Law Suit

[Anonymous]

I generally agree with this guy that MCPS has fallen down on publicizing these programs, but the fact that Jawando passed on RT and then filled a complaint when he didn't get into the school with feeder rights to BCC makes me think he is in serious.

[Anonymous]

Informing all Head Start parents about opportunities.

Since kids in MCPS Head Start programs are already in "the system," I would hope that they are definitely on the list to be informed of the special programs that begin in K. I would think that they might be the only ones, since MCPS already has all of the contact information for their parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally agree with this guy that MCPS has fallen down on publicizing these programs, but the fact that Jawando passed on RT and then filled a complaint when he didn't get into the school with feeder rights to BCC makes me think he is in serious.

My thoughts exactly

[Anonymous]

Seems like the immersion lotteries could at least be after the kindergarten signups in the spring and also expanded. This is an area where MCPS could really change things without having to change the program itself..like the competitive magnets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS can be doing a lot to reach out to communities with young minority children. Buying a NAEYC list for the county and mailing every daycare program with fliers about MCPS K registration and programs. Informing all Head Start parents about opportunities. Working thru community organizations like churches or food pantries or whatever to inform the community. Putting fliers up at county pools or playgrounds or whatever. Or working with doctors networks to hand out school fliers along with 4-year immunizations.

But, the idea that the county has no way to do any outreach before you voluntarily show up at the door in K is a little bit ridiculous and lazy. I expect more from my government.

The truth is that these immersion programs, like many other special programs in MCPS, were set up initially as "pull" forms of integration. That is to say, they were programs that would appeal to white parents (immersion, gifted centers, special math and science instruction) who would be interested enough in them to apply and send their kids to schools that were high minority and high poverty schools. At the time, MCPS knew that de-segregating schools was a legal obligation, but they also knew that county-wide forced busing (i.e. "push" integration) was unlikely to be successful (see Boston and Prince William, VA).

There are many reasons why this kind of integration isn't actually that desirable today. The magnet programs may draw a more diverse group of parents, but that doesn't necessarily benefit the home school students as it was initially thought they would. And, of course, today we realize that parents of poor and minority children should have access to these programs as well.

Particularly when it comes to immersion, IMO, the county should be leveraging it's high ESOL and native Spanish-speaking population to create a different kind of immersion -- dual immersion (instead of full or partial) programs. Dual immersion is the format at schools like Washington International School. Dual immersion means classes of equal parts native English and Spanish speakers, each of whom are expected to become fully fluent in the other language. So, native Spanish speakers (of which MoCo has plenty) are paired with native English speakers, in an alternating Spanish/English instructional pattern, with explicit instruction in both English and Spanish reading and writing. Dual immersion has been shown to be successful for ESOL and native English speakers alike.

But, in MCPS, we never developed our immersion this way, because it was explicitly set up to appeal to white, native English speakers.

Maybe it's time to fix that.

BOOM!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Kemp Mill ES is dual immersion. You have to be zoned for that ES to go there, and not all kids are in the program.

I would hope that MCPS would expand all the language programs to better meet the demand.

I don't understand why there are some immersion programs like this and Chinese in Potomac where you must live in the district and others that are available via countywide lottery. Yes, they need to expand, but also make the admittance consistent.

[Anonymous]

The Chinese program at Potomac I believe exists due to some kind of donation or private funding that started a long time ago. The one at College Gardens was added to make the opportunity available to other kids as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the immersion lotteries could at least be after the kindergarten signups in the spring and also expanded. This is an area where MCPS could really change things without having to change the program itself..like the competitive magnets.

Not everyone registers in the spring. My school gets many students registering the Friday before school begins. So many, in fact, that they need to add the extra kindergarten class over the weekend before school begins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone does NOT have access to this information. And it also focuses on the sibling advantage (a huge number).l Did not apply to these magnets, had no interest, I do agree with his points though. Have seen it in action.

False. Some people do, in fact, have access to the information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the immersion lotteries could at least be after the kindergarten signups in the spring and also expanded. This is an area where MCPS could really change things without having to change the program itself..like the competitive magnets.

Not everyone registers in the spring. My school gets many students registering the Friday before school begins. So many, in fact, that they need to add the extra kindergarten class over the weekend before school begins.

No it would not get everyone but a much bigger chunk.. They will never get everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone does NOT have access to this information. And it also focuses on the sibling advantage (a huge number).l Did not apply to these magnets, had no interest, I do agree with his points though. Have seen it in action.

False. Some people do, in fact, have access to the information.

Logic 101 -- everyone does not have means some people may (or do) have -- but not everyone.

The fact that some people have access to this information doesn't make it OK, especially if most of the people who do have access to the information are white and wealthy and most of the people who do not are poor and minority.

[Anonymous]

In my experience many Latino families want to make sure their children learn English, hence the Spanish Immersion program does not seem very enticing to them. Additionally the issue of transportation is very important and difficult for poorer families who must depend on public transportation to pick up children from school for appointments or emergencies etc. IMHO, we need to see the demographics of those who apply, get in and turn down in addition to the demographics of those currently enrolled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone does NOT have access to this information. And it also focuses on the sibling advantage (a huge number).l Did not apply to these magnets, had no interest, I do agree with his points though. Have seen it in action.

False. Some people do, in fact, have access to the information.

Logic 101 -- everyone does not have means some people may (or do) have -- but not everyone.

The fact that some people have access to this information doesn't make it OK, especially if most of the people who do have access to the information are white and wealthy and most of the people who do not are poor and minority.

Actually, you are wrong. "Everyone does not," means "nobody does." It is also equivalent to, "Each person does not."

Quod erat demonstrandum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the immersion lotteries could at least be after the kindergarten signups in the spring and also expanded. This is an area where MCPS could really change things without having to change the program itself..like the competitive magnets.

Not everyone registers in the spring. My school gets many students registering the Friday before school begins. So many, in fact, that they need to add the extra kindergarten class over the weekend before school begins.

Our MCPS would not let us register our child transferring from a private till last week. I was turned down 3 times.

[Anonymous]

This issue does not just apply to minorities. We live in an affluent community and kids went to W schools. I heard nothing about the immersion programs until I had a friend bring it up when my DS was already towards the end of K. They were going to apply to the French immersion program. I told her I had no idea that the immersion programs existed. There was no "advertising" in my school. My friend knew about it because she had heard from someone else and then contacted the central office to get more info. To say this is just a problem with outreach to minorities is just incorrect.