New curriculum selection process delayed— new RFP must be issues now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Screen time helps teachers to manage 30 kids. That's one way to keep cost down for MCPS.

But what did they do before introducing screen time?

Worksheets.

Or reading independently. There are alternatives to screen time that are better from an educational standpoint.

I'm the worksheets PP. I did lots of worksheets that were worse than screen time from an educational standpoint, in the 1970s and 1980s.

[Anonymous]

Our school used to have building stuff in a tinker room corner for K and 1st. Now it’s 6 Chromebooks and headphones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our school used to have building stuff in a tinker room corner for K and 1st. Now it’s 6 Chromebooks and headphones.

Exactly. There are alternatives beyond Chromebooks or inane worksheets.

[Anonymous]

We used to have gym on alternative days! They loved it.
Imagine that for increasing focus and capacity for a little kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used matrix algebra to solve. Just plot out the three variables. Pearson’s is so cool w their Parcc.

When is MCPS dumping Parcc again? I know most other public districts already have...

That's unnecessary. It's not hard to do the calculations to see if it will work or not.

Singapore Math has problems like the bus/car/van one.

[Anonymous]

Staff just got this email:
This e-mail message is being sent on behalf of Dr. Maria V. Navarro, chief academic officer.

Dear Staff:

I am writing to provide an update on the curriculum selection process and responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) we have heard from school staff. As you know, earlier this week we decided to postpone the curriculum selection in order to address unanticipated issues in the selection process. However, we are moving ahead with plans to evaluate and select new curricula in K–8 English language arts and mathematics at the beginning of the new school year, and transition to full implementation over a multiple year period. During this delay, we will not only ensure transparency and trust in this process, but also address the feedback we have heard from stakeholders thus far. Below, please find responses to FAQs about the updated Request for Proposal (RFP) process, timelines, and plans for implementation.

In addition, although the curriculum acquisition is delayed, professional learning remains a priority in order to ensure the successful transition to new curricula in the years ahead. Regardless of the actual curricular products selected, instructional strategies that meet the needs of every learner, aligned to grade level standards, remain at the core of teaching and learning. As a result, professional learning will continue to focus on these areas and will serve as a foundation for implementation of new curricula. The FAQs below also contain information about professional learning this summer and provides instructions for staff in schools originally selected for implementation.

FAQs for Staff

1. Rather than buy a new curriculum why can’t MCPS write their own?


There were many lessons learned from Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) writing of Curriculum 2.0. In 2008, when MCPS began the development of Curriculum 2.0, quality curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards were not available. Using teachers and central office MCPS wrote Curriculum 2.0. In the intervening years, not only have quality curricular products become available on the market, but MCPS has a deeper understanding of the infrastructure needed to support a curriculum once it is implemented. For example, it takes a tremendous amount of labor to continuously update curriculum and assessments so that the curriculum does not become stale or static. Using teachers as primary developers of curriculum limits the amount of resources MCPS has to update, maintain, and support the curriculum. It also limits teachers having time to work with their peers on perfecting their craft. A purchased curriculum will come with an infrastructure designed primarily to update and support the curriculum, allowing MCPS content specialist and teachers to focus on supporting teachers as they implement the curriculum. However, even with a purchased curriculum, MCPS teachers will still be needed for curriculum and assessment projects, supplemental curriculum development, and designing and co-leading professional learning.

2. When will a new Request for Proposals (RFP) be issued?


A new RFP process will begin in the fall. This will avoid asking for participation from the greater MCPS community during the summer months when many people have set obligations, and vacation plans.

3. If MCPS is delaying the RFP process when will MCPS begin implementing a new curriculum?


Building on the feedback from process participants, MCPS will launch the new process in the fall with initial implementation no later than the 2019–2020 school year.

4. Will currently selected schools be the ones to participate in the initial implementation, or will the entire process restart?


Schools that were selected will be in the first cohort to implement a new curriculum. Additional opportunities may be available for additional schools.

5. What will MCPS do with the community feedback it has already received?


MCPS will use the feedback already received in both crafting a new RFP and in considering any new proposals.

6. Will there still be an opportunity for community input?


Yes, there will continue to be opportunities for the community to provide input.

7. Will it be the exact same RFP?


No. During the initial process, MCPS received great feedback from stakeholders and the review team about the specific criteria contained in the RFP. This feedback and learning will be used to make revisions to and reissue the RFP.

8. What does this mean for summer professional development?

Most teachers in schools originally selected for implementation already had registered for other professional development opportunities in Professional Development Online. In these cases, teachers should remain enrolled in those other training sessions.

9. What if I withdrew from another professional development session and it is now full?


If a school was originally selected for implementation and a teacher withdrew on or after
May 18, every effort will be made to accommodate those who withdrew. In some cases, additional sections will be added. In other cases, if still unable to register, please contact:

o Elementary School: Mrs. Siobhan M. Alexander, director, Elementary Integrated Curriculum Team
o Secondary: Mr. Scott W. Murphy, director, Department of Secondary Curriculum and Districtwide Programs

In addition, in lieu of the training for new curriculum this summer, optional training opportunities in mathematics and literacy will still be offered for selected schools during the original dates identified. Selected schools will be contacted individually.

