Is it time for private school vouchers in Montgomery County?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The current system is not working for MOST MCPS students! You can see that from MCPS’ own data.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The current system is not working for MOST MCPS students! You can see that from MCPS’ own data.

Its working for a lot of kids. But, school choice is not what we need. We need someone to go in and get things cleaned up and bring in a better curriculum and things like text books. We need to go back to old style teaching and not this collaborative, no homework non-sense as kids need practice.

We also don't have enough private schools so telling families to go private is very difficult especially when the majority of the schools are religious schools, which some of us don't want. If privates were more affordable and there were better options, we'd bail.

[Anonymous]

Honey, parents have waited decades for someone to clean house in MCPS. It will never happen. There own system of promoting from within prevents new ideas from coming into the school system.

MCPS would be afraid of any initiative for school choice because many parents would send their children elsewhere. Private schools are not writing their own curriculum and creating new social initiatives. They focus on a quality education with robust standards for their students. Private schools don’t round up semester grades, give 50% credit for unsuccessful attempts, or full credit for late work. MCPS has slid back grading standards for two years that many high school graduates don’t know time management skills or the meaning of a deadline.

Then there’s the safety problems in MCPS schools. With weapons, rapes, and a shooting - who doesn’t worry what is going to happen when children go to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That’s assuming you get in. Some of the well regarded Catholic HS this year got 1000+ applications for 250-300 spots. But you’re welcome to apply to said Catholic school next year and see if they’ll give you 10k of financial aide in order to bring the cost in your affordability range. You see, choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The current system is not working for MOST MCPS students! You can see that from MCPS’ own data.

Its working for a lot of kids. But, school choice is not what we need. We need someone to go in and get things cleaned up and bring in a better curriculum and things like text books. We need to go back to old style teaching and not this collaborative, no homework non-sense as kids need practice.

We also don't have enough private schools so telling families to go private is very difficult especially when the majority of the schools are religious schools, which some of us don't want. If privates were more affordable and there were better options, we'd bail.

If it’s working for a lot of kids why would MCPS go back to a different style of teaching? Not to mention, many independent private schools that people pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend require none to very little homework in ES.

[Anonymous]

The school choice nonsense is just another GOP ploy to undermine the public education system. It's not the answer. Working to fix the public school system is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

That’s assuming you get in. Some of the well regarded Catholic HS this year got 1000+ applications for 250-300 spots. But you’re welcome to apply to said Catholic school next year and see if they’ll give you 10k of financial aide in order to bring the cost in your affordability range. You see, choice.

They aren't solid middle class if they can afford $12K a year for a few kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The current system is not working for MOST MCPS students! You can see that from MCPS’ own data.

Its working for a lot of kids. But, school choice is not what we need. We need someone to go in and get things cleaned up and bring in a better curriculum and things like text books. We need to go back to old style teaching and not this collaborative, no homework non-sense as kids need practice.

We also don't have enough private schools so telling families to go private is very difficult especially when the majority of the schools are religious schools, which some of us don't want. If privates were more affordable and there were better options, we'd bail.

If it’s working for a lot of kids why would MCPS go back to a different style of teaching? Not to mention, many independent private schools that people pay tens of thousands of dollars to attend require none to very little homework in ES.

For a lot of kids it does work, many not. Every good private school has homework in at least Middle and High School. Kids need that repetition and reinforcement, especially in math. The new curriculum sucks too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school choice nonsense is just another GOP ploy to undermine the public education system. It's not the answer. Working to fix the public school system is the answer.

Democrats seem to be doing a great job destroying a once great school system in Montgomery County all on their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school choice nonsense is just another GOP ploy to undermine the public education system. It's not the answer. Working to fix the public school system is the answer.

Democrats seem to be doing a great job destroying a once great school system in Montgomery County all on their own.

This has nothing to do with the GOP...The answer is to fix the system but that's not going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The school choice nonsense is just another GOP ploy to undermine the public education system. It's not the answer. Working to fix the public school system is the answer.

Thank you public school employee!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honey, parents have waited decades for someone to clean house in MCPS. It will never happen. There own system of promoting from within prevents new ideas from coming into the school system.

MCPS would be afraid of any initiative for school choice because many parents would send their children elsewhere. Private schools are not writing their own curriculum and creating new social initiatives. They focus on a quality education with robust standards for their students. Private schools don’t round up semester grades, give 50% credit for unsuccessful attempts, or full credit for late work. MCPS has slid back grading standards for two years that many high school graduates don’t know time management skills or the meaning of a deadline.

Then there’s the safety problems in MCPS schools. With weapons, rapes, and a shooting - who doesn’t worry what is going to happen when children go to school?

+1. Truth. Sometimes you have to destroy a system in order to fix it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Then apply to the school and also apply for financial aid..you might be lucky enough to get accepted and also receive financial aid that will make it possible to enroll your kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honey, parents have waited decades for someone to clean house in MCPS. It will never happen. There own system of promoting from within prevents new ideas from coming into the school system.

MCPS would be afraid of any initiative for school choice because many parents would send their children elsewhere. Private schools are not writing their own curriculum and creating new social initiatives. They focus on a quality education with robust standards for their students. Private schools don’t round up semester grades, give 50% credit for unsuccessful attempts, or full credit for late work. MCPS has slid back grading standards for two years that many high school graduates don’t know time management skills or the meaning of a deadline.

Then there’s the safety problems in MCPS schools. With weapons, rapes, and a shooting - who doesn’t worry what is going to happen when children go to school?

+1. Truth. Sometimes you have to destroy a system in order to fix it.

Well then, Dr. McKnight and the Board of Ed are well on their way to destroying MCPS. When are they going to start fixing problems?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The school choice nonsense is just another GOP ploy to undermine the public education system. It's not the answer. Working to fix the public school system is the answer.

Democrats seem to be doing a great job destroying a once great school system in Montgomery County all on their own.

I am a Democrat and I am greatly disappointed in MCPS. As a special needs parent, educating my child in MCPS has not been a free education. MCPS discriminates against many students groups. One of the largest groups are students with disabilities.

The leadership that Dr. McKnight has brought into MCPS are adversarial and slow to address the situation students with disabilities are in as a result of being ignored and denied services for over a year. Students with disabilities are an afterthought, a group of students that only receive accommodations and services when it’s convenient. Compensatory services should have been initiated last summer and parents are still waiting for their opportunity for a meeting.