Letters sent to minority ES student encouraging them to apply to MS HCG

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minorities need more help than whites/Asians. HCG should reflect general population of MCPS - 30% white, 30 Asian, 30 AA, and 10% Hispanics.

..This post implies (to me) that MCPS should use race as a factor in admissions.

It shouldn't but I think that's exactly where MCPS is going. Even for the magnet programs. Sad.

No, MCPS is not. It is against the law. Google Eisenberg v. Montgomery County Public Schools. Please educate yourself.

+1. Taking race or gender into account in the admissions process to a magnet program is illegal under Eisenberg. MCPS can legally use socioeconomic status as a factor in admissions (like FARMS or ever-FARMS status) and I believe it does so in the Argyle/Loiderman/etc. magnet consortium, but those are not "competitive magnets".

For the competitive magnets, MCPS tries to account for diversity by using geographic diversity. In other words, they try to admit a few students from every elementary in a magnet cluster. Since some elementaries have a higher minority population, the odds are better that the child they admit may be a minority. (Better but still not great, IMO.)

IMO, if MCPS wanted to admit students in closer proportion to the overall MCPS demographics, then MCPS should get rid of standardized testing (which under predicts which minority students have the skills to be successful in these programs) or administer the entrance test to all students (to broaden the base of selection), admit that the teacher recommendation and school ranking process is highly biased, and address the linguistic biases inherent in testing kids in their non-native language.

The selection process itself is highly biased against minorities, non-native english speakers and those with disabilities, to name just a few.

[Anonymous]

How is the selection process biased? Also-I don't really believe OP's story, I've been to magnet open houses and there are plenty of all kinds of people there considering whether the magnet makes sense for their kid. Frankly, the magnet locations are not going to be convenient for everybody, they are already located in areas where the population is diverse, and the racial breakdown at Eastern's magnet is in line with county demographics anyway if you're looking at AA representation. The only thing off at the magnets is gender representation.

[Anonymous]

With regard to bias against non native speakers, if they are not writing as well in English as other kids,then they won't be as successful in applying to the humanities magnet. That doesn't constitute bias.

[Anonymous]

How is the selection process biased against those with disabilities? That is ridiculous. They have special test dates for IEPs and 504 plans. They go out of their way. Stop with your lies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minorities need more help than whites/Asians. HCG should reflect general population of MCPS - 30% white, 30 Asian, 30 AA, and 10% Hispanics.

..This post implies (to me) that MCPS should use race as a factor in admissions.

It shouldn't but I think that's exactly where MCPS is going. Even for the magnet programs. Sad.

No, MCPS is not. It is against the law. Google Eisenberg v. Montgomery County Public Schools. Please educate yourself.

+1. Taking race or gender into account in the admissions process to a magnet program is illegal under Eisenberg. MCPS can legally use socioeconomic status as a factor in admissions (like FARMS or ever-FARMS status) and I believe it does so in the Argyle/Loiderman/etc. magnet consortium, but those are not "competitive magnets".

For the competitive magnets, MCPS tries to account for diversity by using geographic diversity. In other words, they try to admit a few students from every elementary in a magnet cluster. Since some elementaries have a higher minority population, the odds are better that the child they admit may be a minority. (Better but still not great, IMO.)

IMO, if MCPS wanted to admit students in closer proportion to the overall MCPS demographics, then MCPS should get rid of standardized testing (which under predicts which minority students have the skills to be successful in these programs) or administer the entrance test to all students (to broaden the base of selection), admit that the teacher recommendation and school ranking process is highly biased, and address the linguistic biases inherent in testing kids in their non-native language.

The selection process itself is highly biased against minorities, non-native english speakers and those with disabilities, to name just a few.

You kid didn't make the cut?

[Anonymous]

So we get rid of testing..and we use??? Parent recommendations? Lottery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So we get rid of testing..and we use??? Parent recommendations? Lottery?

I think that testing all students for the elementary HGC is a good idea. Just as all students get tested for G/T in second grade (which MCPS does because state law requires it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minorities need more help than whites/Asians. HCG should reflect general population of MCPS - 30% white, 30 Asian, 30 AA, and 10% Hispanics.

..This post implies (to me) that MCPS should use race as a factor in admissions.

It shouldn't but I think that's exactly where MCPS is going. Even for the magnet programs. Sad.

No, MCPS is not. It is against the law. Google Eisenberg v. Montgomery County Public Schools. Please educate yourself.