10. What about other professional development?


All other professional development remains as planned, as listed here:

Elementary School:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/164uzZYsxyB_bTW8Qwja5puFftJT-M0q3xiDxJkxR2VY/edit?pli=1#gid=2118346457

Middle School:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O91ar6FyAcsnYyzL9Kc-Z2bLZ8NMgL_jv05ghgHwx4I/edit?pli=1#gid=882846325

High School: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rQrDi7idM7oMTh1i3xDFudYys4xuYMgmoUYIUFRCHX8/edit?pli=1#gid=882846325

11. If our school was identified as an Enriched Literacy Center, what does that mean?

No change.

We will remain in regular communication with you in the coming weeks and months to provide updates about our continued efforts regarding the RFP process, professional development, and plans for implementation. Updates also will be posted periodically on the following link: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/curriculum-review.aspx.

Thank you for your continued commitment to students and for all you do every day.

Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Office of the Chief Academic Officer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your
Let me correct this before someone attacks!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, when Johnny Beebop thinks he can sleep through a test and still earn a 50%, we are thinking of the kids when we complain of these unethical practices that are killing academic stamina.

You know that is not true right? The 50% floor is only when a good faith attempt is made. You can not just scribble two words and get 50%. You can not sleep through a test. 50% on a test is still a grade killer. The practice is also used outside of MCPS.

Listen, genius, I don’t know you’re deal but every zero I added to my gradebook was changed to a 50%.

I am moving my family to a place where this bullshit 50% rule is NOT a practice.

Maybe you simply don’t get it, but the 50% rule erodes education & creates apathy.

Do us all a favor if you’re an educator - leave the profession.

My kids have gotten zeros for projects that are not turned in or say they didn't read the whole assignment and missed the jist of it or did it totally wrong. Hope you can find a place where you are happy.

I am.

We're moving. I have a job in a smaller system where autonomy is respected and teachers are treated as professionals. And this mess with Discovery validated my decision to make a major life change.

My children will be exposed to TRUE community is a smaller setting where sitting in front of a Chromebook isn't the norm.

I will echo another PP - that if I sit around and accept this BS, I am part of the problem. I cannot live with myself.

sad how so many people cannot see OUTSIDE of MCPS, thinking it's the only system around

Sometimes less is more. I've been an educator for over 20 years, and I've seen my fair share of unethical practices. But now that these practices are the norm, there's no turning back. So I'm running to protect my professional integrity and my children's education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Staff just got this email:
This e-mail message is being sent on behalf of Dr. Maria V. Navarro, chief academic officer.

Dear Staff:

I am writing to provide an update on the curriculum selection process and responses to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) we have heard from school staff. As you know, earlier this week we decided to postpone the curriculum selection in order to address unanticipated issues in the selection process. However, we are moving ahead with plans to evaluate and select new curricula in K–8 English language arts and mathematics at the beginning of the new school year, and transition to full implementation over a multiple year period. During this delay, we will not only ensure transparency and trust in this process, but also address the feedback we have heard from stakeholders thus far. Below, please find responses to FAQs about the updated Request for Proposal (RFP) process, timelines, and plans for implementation.

In addition, although the curriculum acquisition is delayed, professional learning remains a priority in order to ensure the successful transition to new curricula in the years ahead. Regardless of the actual curricular products selected, instructional strategies that meet the needs of every learner, aligned to grade level standards, remain at the core of teaching and learning. As a result, professional learning will continue to focus on these areas and will serve as a foundation for implementation of new curricula. The FAQs below also contain information about professional learning this summer and provides instructions for staff in schools originally selected for implementation.

FAQs for Staff

1. Rather than buy a new curriculum why can’t MCPS write their own?


There were many lessons learned from Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) writing of Curriculum 2.0. In 2008, when MCPS began the development of Curriculum 2.0, quality curriculum aligned with the Common Core State Standards were not available. Using teachers and central office MCPS wrote Curriculum 2.0. In the intervening years, not only have quality curricular products become available on the market, but MCPS has a deeper understanding of the infrastructure needed to support a curriculum once it is implemented. For example, it takes a tremendous amount of labor to continuously update curriculum and assessments so that the curriculum does not become stale or static. Using teachers as primary developers of curriculum limits the amount of resources MCPS has to update, maintain, and support the curriculum. It also limits teachers having time to work with their peers on perfecting their craft. A purchased curriculum will come with an infrastructure designed primarily to update and support the curriculum, allowing MCPS content specialist and teachers to focus on supporting teachers as they implement the curriculum. However, even with a purchased curriculum, MCPS teachers will still be needed for curriculum and assessment projects, supplemental curriculum development, and designing and co-leading professional learning.

2. When will a new Request for Proposals (RFP) be issued?


A new RFP process will begin in the fall. This will avoid asking for participation from the greater MCPS community during the summer months when many people have set obligations, and vacation plans.

