Support the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA) from Budget Cuts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/frederick-county-schools-remote-virtual-program-axed/65-f486f8b9-872b-453d-9cf7-4ff932ebf9f3

We're not the only ones...

Oops! This doesn't portend well for MCPS's MVA....

One has nothing to do with the other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the goal of specialized placements? What is the success rate? How much are we paying? Every child has the right to be educated but we shouldn’t be paying for programs that aren’t working and will never work. And this includes mental health supports, dei initiatives, consultants, task forces.

To meet kids needs who cannot be met in a regular school setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/education/frederick-county-schools-remote-virtual-program-axed/65-f486f8b9-872b-453d-9cf7-4ff932ebf9f3

We're not the only ones...

Oops! This doesn't portend well for MCPS's MVA....

One has nothing to do with the other.

What neighboring districts do with similar programs in similar budget constraints absolutely will influence the situation in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am struggling with what to advocate for in these proposed cuts since lots of the cuts are terrible. If the choice is increase all class sizes by 1 — teacher cuts resulting- or cut MVA, I would rather see MVA cut. I hope there is enough money to be found in contracted services and central office so neither is cut. I also think cutting musical instrument repair for schools impacted by poverty is worse then cutting MVA simply due to the scope of vulnerable kids impacted. I did sign to keep MVA in the first petition. This is harder. I wish the petition was in support of protecting all students so no increasing class size and no cutting MVA and no cutting instrument repair for poor schools. I think not expanding pre-k more stinks but since it has not yet happened that at least does not involve cutting teachers. It is harder for me to advocate for MVA alone knowing that advocacy could harm numerically more at risk kids than it would help.

Increasing class sizes by 1 isn't a big deal. Class sizes go up and down depending on enrollment. Your class sizes will go up if MCPS closes the MVA and kids return to their home schools. Music is wonderful, but kids learning to read and write is far more important. MCPS has money for all these things and much more if they's spend the money more wisely. MVA staff are facing losing their jobs. MCPS will lose good skilled teachers if the MVA is cut.

They are targeting low income and families with hardships who they think will not fight. You don't see folks fighting to save the music repair program or prek. There are better things to cut than any of these programs.

And, it isn't as simple as saying send the kids back to their home schools as that isn't an appropriate placement for all.

Hi Sterling!

You're not low-income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids will need dedicated paras, self-contained programs, and non-pubic placements. That is fact, though I would like a better understanding of those specific numbers.

Where are these children going? At this point, the county can't hire dedicated paras, does not have any spaces in self contained programs, and the process to get through CIEP is LONG.

This is going to be a mess.

Only a small percentage of kids in MVA even have IEPs, much less would require specialized placement or a 1:1. Just because a parent wants private placement doesn't mean the child needs it.

[Anonymous]

The Virtual Academy does a poor job in educating children as it is currently constructed. All available data released by MCPS to date points to a program that is failing - both in attracting new students and in educating the ones it has. Enrollment has been declining steadily since the pandemic has abated. The families that are left are the true believers in virtual education and rightfully believe that the program is best for their kid. Problem is, you can identify groups of kids that number far higher than the mva’s current enrollment who could also use a special program to make school better but can’t get it funded because their method doesn’t happen to be a legacy of Covid.

It’s rough that the BOE said they’d fund it back in the winter and now are going back on their word. But it’s not like the program was enthusiastically embraced by the Board. The only reason it survived was because they said the advanced notice to families would be too short if they cut it. Why that’s changed for them, I don’t know, but any family who didn’t have alternate plans ready were sticking their head in the sand about the reality that their kids face - thriving in a program that has virtually no support outside of those who are a part of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many children are enrolled in the virtual academy?

How many teachers are employed?

The teachers in MVA will be reassigned to other schools in the county. Some teachers moved out of the area-- I imagine they will resign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids will need dedicated paras, self-contained programs, and non-pubic placements. That is fact, though I would like a better understanding of those specific numbers.

Where are these children going? At this point, the county can't hire dedicated paras, does not have any spaces in self contained programs, and the process to get through CIEP is LONG.

This is going to be a mess.

Only a small percentage of kids in MVA even have IEPs, much less would require specialized placement or a 1:1. Just because a parent wants private placement doesn't mean the child needs it.

