Thursday Nov 20 BOE Discussion on Boundaries and Regional Program Model

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

which is why changes are underway

CO always caveats their statements about what every school will offer with "if there is interest". That is just a roundabout way of saying no, not every school will offer an AP physics class (much less three different types of AP physics). Just like right now.

If they cared about interests they’d ask the families

Yep. You can't know if there is interest in a course that isn't offered at all. They do not track interest and the program analysis has not involved any kind of survey of student interest in specific classes or programs. Nor have they suggested they intend to do so.

But the people responding will only have the beginning of an overlap with the programs. MCPS is longer than any cohort of parents.

So why do they talk about offering courses "if there is interest" if there is no way to track interest?

They're talking about schools' local programs continuing if there is interest, and they can gauge that from student course requests.

They need to ask students. If it’s not offered students cannot request it. At our school meetings parents ask and the answer it no.

Again, they're talking about existing local programs continuing if there is interest.

Again, they don’t ask then claim not interest. Be real.

They ask students every year to request courses for the next year. If a program's courses don't have enough interest, that program is likely to be discontinued.

But there is no exploration of what programs and classes are of interest.

I think they look at Maryland Dept of Labor forecasts about future jobs and use that data to place programs.

Will they force students into those programs? Interest isn't uniform, nor can one assume it will be stable over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

I take your points although we are DTSS and closer to BCC than Wheaton. I like the zoning of Region 1, except Whitman.

I think the local set asides are an issue.

The issue of local access isn’t one-size fits all. For example, the music magnets are criteria based, but the criteria may just be “participated in middle school band or chorus.” And since music ensembles need a large number of kids, there’s not reason to restrict access for local students. Give magnets kids first priority for specialized classes like music theory, but band and chorus should be broadly accessible.

For the programs like SMCS, home school students shouldn’t have a better chance of admission than their regional peers. Give each cluster in the region the same number of seats.

Of course, that will make people mad because if there are middle school disparities, it will mean different levels of preparation for the rigor of the magnet, and the magnet itself might have to adjust to meet the needs of all enrolled students.

But that would means MCPS has strengthen middle and elementary schools to better prepare students. It’s easier to just let magnets become enclaves for students in the richest clusters.

BINGO! And that's the real work MCPS is avoiding doing and actually needs to be done if we want to achieve true equity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

I take your points although we are DTSS and closer to BCC than Wheaton. I like the zoning of Region 1, except Whitman.

I think the local set asides are an issue.

The issue of local access isn’t one-size fits all. For example, the music magnets are criteria based, but the criteria may just be “participated in middle school band or chorus.” And since music ensembles need a large number of kids, there’s not reason to restrict access for local students. Give magnets kids first priority for specialized classes like music theory, but band and chorus should be broadly accessible.

For the programs like SMCS, home school students shouldn’t have a better chance of admission than their regional peers. Give each cluster in the region the same number of seats.

Of course, that will make people mad because if there are middle school disparities, it will mean different levels of preparation for the rigor of the magnet, and the magnet itself might have to adjust to meet the needs of all enrolled students.

But that would means MCPS has strengthen middle and elementary schools to better prepare students. It’s easier to just let magnets become enclaves for students in the richest clusters.

If schools are not given more music teachers and funding, and remember funding for music was cut, they aren’t going to be magnets as they cannot add more classes for the advanced students. Anyone interested in the arts and wants to progress is doing it outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

which is why changes are underway

CO always caveats their statements about what every school will offer with "if there is interest". That is just a roundabout way of saying no, not every school will offer an AP physics class (much less three different types of AP physics). Just like right now.

If they cared about interests they’d ask the families

Yep. You can't know if there is interest in a course that isn't offered at all. They do not track interest and the program analysis has not involved any kind of survey of student interest in specific classes or programs. Nor have they suggested they intend to do so.

But the people responding will only have the beginning of an overlap with the programs. MCPS is longer than any cohort of parents.

So why do they talk about offering courses "if there is interest" if there is no way to track interest?

They're talking about schools' local programs continuing if there is interest, and they can gauge that from student course requests.

They need to ask students. If it’s not offered students cannot request it. At our school meetings parents ask and the answer it no.

Again, they're talking about existing local programs continuing if there is interest.

Again, they don’t ask then claim not interest. Be real.

They ask students every year to request courses for the next year. If a program's courses don't have enough interest, that program is likely to be discontinued.

But there is no exploration of what programs and classes are of interest.

I think they look at Maryland Dept of Labor forecasts about future jobs and use that data to place programs.

Will they force students into those programs? Interest isn't uniform, nor can one assume it will be stable over time.

