the school system will not do a comprehensive job. We pay thousands of dollars for an evaluation and come into 504/IEP meetings with lawyers and advocates. If a child needs more than MCPS can provide, parents with financial means can hire a lawyers for complaints and Due Process. Parents with financial means also have options to put children into private schools.

MCPS is not equitable institution. Those with money and/or connections get more out of the public school system. School choice and vouchers would give lower income families options than just accepting unsafe schools and dumbed down curriculums. Perhaps school vouchers could be limited for families who make under $100k per year. I just think that something needs to be done to either improve education for all students or give parents choice opportunities so students can have opportunities in private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

As a parent at a W school, I have seen a PTA President secure a private educational placement at public expense for her oldest child. I have seen high ranking county Government officials secure placement for their children in selective gifted placement (with a younger sibling in tow to the out of boundary school). I have seen parents get attendance rules bent for vacations at the same time they contribute thousands of dollars to a booster fund at the school. School administrators - especially Central Office administrators - get services for their children that are inaccessible for the average MCPS parent. Parents with means don’t wait on MCPS to evaluate a child with a disability because we know the school system will not do a comprehensive job. We pay thousands of dollars for an evaluation and come into 504/IEP meetings with lawyers and advocates. If a child needs more than MCPS can provide, parents with financial means can hire a lawyers for complaints and Due Process. Parents with financial means also have options to put children into private schools.

MCPS is not equitable institution. Those with money and/or connections get more out of the public school system. School choice and vouchers would give lower income families options than just accepting unsafe schools and dumbed down curriculums. Perhaps school vouchers could be limited for families who make under $100k per year. I just think that something needs to be done to either improve education for all students or give parents choice opportunities so students can have opportunities in private schools.

Agreed.

Though, I would argue that the threshold should be more like $150K or $200K in this area. A family with two teacher parents or two nurse parents might make a combined $150K but have trouble affording private school. Solidly middle class families who also deserve school choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

Or, MCPS need to offer more to students. This has always been the issue with MCPS.

The safety issues are getting worse and worse... now a rape. That poor girl.

The actual data indicates the opposite. Sure, some people keep hying these incidents but overall the numbers are much lower than a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

As a parent at a W school, I have seen a PTA President secure a private educational placement at public expense for her oldest child. I have seen high ranking county Government officials secure placement for their children in selective gifted placement (with a younger sibling in tow to the out of boundary school). I have seen parents get attendance rules bent for vacations at the same time they contribute thousands of dollars to a booster fund at the school. School administrators - especially Central Office administrators - get services for their children that are inaccessible for the average MCPS parent. Parents with means don’t wait on MCPS to evaluate a child with a disability because we know the school system will not do a comprehensive job. We pay thousands of dollars for an evaluation and come into 504/IEP meetings with lawyers and advocates. If a child needs more than MCPS can provide, parents with financial means can hire a lawyers for complaints and Due Process. Parents with financial means also have options to put children into private schools.

MCPS is not equitable institution. Those with money and/or connections get more out of the public school system. School choice and vouchers would give lower income families options than just accepting unsafe schools and dumbed down curriculums. Perhaps school vouchers could be limited for families who make under $100k per year. I just think that something needs to be done to either improve education for all students or give parents choice opportunities so students can have opportunities in private schools.

Agreed.

Though, I would argue that the threshold should be more like $150K or $200K in this area. A family with two teacher parents or two nurse parents might make a combined $150K but have trouble affording private school. Solidly middle class families who also deserve school choice.

Yes, it would accomplish just the opposite. Those with money would be fine but low-income families would have almost no chance at a high-qaulity education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

Thanks to vouchers rich families get school choice with an extra discount

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

Or, MCPS need to offer more to students. This has always been the issue with MCPS.

The safety issues are getting worse and worse... now a rape. That poor girl.

The actual data indicates the opposite. Sure, some people keep hying these incidents but overall the numbers are much lower than a decade ago.

How many rapes at school a decade ago? Knives and guns at school?

Shootings? Oh yeh, that’s right. The first shooting was this year.

Don’t try to sell “MCPS is safer than it was 10 years ago.” No one is believing that logic. Even if it is better, parents, students, and in school staff expect more safety than what is currently in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

Thanks to vouchers rich families get school choice with an extra discount

Not a valid argument if vouchers are limited based on family income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

Thanks to vouchers rich families get school choice with an extra discount

Not a valid argument if vouchers are limited based on family income.

Given a $10K voucher will buy a quarter or maybe a semester at most privates then, yeah, family income still matters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

Thanks to vouchers rich families get school choice with an extra discount

Not a valid argument if vouchers are limited based on family income.

Given a $10K voucher will buy a quarter or maybe a semester at most privates then, yeah, family income still matters.

Some privates value diversity and offer need base scholarships. We transferred one of my children out of MCPS because of a toxic bullying culture and the private was more diverse that the MCPS school. Students were bused from DC, PG County, and Virginia. Some students were escaping violent neighborhoods and sought private for educational opportunities.

The current system is not working for many MCPS students. A voucher would be a starting point for school choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The BOE and MCPS don’t care about the safety and education of students. Those with financial means can afford private services to make up for gaps in MCPS. Parents pay for private assessments so a child’s disability is identified on an IEP or a 504 plan. Parents with financial means pay for tutors or private school when there’s gaps in the curriculum and a lack of instruction.

Who falls behind? Students who need choices beyond what MCPS offers.

This is why parents need a choice.

As it stands, wealthy families get the choice of private school. Middle class and lower-income families are stuck with a dysfunctional, ridiculously large, poorly-run school system.

Thanks to vouchers rich families get school choice with an extra discount

Not a valid argument if vouchers are limited based on family income.

Given a $10K voucher will buy a quarter or maybe a semester at most privates then, yeah, family income still matters.

The well-regarded Catholic high school closest to me is $22K a year. We are solidly middle class, live in a nonW cluster and can’t afford that. We could afford $12K a year after making some sacrifices and would be happy to do it.