Not true

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Virtual Academy does a poor job in educating children as it is currently constructed. All available data released by MCPS to date points to a program that is failing - both in attracting new students and in educating the ones it has. Enrollment has been declining steadily since the pandemic has abated. The families that are left are the true believers in virtual education and rightfully believe that the program is best for their kid. Problem is, you can identify groups of kids that number far higher than the mva’s current enrollment who could also use a special program to make school better but can’t get it funded because their method doesn’t happen to be a legacy of Covid.

It’s rough that the BOE said they’d fund it back in the winter and now are going back on their word. But it’s not like the program was enthusiastically embraced by the Board. The only reason it survived was because they said the advanced notice to families would be too short if they cut it. Why that’s changed for them, I don’t know, but any family who didn’t have alternate plans ready were sticking their head in the sand about the reality that their kids face - thriving in a program that has virtually no support outside of those who are a part of it.

No current data has been released. By your logic, we should shut down ALL schools that are performing badly, including in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nope. We need the money for other programs. Time to let it go.

It will not be used for other programs.

It will be used to *not cut* other programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of kids will need dedicated paras, self-contained programs, and non-pubic placements. That is fact, though I would like a better understanding of those specific numbers.

Where are these children going? At this point, the county can't hire dedicated paras, does not have any spaces in self contained programs, and the process to get through CIEP is LONG.

This is going to be a mess.

Only a small percentage of kids in MVA even have IEPs, much less would require specialized placement or a 1:1. Just because a parent wants private placement doesn't mean the child needs it.

Not true

Of course it is. The other thread has the numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Virtual Academy does a poor job in educating children as it is currently constructed. All available data released by MCPS to date points to a program that is failing - both in attracting new students and in educating the ones it has. Enrollment has been declining steadily since the pandemic has abated. The families that are left are the true believers in virtual education and rightfully believe that the program is best for their kid. Problem is, you can identify groups of kids that number far higher than the mva’s current enrollment who could also use a special program to make school better but can’t get it funded because their method doesn’t happen to be a legacy of Covid.

It’s rough that the BOE said they’d fund it back in the winter and now are going back on their word. But it’s not like the program was enthusiastically embraced by the Board. The only reason it survived was because they said the advanced notice to families would be too short if they cut it. Why that’s changed for them, I don’t know, but any family who didn’t have alternate plans ready were sticking their head in the sand about the reality that their kids face - thriving in a program that has virtually no support outside of those who are a part of it.

No current data has been released. By your logic, we should shut down ALL schools that are performing badly, including in person.

Regardless of what you'd like to believe, VA is a discretionary program, schools are not.

[Anonymous]

I feel like there’s two very divergent views and I’d like the facts. Is the program bleeding money and not attracting people or are they 800 strong and running a waitlist?

I can absolutely see this meeting a need, but I want to understand how many kids will be impacted and what those students will need next year to meet the law (what their IEP’s say about LRE). Also, are the schools prepared to welcome 800 kids back w/ available staffing?

Without these answers I don’t think any of us can really say whether the program should be saved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel like there’s two very divergent views and I’d like the facts. Is the program bleeding money and not attracting people or are they 800 strong and running a waitlist?

I can absolutely see this meeting a need, but I want to understand how many kids will be impacted and what those students will need next year to meet the law (what their IEP’s say about LRE). Also, are the schools prepared to welcome 800 kids back w/ available staffing?

Without these answers I don’t think any of us can really say whether the program should be saved.

The kids are spread out across a large number of home schools. Accommodating them isn't a problem.
https://moderatelymoco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/FY24-161-Virtual-Academy-Enrollment-by-School.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Virtual Academy does a poor job in educating children as it is currently constructed. All available data released by MCPS to date points to a program that is failing - both in attracting new students and in educating the ones it has. Enrollment has been declining steadily since the pandemic has abated. The families that are left are the true believers in virtual education and rightfully believe that the program is best for their kid. Problem is, you can identify groups of kids that number far higher than the mva’s current enrollment who could also use a special program to make school better but can’t get it funded because their method doesn’t happen to be a legacy of Covid.

It’s rough that the BOE said they’d fund it back in the winter and now are going back on their word. But it’s not like the program was enthusiastically embraced by the Board. The only reason it survived was because they said the advanced notice to families would be too short if they cut it. Why that’s changed for them, I don’t know, but any family who didn’t have alternate plans ready were sticking their head in the sand about the reality that their kids face - thriving in a program that has virtually no support outside of those who are a part of it.

No current data has been released. By your logic, we should shut down ALL schools that are performing badly, including in person.

NP- I recall there was a study or data published several months ago about attendance and poor academic metrics from the virtual Academy.