3. If MCPS is delaying the RFP process when will MCPS begin implementing a new curriculum?


Building on the feedback from process participants, MCPS will launch the new process in the fall with initial implementation no later than the 2019–2020 school year.

4. Will currently selected schools be the ones to participate in the initial implementation, or will the entire process restart?


Schools that were selected will be in the first cohort to implement a new curriculum. Additional opportunities may be available for additional schools.

5. What will MCPS do with the community feedback it has already received?


MCPS will use the feedback already received in both crafting a new RFP and in considering any new proposals.

6. Will there still be an opportunity for community input?


Yes, there will continue to be opportunities for the community to provide input.

7. Will it be the exact same RFP?


No. During the initial process, MCPS received great feedback from stakeholders and the review team about the specific criteria contained in the RFP. This feedback and learning will be used to make revisions to and reissue the RFP.

8. What does this mean for summer professional development?

Most teachers in schools originally selected for implementation already had registered for other professional development opportunities in Professional Development Online. In these cases, teachers should remain enrolled in those other training sessions.

9. What if I withdrew from another professional development session and it is now full?


If a school was originally selected for implementation and a teacher withdrew on or after
May 18, every effort will be made to accommodate those who withdrew. In some cases, additional sections will be added. In other cases, if still unable to register, please contact:

o Elementary School: Mrs. Siobhan M. Alexander, director, Elementary Integrated Curriculum Team
o Secondary: Mr. Scott W. Murphy, director, Department of Secondary Curriculum and Districtwide Programs

In addition, in lieu of the training for new curriculum this summer, optional training opportunities in mathematics and literacy will still be offered for selected schools during the original dates identified. Selected schools will be contacted individually.

10. What about other professional development?


All other professional development remains as planned, as listed here:

Elementary School:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/164uzZYsxyB_bTW8Qwja5puFftJT-M0q3xiDxJkxR2VY/edit?pli=1#gid=2118346457

Middle School:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1O91ar6FyAcsnYyzL9Kc-Z2bLZ8NMgL_jv05ghgHwx4I/edit?pli=1#gid=882846325

High School: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rQrDi7idM7oMTh1i3xDFudYys4xuYMgmoUYIUFRCHX8/edit?pli=1#gid=882846325

11. If our school was identified as an Enriched Literacy Center, what does that mean?

No change.

We will remain in regular communication with you in the coming weeks and months to provide updates about our continued efforts regarding the RFP process, professional development, and plans for implementation. Updates also will be posted periodically on the following link: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/curriculum-review.aspx.

Thank you for your continued commitment to students and for all you do every day.

Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D.
Chief Academic Officer
Office of the Chief Academic Officer

As a teacher who has written both frameworks and instructional materials, I am personally offended by the section in bold. No true teacher would agree with her - or whomever she's representing in making those claims.

[Anonymous]

Can you expand on what you mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As a teacher who has written both frameworks and instructional materials, I am personally offended by the section in bold. No true teacher would agree with her - or whomever she's representing in making those claims.

Are no true teachers related to no true Scotsmen?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

[Anonymous]

What a BS staff letter trying to distract everyone.

Just got Maria writes “hey guys, good news, we’ll look at new curricula next school year” when they should be doing it 5 y are ago or now doesn’t mean a thing!

She must have learned to communicate from trump. Just keep repeating lies and BS and hope someone believes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

As a teacher who has written both frameworks and instructional materials, I am personally offended by the section in bold. No true teacher would agree with her - or whomever she's representing in making those claims.

Are no true teachers related to no true Scotsmen?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_true_Scotsman

You'll soon see. I haven't been wrong yet.

We're moving.

Good luck with MCPS. You'll need it.

[Anonymous]

Love how Maria tries to trick everyone by first saying it’s postponed, then saying however, then saying nothing but bad news— we’ll try again next year and this could take years.

Yeah, I get the feeling MCPS things do take years. Unf its always moving backwards though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What a BS staff letter trying to distract everyone.

Just got Maria writes “hey guys, good news, we’ll look at new curricula next school year” when they should be doing it 5 y are ago or now doesn’t mean a thing!

She must have learned to communicate from trump. Just keep repeating lies and BS and hope someone believes it.

Dear MCPS staff,

We're going to start selecting a new curriculum next fall. We're not going to write it ourselves. We'll start implementing the new curriculum in 2019-2020. We'll start with the schools that were initially chosen for 2018-2019, before we withdrew the RFP. We will continue to ask for input from teachers and parents. If you signed up for summer classes on the new curriculum, take a different class or contact these two people.

Sincerely,

Maria Navarro

Which part of this is a lie? MCPS's inability to write in anything about Educationese continues to amaze me, but they're not unique in that respect, though I do wish they'd hire a translator.

[Anonymous]

Please NO mORE screens, videos, computer games for new curriculum. I hate volunteering in k-3 and watching kids in a zombie stupor a third of each hour. They don’t even blink! They don’t snap out of it when they rotate either!