Youngkin and TJ

[Anonymous]

Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

Has anyone who answered “yes” on the meals questions been contacted by FCPS to fill out an FRM application?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

We knew that already.

Did you ask how they calculated ED for the admissions report?

Or if they confirmed ED? Or if it was used as part of the selection process?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

We knew that already.

Did you ask how they calculated ED for the admissions report?

Or if they confirmed ED? Or if it was used as part of the selection process?

I actually asked this specific question at the Laura Jane Cohen and Karen Keys-Gamarra’s town hall this week. Laura Jane completely ignored the question and didn’t address it. I can only guess that she knows that it’s a bomb and doesn’t want to engage on it.

I don’t know what else the admissions office could be using to determine low income other than these two questions. (Unless they contact everyone that said yes and say that they need to somehow verify that they are under a certain income level if they want their kid to get the (massive!) admissions preference.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

We knew that already.

Did you ask how they calculated ED for the admissions report?

Or if they confirmed ED? Or if it was used as part of the selection process?

I actually asked this specific question at the Laura Jane Cohen and Karen Keys-Gamarra’s town hall this week. Laura Jane completely ignored the question and didn’t address it. I can only guess that she knows that it’s a bomb and doesn’t want to engage on it.

I don’t know what else the admissions office could be using to determine low income other than these two questions. (Unless they contact everyone that said yes and say that they need to somehow verify that they are under a certain income level if they want their kid to get the (massive!) admissions preference.)

Preference really? Whatever small preference is given to these kids hardly makes up the huge disparity in opportunities afforded the wealthy. If a poor kids, can be a contender despite their disadvantages sounds like a great choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

We knew that already.

Did you ask how they calculated ED for the admissions report?

Or if they confirmed ED? Or if it was used as part of the selection process?

I actually asked this specific question at the Laura Jane Cohen and Karen Keys-Gamarra’s town hall this week. Laura Jane completely ignored the question and didn’t address it. I can only guess that she knows that it’s a bomb and doesn’t want to engage on it.

I don’t know what else the admissions office could be using to determine low income other than these two questions. (Unless they contact everyone that said yes and say that they need to somehow verify that they are under a certain income level if they want their kid to get the (massive!) admissions preference.)

Preference really? Whatever small preference is given to these kids hardly makes up the huge disparity in opportunities afforded the wealthy. If a poor kids, can be a contender despite their disadvantages sounds like a great choice.

I totally agree! The disparity in wealth is a huge issue in access to education in FCPS.

The issue being discussed is that the TJ admissions office appears to be determining if an applicant is economically disadvantaged based on two questions (Are you eligible for free/low cost meals? Do you receive free/low cost meals?) rather than a more accurate method. As many have reported, anyone can say yes to these two questions and prep companies highlighted this “loophole” during the application process for their clients. So FCPS is watering down the admission advantage for truly low income kids by knowingly allowing any child to be classified as such.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

We knew that already.

Did you ask how they calculated ED for the admissions report?

Or if they confirmed ED? Or if it was used as part of the selection process?

I actually asked this specific question at the Laura Jane Cohen and Karen Keys-Gamarra’s town hall this week. Laura Jane completely ignored the question and didn’t address it. I can only guess that she knows that it’s a bomb and doesn’t want to engage on it.

I don’t know what else the admissions office could be using to determine low income other than these two questions. (Unless they contact everyone that said yes and say that they need to somehow verify that they are under a certain income level if they want their kid to get the (massive!) admissions preference.)

Preference really? Whatever small preference is given to these kids hardly makes up the huge disparity in opportunities afforded the wealthy. If a poor kids, can be a contender despite their disadvantages sounds like a great choice.

I totally agree! The disparity in wealth is a huge issue in access to education in FCPS.

The issue being discussed is that the TJ admissions office appears to be determining if an applicant is economically disadvantaged based on two questions (Are you eligible for free/low cost meals? Do you receive free/low cost meals?) rather than a more accurate method. As many have reported, anyone can say yes to these two questions and prep companies highlighted this “loophole” during the application process for their clients. So FCPS is watering down the admission advantage for truly low income kids by knowingly allowing any child to be classified as such.

Possibly

[Anonymous]

Yeah, the 2% to 25% in one year was incredibly suspicious. With the way the questions were worded, yes, any applicant could say yes.

If not these two questions, what other data could they use? Does the school system have access to Virginia Tax returns?

[Anonymous]

Like they have the time, money and wherewithal to address this properly, lol.

Gaming the system wins often.

Money always wins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like they have the time, money and wherewithal to address this properly, lol.

Gaming the system wins often.

Money always wins.

+1

And FCPS gets to pay themselves on the back with a good press release. As OP pointed out, the reporters at the Washington Post seem to have bought this story as well and isn’t asking the hard questions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else notice the plea to submit FARMS applications in the FCPS-wide newsletter yesterday?

I called the TJ admissions office a while back and spoke to a staff member. She confirmed that 1) they were aware of the meals questions were tricky this year and 2) yes, anyone can in good faith choose to answer yes to both questions.

“ The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School lunch food on a tray.

School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.

FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.

Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.”

So you are in favor of discrimination based on income?

We knew that already.

Did you ask how they calculated ED for the admissions report?

Or if they confirmed ED? Or if it was used as part of the selection process?

I actually asked this specific question at the Laura Jane Cohen and Karen Keys-Gamarra’s town hall this week. Laura Jane completely ignored the question and didn’t address it. I can only guess that she knows that it’s a bomb and doesn’t want to engage on it.

I don’t know what else the admissions office could be using to determine low income other than these two questions. (Unless they contact everyone that said yes and say that they need to somehow verify that they are under a certain income level if they want their kid to get the (massive!) admissions preference.)

Preference really? Whatever small preference is given to these kids hardly makes up the huge disparity in opportunities afforded the wealthy. If a poor kids, can be a contender despite their disadvantages sounds like a great choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like they have the time, money and wherewithal to address this properly, lol.

Gaming the system wins often.

Money always wins.

+1

And FCPS gets to pay themselves on the back with a good press release. As OP pointed out, the reporters at the Washington Post seem to have bought this story as well and isn’t asking the hard questions.

Ha! The WaPo Ed reporter does not ask hard questions. She uses district press releases and random interviews with parents on topics she likes. This sort of “under the hood” stuff that would take investigative reporting that might yield an uncomfortable answer is not what she does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like they have the time, money and wherewithal to address this properly, lol.

Gaming the system wins often.

Money always wins.

It will probably catch up to them

[Anonymous]

Pffft. Does it ever?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like they have the time, money and wherewithal to address this properly, lol.

Gaming the system wins often.

Money always wins.

It will probably catch up to them

In the case of TJ over the past decade a lot of families have been able to buy admission by spending tens of thousands at the various prep centers. One even boasted that 30% of the incoming class attended their center. THe problem is this makes often average kids seem gifted and once they're there it starts to cause problems. It has helped foster the toxicity that people are always talking about.