Lee Montessori infant and toddler program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Lee cared about providing Montessori to children without books, it would expand its elementary classrooms to do so. Adding a sibling preference for those able to pay for it, will not expand its outreach to children who grow up "without books." (From what I've seen, a somewhat mythical concept across all income groups.) In any case, children who are growing up "without books" are probably also growing up without paid daycare--of any kind, and being looked after by their parents or relatives.

Other head start programs generally have books as well.

You're confused. The sinking preference exists today and will remain regardless of where the sibling went to daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is smart, albeit calculated.

Current students with younger sibs would then be able to drop the younger ones off there too, and down the road have sibling preference for them. So it wouldn't help anyone get into Lee, but it will keep them there, which will limit non-sibling spots.

The unfortunate aspect of this is that only people with means will be able to afford the program. It is a backdoor way of self-selecting an affluent student body.

Are you okay with that? I guess that depends on you.

This is the exact opposite of the rationale behind this. The administration hopes to use this as a way to get lower income families interested in Montessori, and to get the opportunity to start even younger with kids who may not have support at home (like books, being read to etc). They are seeking funding to be able to offer this at low cost or free to families in need.

Yes, they are looking into head start funding. They really are a committed to a school that serves all of DC's kids. I think they believe the high ses families can help them in this mission with our physical and financial support, but they don't want to be a high ses school and do believe in the value of Montessori for underprivileged kids. As a Lee parent, I just want my administrators to be happy and fulfilled so they stay, because they are good.

Want to clarify, that they believe an infant and toddler Montessori program will be wonderful for the underprivileged kids enrolled in it and this is why they are doing it. This is their passion (yes school administrators can have passions that extend beyond being a popular DCUM school for high ses families!). Current families will likely be able to get their kids in, but the goal is Montessori for all, which is why they've provided so much support to Breakthough.

They way they can serve more students in need is to raise money to offer free aftercare to all/most students. That's what many schools, including Breakthrough and other schools in Wards 7 and 8 do, and it works. Also works for DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Lee cared about providing Montessori to children without books, it would expand its elementary classrooms to do so. Adding a sibling preference for those able to pay for it, will not expand its outreach to children who grow up "without books." (From what I've seen, a somewhat mythical concept across all income groups.) In any case, children who are growing up "without books" are probably also growing up without paid daycare--of any kind, and being looked after by their parents or relatives.

Other head start programs generally have books as well.

we are a small school without that many babies (and they have NEVER said that current families can put their babies in there - we are all just assuming that. It is a fair assumption, but still an assumption). They believe Montessori infant/toddler program is truly different than other head start programs. And if those families come to love it, they will apply to Montessori charters in numbers we don't see as of today. They are trying to change the demographics that are interested in Montessori. Not just the infant toddler/enrollees but also the enrollees' families and friends. I imagine current lee families and need based applicants will have priority. I don't think there is anything in it for them except their desire to spread Monetssori beyond the middle class. Of course this is too all speculation, but I have been pretty amazed at the array of services they provide current children who are struggling: a social worker, a special ed aid in every classroom, a special ed coordinator. They do not see themselves as a pcs version of Aiden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Lee cared about providing Montessori to children without books, it would expand its elementary classrooms to do so. Adding a sibling preference for those able to pay for it, will not expand its outreach to children who grow up "without books." (From what I've seen, a somewhat mythical concept across all income groups.) In any case, children who are growing up "without books" are probably also growing up without paid daycare--of any kind, and being looked after by their parents or relatives.

Other head start programs generally have books as well.

we are a small school without that many babies (and they have NEVER said that current families can put their babies in there - we are all just assuming that. It is a fair assumption, but still an assumption). They believe Montessori infant/toddler program is truly different than other head start programs. And if those families come to love it, they will apply to Montessori charters in numbers we don't see as of today. They are trying to change the demographics that are interested in Montessori. Not just the infant toddler/enrollees but also the enrollees' families and friends. I imagine current lee families and need based applicants will have priority. I don't think there is anything in it for them except their desire to spread Monetssori beyond the middle class. Of course this is too all speculation, but I have been pretty amazed at the array of services they provide current children who are struggling: a social worker, a special ed aid in every classroom, a special ed coordinator. They do not see themselves as a pcs version of Aiden.

To truly change this they'd put the infant/toddler program in a different neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is smart, albeit calculated.

Current students with younger sibs would then be able to drop the younger ones off there too, and down the road have sibling preference for them. So it wouldn't help anyone get into Lee, but it will keep them there, which will limit non-sibling spots.

The unfortunate aspect of this is that only people with means will be able to afford the program. It is a backdoor way of self-selecting an affluent student body.

Are you okay with that? I guess that depends on you.

This is the exact opposite of the rationale behind this. The administration hopes to use this as a way to get lower income families interested in Montessori, and to get the opportunity to start even younger with kids who may not have support at home (like books, being read to etc). They are seeking funding to be able to offer this at low cost or free to families in need.

Yes, they are looking into head start funding. They really are a committed to a school that serves all of DC's kids. I think they believe the high ses families can help them in this mission with our physical and financial support, but they don't want to be a high ses school and do believe in the value of Montessori for underprivileged kids. As a Lee parent, I just want my administrators to be happy and fulfilled so they stay, because they are good.

Want to clarify, that they believe an infant and toddler Montessori program will be wonderful for the underprivileged kids enrolled in it and this is why they are doing it. This is their passion (yes school administrators can have passions that extend beyond being a popular DCUM school for high ses families!). Current families will likely be able to get their kids in, but the goal is Montessori for all, which is why they've provided so much support to Breakthough.