We are all just guessing what the program plan will be and the rules associated with it. There are ongoing changes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

And the 14-25 percent who are will have a good program to apply to.

Of which fewer than half will be able to swing the commute, the majority will be stuck at a school where the high performing cohort has been hollowed out.

I think people are overestimating how many high performing students will even be interested in leaving their home schools to attend these half-formed, questionably staffed, unfunded, regional programs which don't even provide neighborhood bus routes.

They'll do it to access AP science courses that their home school doesn't offer.

All high schools will have AP science classes.

They don’t now. It’s doubtful.

which is why changes are underway

CO always caveats their statements about what every school will offer with "if there is interest". That is just a roundabout way of saying no, not every school will offer an AP physics class (much less three different types of AP physics). Just like right now.

If they cared about interests they’d ask the families

Yep. You can't know if there is interest in a course that isn't offered at all. They do not track interest and the program analysis has not involved any kind of survey of student interest in specific classes or programs. Nor have they suggested they intend to do so.

But the people responding will only have the beginning of an overlap with the programs. MCPS is longer than any cohort of parents.

So why do they talk about offering courses "if there is interest" if there is no way to track interest?

They're talking about schools' local programs continuing if there is interest, and they can gauge that from student course requests.

They need to ask students. If it’s not offered students cannot request it. At our school meetings parents ask and the answer it no.

Again, they're talking about existing local programs continuing if there is interest.

Again, they don’t ask then claim not interest. Be real.

They ask students every year to request courses for the next year. If a program's courses don't have enough interest, that program is likely to be discontinued.

But there is no exploration of what programs and classes are of interest.

I think they look at Maryland Dept of Labor forecasts about future jobs and use that data to place programs.

Will they force students into those programs? Interest isn't uniform, nor can one assume it will be stable over time.

We are all just guessing what the program plan will be and the rules associated with it. There are ongoing changes.

There are many aspects of their proposals that don't make sense and/or will have predictable,.negative effects on certain schools. Families, teachers and PTAs have been explaining this to MCPS and the BOE for weeks, but they DGAF

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

Transportation is a huge issue and Blair has very limited spaces. Eisntein has two classes for Engineering but they are combine into one class period with the teacher teaching both classes at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

First of all it's incredibly disingenuous to say Einstein kids "can access" seats at other schools. First they have to get into the program by lottery or by criteria and they also have to figure out the commute which not all schools can do.

Whitman and BCC have all the programs already. They have engineering, they have advanced math, they have advanced humanities. Every single student at these schools can access those programs, not just ones that win the lottery. To suggest Einstein families are asking for too much when Whitman and BCC already have everything is disgusting and offensive.

How about just having one AP physics class at
Einstein. Not asking for the three different AP physics classes that BCC and Whitman have that give their students an edge for admission to engineering programs. Just one. Am I being greedy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

Transportation is a huge issue and Blair has very limited spaces. Eisntein has two classes for Engineering but they are combine into one class period with the teacher teaching both classes at once.

You have 2 years to rearrange your family schedule so you can deal with transportation if these programs are your priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

Transportation is a huge issue and Blair has very limited spaces. Eisntein has two classes for Engineering but they are combine into one class period with the teacher teaching both classes at once.

You have 2 years to rearrange your family schedule so you can deal with transportation if these programs are your priority.

But this proposal is all about equity - defined as commutes for thee but not for men

[Anonymous]

me, not men

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

Transportation is a huge issue and Blair has very limited spaces. Eisntein has two classes for Engineering but they are combine into one class period with the teacher teaching both classes at once.

You have 2 years to rearrange your family schedule so you can deal with transportation if these programs are your priority.

But this proposal is all about equity - defined as commutes for thee but not for men

I don’t know why you think dual working families who live out in suburban west Bethesda near no transit would have an easier time accommodating inconvenient magnet bus routes/times than dual working families in the DCC. Let’s be real. The majority of the students who are academically prepared and likely to seek out criteria programs are not students coming from families experiencing poverty. You are screaming equity as a guilt attempt to try to get resources for the well-resourced DCC families over similar families in other communities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

First of all it's incredibly disingenuous to say Einstein kids "can access" seats at other schools. First they have to get into the program by lottery or by criteria and they also have to figure out the commute which not all schools can do.

Whitman and BCC have all the programs already. They have engineering, they have advanced math, they have advanced humanities. Every single student at these schools can access those programs, not just ones that win the lottery. To suggest Einstein families are asking for too much when Whitman and BCC already have everything is disgusting and offensive.

How about just having one AP physics class at
Einstein. Not asking for the three different AP physics classes that BCC and Whitman have that give their students an edge for admission to engineering programs. Just one. Am I being greedy?

