s/o why can't MCPS push back middle school and high school exams if school is extended?

[Anonymous]

I keep hearing how MCPS can't change the date for high school exams even though the instruction was shortened and the end of the year is being extended. This will result in students being in a school the week after their exams with nothing to do.

Why can't MCPS just change the date for the exams? There is no law that says that exams have to be on that date.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing how MCPS can't change the date for high school exams even though the instruction was shortened and the end of the year is being extended. This will result in students being in a school the week after their exams with nothing to do.

Why can't MCPS just change the date for the exams? There is no law that says that exams have to be on that date.

Why would they push back the finals. The third quarter marking period has already passed (on schedule) and in communication with my son's 8th grade teachers, they are on schedule with the material. So if they are still on track to complete the school year when the 4th quarter ends (aka week of June 9) then I wold imagine that the finals will also be that week. Then they will do nothing for the 4-5 days after that have been added on to satisfy the 180 day requirement.

Just my two cents....please come and crush me now with all the negative comments! lol

[Anonymous]

My guess is you can't realistically change the date of finals in high schools because graduation dates are set...i.e. your date at Constitution Hall is your date, can't change that at this late date. Yes this just affects seniors, but seniors can be taking all levels of classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is you can't realistically change the date of finals in high schools because graduation dates are set...i.e. your date at Constitution Hall is your date, can't change that at this late date. Yes this just affects seniors, but seniors can be taking all levels of classes.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I keep hearing how MCPS can't change the date for high school exams even though the instruction was shortened and the end of the year is being extended. This will result in students being in a school the week after their exams with nothing to do.

Why can't MCPS just change the date for the exams? There is no law that says that exams have to be on that date.

Why would they push back the finals. The third quarter marking period has already passed (on schedule) and in communication with my son's 8th grade teachers, they are on schedule with the material. So if they are still on track to complete the school year when the 4th quarter ends (aka week of June 9) then I wold imagine that the finals will also be that week. Then they will do nothing for the 4-5 days after that have been added on to satisfy the 180 day requirement.

Just my two cents....please come and crush me now with all the negative comments! lol

We are planning an interdisciplinary project for Grade 6 & 7 students at my middle school. 8th graders don't come after the last final anyway.

[Anonymous]

Better not. I have bought air plane tickets.

[Anonymous]

My guess is you can't realistically change the date of finals in high schools because graduation dates are set...i.e. your date at Constitution Hall is your date, can't change that at this late date. Yes this just affects seniors, but seniors can be taking all levels of classes.

Actually, seniors generally graduate before the two-hour final exam period begins. They have their own, in-class finals that happen a week or so before graduation.

[Anonymous]

Because MCPS could have done something, pushed back the 3rd marking period and chose not to do anything. The state said nope and now they are screwed. ONLY county that dug its heels in and did nothing for their students. Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

They should push back finals and change graduation. Why wouldn't there be back up reservations and plans when the school hit the end of their planned snow days?

An extra week in fourth quarter could be used for more substantive review. MCPS has a huge problem with students that score A, Bs, and C, failing their math exams. Perhaps, they could teach math that week.

If I was a state superintendent and I saw a school distract that a.) prances about as if its better than anyone else b.) did nothing to make up instructional time and c.) fails its final exams, I would say forget it too.

[Anonymous]

Back up reservations? Pay for Constitution Hall (or where ever) 2x for every High School? Every year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should push back finals and change graduation. Why wouldn't there be back up reservations and plans when the school hit the end of their planned snow days?

An extra week in fourth quarter could be used for more substantive review. MCPS has a huge problem with students that score A, Bs, and C, failing their math exams. Perhaps, they could teach math that week.

If I was a state superintendent and I saw a school distract that a.) prances about as if its better than anyone else b.) did nothing to make up instructional time and c.) fails its final exams, I would say forget it too.

In a small town with one or two high schools this might be feasible, but in a densely populated area like this, with many high schools vying for relatively few serviceable venues, it would logistically be a nightmare, if not impossible.

[Anonymous]

They have their graduation in halls they pay for? Seriously, only in this area would that be important. How about a normal graduation on the football field or gym like 90% of the rest of the country does.

I am glad the state is putting MCPS in its place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should push back finals and change graduation. Why wouldn't there be back up reservations and plans when the school hit the end of their planned snow days?

An extra week in fourth quarter could be used for more substantive review. MCPS has a huge problem with students that score A, Bs, and C, failing their math exams. Perhaps, they could teach math that week.

If I was a state superintendent and I saw a school distract that a.) prances about as if its better than anyone else b.) did nothing to make up instructional time and c.) fails its final exams, I would say forget it too.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should push back finals and change graduation. Why wouldn't there be back up reservations and plans when the school hit the end of their planned snow days?

An extra week in fourth quarter could be used for more substantive review. MCPS has a huge problem with students that score A, Bs, and C, failing their math exams. Perhaps, they could teach math that week.

If I was a state superintendent and I saw a school distract that a.) prances about as if its better than anyone else b.) did nothing to make up instructional time and c.) fails its final exams, I would say forget it too.

In a small town with one or two high schools this might be feasible, but in a densely populated area like this, with many high schools vying for relatively few serviceable venues, it would logistically be a nightmare, if not impossible.

I think it doesn't really work since as PP noted it's not only MCPS. FCPS also uses DAR. There are 25 high schools in MCPS and all but one uses DAR. They run the graduations 3x/day over 1.5 weeks. FCPS has the next 1-2 weeks booked.

My DC is a senior. He is taking 5 APs this year so will be done with those exams in mid-May. While they certainly do substantive work after the AP exams, I find it hard to believe that seniors will be very motivated to do much work 3-4 weeks after AP tests.

Also not sure who has said they won't move finals. Our principal has said that they WOULD move finals for underclassmen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They have their graduation in halls they pay for? Seriously, only in this area would that be important. How about a normal graduation on the football field or gym like 90% of the rest of the country does.

I am glad the state is putting MCPS in its place.

Size. Our gym would not hold even the parents (assuming 2 parents per student). The football field might hold that many but then there would be no rain contingency. Even at DAR we only get 6 seats per family. "Luckily" 2 of DCs grandparents are dead so we don't have to tell a grandparent they can't come.