Why doesn't MCPS put assessment data on line?

[Anonymous]

We have friends in VA and a few other states where even in elementary school the teachers are required to record their on-going assessments on-line where it is accessible to the parents. The homework and assignments are also all available on-line. Several of these areas do not have anywhere near the socioeconomic wealth that MCPS has so the argument that someone may not have Internet doesn't hold water.

Every night we're digging through piles of at least 5-10 sheets of paper usually more trying to figure out what she is doing in school. Very few if any sheets ever will have a grade on it but most often it doesn't. Requests for PTA donations are now coming home as paper but small strips. I am happy to donate money coats, shampoo etc for these things but I almost missed the thing because the notice was on a tiny scrap of paper buried under a pile of 15 sheets and flyers.

[Anonymous]

They do it in MS and HS. It's a blessing and a curse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They do it in MS and HS. It's a blessing and a curse.

I understand the blessing side of the ledger, but not the curse side. What are the negatives of accessing info online?

[Anonymous]

My MCPS ES has it on-line. It is great..

[Anonymous]

It is there. Just look. I recently found this little nugget:

http://washingtonexaminer.com/maryland-schools-top-nation-in-ap-success/article/110416

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do it in MS and HS. It's a blessing and a curse.

I understand the blessing side of the ledger, but not the curse side. What are the negatives of accessing info online?

Not that PP. But the online system is fairly clunky, especially if you have two kids at different schools. I can deal with the minor issues: you get new "reports" almost every day, and you go through the hoops to see them, and sometimes it turns out that the teacher was merely putting in blank placeholders for future tests or projects. The larger issues come when your kid is marked down for an F and you get all alarmed, but then it turns out that DC was absent that day, or it was one of those blank placeholders showing incompletes because the test date or deadline hasn't arrived yet, but it brings down the overall average. On the whole I'd say it's a blessing because you can keep on top of emerging problems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have friends in VA and a few other states where even in elementary school the teachers are required to record their on-going assessments on-line where it is accessible to the parents. The homework and assignments are also all available on-line. Several of these areas do not have anywhere near the socioeconomic wealth that MCPS has so the argument that someone may not have Internet doesn't hold water.

Every night we're digging through piles of at least 5-10 sheets of paper usually more trying to figure out what she is doing in school. Very few if any sheets ever will have a grade on it but most often it doesn't. Requests for PTA donations are now coming home as paper but small strips. I am happy to donate money coats, shampoo etc for these things but I almost missed the thing because the notice was on a tiny scrap of paper buried under a pile of 15 sheets and flyers.

Your child should have received instructions on accessing the EDLINE account. It should have the required info.

Ask your school if they have EDLINE accounts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do it in MS and HS. It's a blessing and a curse.

I understand the blessing side of the ledger, but not the curse side. What are the negatives of accessing info online?

The downside is stress for the parent and the student. As a PP noted, there are updates almost daily. Especially at the beginning of the quarter when there aren't too many assignments it can create dramatic swings in the grade. Some students manage this well and others not so much. Some parents put a lot of pressure on their kids and what to know about every assignment. Some of that is good, some can be over the top. At our school they encourage parents to only look at it once a week at most. I try to do that but I do ask my DC about assignments and grades when I look at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do it in MS and HS. It's a blessing and a curse.

I understand the blessing side of the ledger, but not the curse side. What are the negatives of accessing info online?

The downside is stress for the parent and the student. As a PP noted, there are updates almost daily. Especially at the beginning of the quarter when there aren't too many assignments it can create dramatic swings in the grade. Some students manage this well and others not so much. Some parents put a lot of pressure on their kids and what to know about every assignment. Some of that is good, some can be over the top. At our school they encourage parents to only look at it once a week at most. I try to do that but I do ask my DC about assignments and grades when I look at it.

This has been our experience as well. I have a middle schooler and high schooler in MCPS. Edline can be a burden for the reasons stated (increases anxiety) but is also a help in staying on top of things.

[Anonymous]

My MCPS ES has it on-line. It is great..

Which ES do you go to? I have never heard of EdLine in elementary school.