Chances of getting in to Brent for PS3 next year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PreK3 seems doomed at Brent, irregardless of DCPS opposition. More and more kids are coming into K without being well prepared, and parents, teachers and admins know this, and are concerned by the trend. Many of us in-boundary won't be remotely surprised if this is Brent's last PreK3 lottery season.

Have any teachers observed new K kids performing at a lower level on average than kids who were there for PK? I would be surprised to hear this based on my observations of my child's classroom, but I'm no expert.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the several K teachers have discussed the issue. This year's K kids, almost half of whom were unable to enroll in Brent's ECE program, have had such a range of PreK3 and 4 experiences that there's obviously a wider spread academically and socially than there was last year. Last year, most kids starting K had been at Brent for two years. Not the last we'll hear of the problem, though it's hardly insurmountable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PreK3 seems doomed at Brent, irregardless of DCPS opposition. More and more kids are coming into K without being well prepared, and parents, teachers and admins know this, and are concerned by the trend. Many of us in-boundary won't be remotely surprised if this is Brent's last PreK3 lottery season.

Do you have actual facts to support this rank speculation? More and more kids are coming to Brent unprepared for K? Really? How were you able to make this assessment for something like 72 kids in three different classrooms? Indeed, this is the first year that there has been an influx of K'ers who did not articulate through the ECE program. So where are all these woefully unprepared five year olds coming from? Appletree? LT? Tyler? Hill PS?

By the way, you better tell DCPS that this is the last year of PK because I'm pretty sure the school has finalized lottery slots for next Fall.

[Anonymous]

The DCPS-DCPCS lottery opens in two weeks, so obviously the # of Brent PreK3 slots has been finalized for fall 2016. Anybody's guess what happens in 2017 and beyond.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PreK3 seems doomed at Brent, irregardless of DCPS opposition. More and more kids are coming into K without being well prepared, and parents, teachers and admins know this, and are concerned by the trend. Many of us in-boundary won't be remotely surprised if this is Brent's last PreK3 lottery season.

Do you have actual facts to support this rank speculation? More and more kids are coming to Brent unprepared for K? Really? How were you able to make this assessment for something like 72 kids in three different classrooms? Indeed, this is the first year that there has been an influx of K'ers who did not articulate through the ECE program. So where are all these woefully unprepared five year olds coming from? Appletree? LT? Tyler? Hill PS?

By the way, you better tell DCPS that this is the last year of PK because I'm pretty sure the school has finalized lottery slots for next Fall.

So much hyperbole, lady. Are you reading posts? You used the word woefully, nobody else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the several K teachers have discussed the issue. This year's K kids, almost half of whom were unable to enroll in Brent's ECE program, have had such a range of PreK3 and 4 experiences that there's obviously a wider spread academically and socially than there was last year. Last year, most kids starting K had been at Brent for two years. Not the last we'll hear of the problem, though it's hardly insurmountable.

Can we please stop pretending this is a "thing," much less a "problem"? Kindergarteners at the JKLMM schools seem to manage even though PreS3 isn't offered. Indeed, Fairfax and Montgomery County doesn't even offer PK. These aren't exactly crack babies from impoverished households in dire need of HeadStart.

[Anonymous]

Who are you talking to? Just yourself? The K teachers? The LSAT? The PTA Board. Ask around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the several K teachers have discussed the issue. This year's K kids, almost half of whom were unable to enroll in Brent's ECE program, have had such a range of PreK3 and 4 experiences that there's obviously a wider spread academically and socially than there was last year. Last year, most kids starting K had been at Brent for two years. Not the last we'll hear of the problem, though it's hardly insurmountable.

Can we please stop pretending this is a "thing," much less a "problem"? Kindergarteners at the JKLMM schools seem to manage even though PreS3 isn't offered. Indeed, Fairfax and Montgomery County doesn't even offer PK. These aren't exactly crack babies from impoverished households in dire need of HeadStart.

+1. I bet this is the disgruntled Brent parent who posted all the time last year after her child was shut out of ECE for two years. It's not a thing.

My child is in inbounds for Brent and I fully expect she will not get in until K. She's fine, trust me.

[Anonymous]

Try again, I'm a dad, my child's in K, his 3rd year at Brent.

There's an ECE quality control issue with most in-boundary families being shut out for PreK4 (in a school where dialogue on the future of PreK3 is taboo). Something's gotta give. I rest my case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try again, I'm a dad, my child's in K, his 3rd year at Brent.

There's an ECE quality control issue with most in-boundary families being shut out for PreK4 (in a school where dialogue on the future of PreK3 is taboo). Something's gotta give. I rest my case.

"Quality control"? Dialogue on the structure of the ECE program is "taboo"? WTF? Your case lacks evidentiary facts and is therefore dismissed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The DCPS-DCPCS lottery opens in two weeks, so obviously the # of Brent PreK3 slots has been finalized for fall 2016. Anybody's guess what happens in 2017 and beyond.

No guesswork involved. No change for 2017-18 or the following year. This really isn't on anyone's radar screen. The focus is properly on moving forward with the strategic plan, which includes extra resources for K-2. If parents with toddlers want to undertake some due diligence and present enrollment estimates for 2017 and beyond have at it and then bring your data to the PTA and LSAT. Don't expect fellow parents serving on a volunteer basis to do this homework or solve potential issues for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try again, I'm a dad, my child's in K, his 3rd year at Brent.

There's an ECE quality control issue with most in-boundary families being shut out for PreK4 (in a school where dialogue on the future of PreK3 is taboo). Something's gotta give. I rest my case.

Sorry, you will have to do better than that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try again, I'm a dad, my child's in K, his 3rd year at Brent.

There's an ECE quality control issue with most in-boundary families being shut out for PreK4 (in a school where dialogue on the future of PreK3 is taboo). Something's gotta give. I rest my case.

Sorry, you will have to do better than that.

"Most" IB families aren't shut out of PK4. There are approx. 40 spaces, with roughly 28 of those taken by rising PreS3'ers. And when is the last time someone approached the PTA to have the structure of the ECE program discussed? Three years ago? When the decision was made to transition to mixed age classrooms? Epic fail.

[Anonymous]

I know this is DCUM, but can't we all try to discuss/raise points/advocate/agree/disagree respectfully? We are all (or will be or could be someday) part of a school community and want our kids to behave that way.

[Anonymous]

NP, with lottery luck, and I agree.

I don't like the way the Brent boards invariably deteriorate into rounds of name calling by page 2 or 3 these days (oh she can stuff it, she's just a disgruntled IB parent without lottery luck, rather than I respectfully disagree because...).

I go to PTA meetings, listen to the principal, board members and teachers lecture parents and ask for generous contributions, and wonder why rank the rank and file doesn't seem to get a say. The LSAT and PTA board meetings I've made it to haven't been more inspiring.