Innovation Schools

[Anonymous]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/montgomery-announces-innovation-schools-to-pilot-program-for-improving-student-achievement/2013/05/14/706166e0-bc14-11e2-97d4-a479289a31f9_story.html

Superintendent Joshua P. Starr on Tuesday announced the first Montgomery County “Innovation Schools” to pilot an initiative for improving student achievement.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, another pricey MoCo guinea pig pilot program.
Can't wait to see who or what ends up there - the pregnant students, the ones who still aren't fluent in English, the troublemakers, the misdemeanor kids, and then mix in some of the LD classes. Or magnet programs to bolster scores and the minority majority stats.
Plus, what if you live near one or more of those schools and now have to ship your kid farther away because s/he isn't in the delinquency program at the "Innovation School"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, another pricey MoCo guinea pig pilot program.
Can't wait to see who or what ends up there - the pregnant students, the ones who still aren't fluent in English, the troublemakers, the misdemeanor kids, and then mix in some of the LD classes. Or magnet programs to bolster scores and the minority majority stats.
Plus, what if you live near one or more of those schools and now have to ship your kid farther away because s/he isn't in the delinquency program at the "Innovation School"?

I agree, PP. MCPS shouldn't bother with students who are pregnant, don't speak English well, make trouble, or have learning disabilities. They should only bother with my children. My children are the only ones who are important.

/sarcasm

[Anonymous]

I was wondering if those schools might be escaping 2.0..

[Anonymous]

Virginia has had great success with a couple of their special schools for teens with babies. They teach the mothers, provide meals, provide childcare, etc all for $40k per pupil. Students have been graduating, as well as having more babies each.

As for remedial programs, well, those are everywhere. The thinking now is that GED programs are being taken advantage of as a way to skip out on HS and the socialization there. So maybe Innovation Schools are better? and rich MoCo definitely can afford it!

[Anonymous]

I am curious what the school programs are that they plan to improve--the ones for kids who are unsuccessful in their home schools. Please post if you find mention of which programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious what the school programs are that they plan to improve--the ones for kids who are unsuccessful in their home schools. Please post if you find mention of which programs.

It's not a focus on a program necessarily. It's a way - though improved instruction - to raise the bar for all students.

Kennedy and Springbrook are in the DCC and NEC consortia schools. So there is "choice" in most cases. In the NEC, Springbrook offers IB, for example. So kids who wish to participate in the program would choose Springbrook as their first choice. Those for whom Springbrook IS their home school will always have a slot there - same for the other schools. Soi if, for example, a school is your home school, you have an "in."

Specific programs - while they're offered in order to pump up the competition, and hopefully, rigor - are not under scrutiny. The entire instructional program is. The system, therefore, will look at IB scores, yes, but also at AP, HSA, SAT and county exam grades.

These schools, however, cannot solve societal problems - truancy, gang affiliation, pregnancy - which mostly stem from issues in the home. Good instruction, however, can help all schools move forward . . . if only a tiny bit - despite these problems..

While it seems easy - focus on improving instruction, what the public fails to understand is just how complicated teaching is. And b/c of this unintended ignorance (I don't claim to be an expert on taxes!), teachers are always blamed for "failing" students in many ways.

[Anonymous]

I just worked with a pregnant ESOL student who offered me her only snack of the day - an apple - b/c she heard my stomach grumble.

You're a real bitch, PP.

And like most people, you're probably one paycheck away from homelessness.

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, another pricey MoCo guinea pig pilot program.
Can't wait to see who or what ends up there - the pregnant students, the ones who still aren't fluent in English, the troublemakers, the misdemeanor kids, and then mix in some of the LD classes. Or magnet programs to bolster scores and the minority majority stats.
Plus, what if you live near one or more of those schools and now have to ship your kid farther away because s/he isn't in the delinquency program at the "Innovation School"?

[Anonymous]

Thank you 16:14. Very well said.

I am familiar with one of the schools which is in my cluster. It has a great principal and a dedicated, energetic teaching staff. Anyone who goes there will benefit from their leadership and I will be glad when these MS kids join the HS where my kids are.

[Anonymous]

As usual, Starr announced some vague transformation of 9 schools (out of 100+) and maybe someday we'll find out what he and his pricey consultants decided upon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As usual, Starr announced some vague transformation of 9 schools (out of 100+) and maybe someday we'll find out what he and his pricey consultants decided upon.

Thank you, Parents' Coalition member!

[Anonymous]

As usual, Starr announced some vague transformation of 9 schools (out of 100+) and maybe someday we'll find out what he and his pricey consultants decided upon.

I'm not connected to the Parent's Coalition and I agree with this statement. I'm so tired of MCPS and Starr slapping what they think is a catchy slogan or label on new projects and thinking this is enough.

I agree with the other poster who predicted that Starr will co-locate a magnet to raise up the test scores and hide that the other group isn't performing. This practice really pisses me off as the underperforming students need actual help. Education is their only shot and the window of opportunity isn't open forever. Instead of having a school system that is really trying to help them, they end up with a school system that goes to great lengths to create the perception that they are helping them.

Someone needs to hold Starr accountable for actual student outcomes not creating perceptions that he think will serve political interests.

[Anonymous]

Se live in the Clopper mill cluster although my child does not attend the school. I only wish I knew what the link is proposing... Wouldit now being an Innovation school be worth reconsidering sending my child there?!?!