Cocky Little Jackass

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Crap. There are many whites that score poorly on these exams...much more so than the number of blacks. On the other hand, those for high SES (regardless of the race or ethnic group) tend to score higher on these tests than those form low SES. The group distinction here is based on SES, zip code, better schools, better teachers, $$$ for tutors and $$$ for prep testing.

Really? Great! Clearly affirmative action based on race is now unnecessary and we should only look at parental income since that's the determining factor right?

Hey dummie. You clearly did not attend any gifted or magnet programs. What are the proportion of whites and blacks in the County even applying to these programs? Yup, there are more whites than blacks scoring poorly on those magnet entrance exams because fewer blacks apply. Where whites benefit in this process is on the school recommendation (e.g., 3rd and 5th grades) this is an affirmative action recommendation based on race indeed. Those teachers evaluating the students are usually not black, hispanic or asian. The decision makers, even in the 21st century-MCPS, do not represent the students they claim to teach!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:

Crap. There are many whites that score poorly on these exams...much more so than the number of blacks. On the other hand, those for high SES (regardless of the race or ethnic group) tend to score higher on these tests than those form low SES. The group distinction here is based on SES, zip code, better schools, better teachers, $$$ for tutors and $$$ for prep testing.

Really? Great! Clearly affirmative action based on race is now unnecessary and we should only look at parental income since that's the determining factor right?

Hey dummie. You clearly did not attend any gifted or magnet programs. What are the proportion of whites and blacks in the County even applying to these programs? Yup, there are more whites than blacks scoring poorly on those magnet entrance exams because fewer blacks apply. Where whites benefit in this process is on the school recommendation (e.g., 3rd and 5th grades) this is an affirmative action recommendation based on race indeed. Those teachers evaluating the students are usually not black, hispanic or asian. The decision makers, even in the 21st century-MCPS, do not represent the students they claim to teach!!

Let me get this straight: all white teachers in MCPS are racist and cannot judge the performance of any AA, Asian or Hispanic child. Amazing leap of logic for you. You are clearly in need of some sort of medication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:

Crap. There are many whites that score poorly on these exams...much more so than the number of blacks. On the other hand, those for high SES (regardless of the race or ethnic group) tend to score higher on these tests than those form low SES. The group distinction here is based on SES, zip code, better schools, better teachers, $$$ for tutors and $$$ for prep testing.

Really? Great! Clearly affirmative action based on race is now unnecessary and we should only look at parental income since that's the determining factor right?

Hey dummie. You clearly did not attend any gifted or magnet programs. What are the proportion of whites and blacks in the County even applying to these programs? Yup, there are more whites than blacks scoring poorly on those magnet entrance exams because fewer blacks apply. Where whites benefit in this process is on the school recommendation (e.g., 3rd and 5th grades) this is an affirmative action recommendation based on race indeed. Those teachers evaluating the students are usually not black, hispanic or asian. The decision makers, even in the 21st century-MCPS, do not represent the students they claim to teach!!

Asian kids are doing fine with white teachers. Keep Asian's out please.

[Anonymous]

OP, I love the way you've decided that any kid not in compacted math has a hell of a nerve trying out for one of the MS magnets. I guess lots of parents in MoCo better run out and buy their kid a hair net then. Your arrogance is sad and you better check it because if your kid gets in a magnet with some of these kids from other backgrounds, some of them are going to kick her @ss academically and you better be prepared for that shock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With regard to bias against non native speakers, if they are not writing as well in English as other kids,then they won't be as successful in applying to the humanities magnet. That doesn't constitute bias.

These tests usually contain a component that tests vocabulary which is largely a random selection, knowledge of which is really unrelated to be successful in or capable of magnet participation. High performance on this is heavily biased toward native english speakers.

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight: all white teachers in MCPS are racist and cannot judge the performance of any AA, Asian or Hispanic child. Amazing leap of logic for you. You are clearly in need of some sort of medication.

An interesting leap of interpretation. I guess all white policeman are racist by your logic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With regard to bias against non native speakers, if they are not writing as well in English as other kids,then they won't be as successful in applying to the humanities magnet. That doesn't constitute bias.

These tests usually contain a component that tests vocabulary which is largely a random selection, knowledge of which is really unrelated to be successful in or capable of magnet participation. High performance on this is heavily biased toward native english speakers.

God forbid we expect kids in a magnet in the US to speak English well.