I don’t know why your principal won’t give you a physics class. He or she should. End of story. That said, the reality is there isn’t one. So these are your current choices, of which you have multiple ways to get what you need. There is also an MCPS online option to take AP courses for credit. This only matters if your kid is both high achieving and also really interested in science. I have two high achieving high schoolers and it’s nice to have the option but they would be fine with ib physics if that’s all there was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

First of all it's incredibly disingenuous to say Einstein kids "can access" seats at other schools. First they have to get into the program by lottery or by criteria and they also have to figure out the commute which not all schools can do.

Whitman and BCC have all the programs already. They have engineering, they have advanced math, they have advanced humanities. Every single student at these schools can access those programs, not just ones that win the lottery. To suggest Einstein families are asking for too much when Whitman and BCC already have everything is disgusting and offensive.

How about just having one AP physics class at
Einstein. Not asking for the three different AP physics classes that BCC and Whitman have that give their students an edge for admission to engineering programs. Just one. Am I being greedy?

I don’t know why your principal won’t give you a physics class. He or she should. End of story. That said, the reality is there isn’t one. So these are your current choices, of which you have multiple ways to get what you need. There is also an MCPS online option to take AP courses for credit. This only matters if your kid is both high achieving and also really interested in science. I have two high achieving high schoolers and it’s nice to have the option but they would be fine with ib physics if that’s all there was.

Thanks. That's nice that you think the principal should ensure access to AP physics. Unfortunately, MCPS has proposed nothing tangible to that effect. Just that the lucky few students can commute to other schools to access these courses. The rest will be sol. And to be shrieking "equity!" while proposing a system that isn't designed or intended to be equitable at all is really, really low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Whitman and BCC are not the only places that will have criteria based academic programs. STEM won't be at either places, for example.

On Thursday they proposed an interest based engineering program at BCC. It will not attract kids struggling in math. 75% of Black students and 86% of Latino students in MCPS are not proficient in high school math.

Central office is pulling programs out of the air; doesn't seem there is much rhyme or reason to many of them.

BCC already has an engineering program. They will attract students from other schools with it which will increase the staff allocation for BCC. Can't say the same for the Einstein biomedical program that doesn't exist and won't get any resources.

Both Whitman and BCC have engineering. That means Whitman students continue to have the same access they always had.

Northwood, Einstein, and Blair do not have engineering programs. DCC students who want engineering go to Wheaton, which is closer than BCC will be. Moreover, the DCC model allowed a few hundred non-Wheaton students per year to access the engineering program.

The new model will accept maybe 30 non-BCC students in the first few years. It seems like there won’t be limits on BCC students who want to sign up for engineering classes.

So basically, BCC and Whitman students will have unrestricted access to engineering, while 30 students from Blair, Einstein and Northwood will get into the program.

There’s no equity in this proposal and MCPS should stop pretending otherwise.

The Blair magnet has multiple engineering courses in that program, to which Blair Northwood and Einstein kids can access seats. So now you have three schools that were not available to you before but which are now available with engineering. We cannot locate all programs at Einstein, sorry.

First of all it's incredibly disingenuous to say Einstein kids "can access" seats at other schools. First they have to get into the program by lottery or by criteria and they also have to figure out the commute which not all schools can do.

Whitman and BCC have all the programs already. They have engineering, they have advanced math, they have advanced humanities. Every single student at these schools can access those programs, not just ones that win the lottery. To suggest Einstein families are asking for too much when Whitman and BCC already have everything is disgusting and offensive.

How about just having one AP physics class at
Einstein. Not asking for the three different AP physics classes that BCC and Whitman have that give their students an edge for admission to engineering programs. Just one. Am I being greedy?

I don’t know why your principal won’t give you a physics class. He or she should. End of story. That said, the reality is there isn’t one. So these are your current choices, of which you have multiple ways to get what you need. There is also an MCPS online option to take AP courses for credit. This only matters if your kid is both high achieving and also really interested in science. I have two high achieving high schoolers and it’s nice to have the option but they would be fine with ib physics if that’s all there was.

Thanks. That's nice that you think the principal should ensure access to AP physics. Unfortunately, MCPS has proposed nothing tangible to that effect. Just that the lucky few students can commute to other schools to access these courses. The rest will be sol. And to be shrieking "equity!" while proposing a system that isn't designed or intended to be equitable at all is really, really low.

Right. But at the end of the day these are two different issues. Yes the regional programs might offer you a path to access courses your school doesn’t offer, but truly, you shouldn’t have to go elsewhere and seek out a special program to have the majority of your basic academic needs met. So it shouldn’t matter where the regional programs are, because the programs should be for wants not for needs.