They way they can serve more students in need is to raise money to offer free aftercare to all/most students. That's what many schools, including Breakthrough and other schools in Wards 7 and 8 do, and it works. Also works for DCPS.

So you think they would use the infant/toddler program to raise money for free aftercare so that we are more attractive to lower income families? But farm families already get reduced/free aftercare.

I guess it depends on motivations - reach a lower ses demographic or make the school itself better for families who get in (free/reduced aftercare for all!). I believe the former in the primary goal. But I guess we'll see when the details come put. Not sure daycares are a real money-maker. Maybe infant/toddler programs that are part-day or that the moms are there - those for sure generate money. So we'll know goal when program is designed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Lee cared about providing Montessori to children without books, it would expand its elementary classrooms to do so. Adding a sibling preference for those able to pay for it, will not expand its outreach to children who grow up "without books." (From what I've seen, a somewhat mythical concept across all income groups.) In any case, children who are growing up "without books" are probably also growing up without paid daycare--of any kind, and being looked after by their parents or relatives.

Other head start programs generally have books as well.

Which is exactly why this is planned. I don't understand what is so difficult to grasp here. The aim of the program is to fill the literacy gap that has ALREADY appeared by age 3. The kids who attend under this aspect of the program WILL NOT PAY. This WILL expand the elementary classroom -- once those kids have gone through the primary class. You can't just add 7 and 8 year olds right now without Montessori experience. It wouldn't work for anyone.

[Anonymous]

Even if Lee has the best of intentions, isn't the idea of charging money for tuition for some kids at a free public charter school anlittle problematic? Couldn't a school like... Say, Basis, take this and run with it by adding pay classes to their public charter schools? Doesn't all of this take away more slots for public classrooms? Is it "only being for a few babies" a safe excuse?

[Anonymous]

Or maybe we could all just stop postulating and sit tight until we see what the school proposes?

[Anonymous]

And you can totally add 7 and 8 year olds with no Montessori experience. Believe it or not, Montessori education is not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is smart, albeit calculated.

Current students with younger sibs would then be able to drop the younger ones off there too, and down the road have sibling preference for them. So it wouldn't help anyone get into Lee, but it will keep them there, which will limit non-sibling spots.

The unfortunate aspect of this is that only people with means will be able to afford the program. It is a backdoor way of self-selecting an affluent student body.

Are you okay with that? I guess that depends on you.

This is the exact opposite of the rationale behind this. The administration hopes to use this as a way to get lower income families interested in Montessori, and to get the opportunity to start even younger with kids who may not have support at home (like books, being read to etc). They are seeking funding to be able to offer this at low cost or free to families in need.

Yes, they are looking into head start funding. They really are a committed to a school that serves all of DC's kids. I think they believe the high ses families can help them in this mission with our physical and financial support, but they don't want to be a high ses school and do believe in the value of Montessori for underprivileged kids. As a Lee parent, I just want my administrators to be happy and fulfilled so they stay, because they are good.

Want to clarify, that they believe an infant and toddler Montessori program will be wonderful for the underprivileged kids enrolled in it and this is why they are doing it. This is their passion (yes school administrators can have passions that extend beyond being a popular DCUM school for high ses families!). Current families will likely be able to get their kids in, but the goal is Montessori for all, which is why they've provided so much support to Breakthough.

They way they can serve more students in need is to raise money to offer free aftercare to all/most students. That's what many schools, including Breakthrough and other schools in Wards 7 and 8 do, and it works. Also works for DCPS.

Breakthrough is offering free after care for the first year. Lee offered extremely inexpensive aftercare for the first year ($4 per day until 5pm). It is now many times that. I confidently predict that Breakthrough will charge several hundred dollars a month after its first year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And you can totally add 7 and 8 year olds with no Montessori experience. Believe it or not, Montessori education is not rocket science.

a
Says someone who knows absolutely nothing about Montessori and has no understanding what is involved in doing this.

(You know why LAMB doesn't take kids past PK4? It's not because of the language, it's because of the Montessori. Likewise, Logan Montessori and ANY private Montessori will not take kids past K without prior-Montessori experience).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And you can totally add 7 and 8 year olds with no Montessori experience. Believe it or not, Montessori education is not rocket science.

a
Says someone who knows absolutely nothing about Montessori and has no understanding what is involved in doing this.

(You know why LAMB doesn't take kids past PK4? It's not because of the language, it's because of the Montessori. Likewise, Logan Montessori and ANY private Montessori will not take kids past K without prior-Montessori experience).

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even if Lee has the best of intentions, isn't the idea of charging money for tuition for some kids at a free public charter school anlittle problematic? Couldn't a school like... Say, Basis, take this and run with it by adding pay classes to their public charter schools? Doesn't all of this take away more slots for public classrooms? Is it "only being for a few babies" a safe excuse?

On the one hand I do agree that it's problematic, on the other it's not accurate to suggest that Basis or any other charter school could add fee paying students. the only reason that it (might) be ok to do this for Lee is because by law 1 and 2 year olds are not part of the school environment. If Basis wanted to open a classroom for adult students and charge them a fee, that might be a better comparison.

[Anonymous]

I've been involved with kids in upper elementary Montessori. And the experience has been fantastic for them--regardless of the level of prior Montessori they had.

Again, the pedagogy is not rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been involved with kids in upper elementary Montessori. And the experience has been fantastic for them--regardless of the level of prior Montessori they had.

Again, the pedagogy is not rocket science.

What exactly do you mean by "involved with"? Because I have seen it in elementary and it's difficult for all involved, the teachers, the new student and the existing students. To do that with multiple new kids would be very hard.