Please SOUND OFF if you think FCPS is in decline!

[Anonymous]

FACT: The kids are here and must be educated.
FACT: This is the elephant in the room that is not being seriously addressed by FCPS.

Question: How is FCPS addressing and helping the schools that are receiving the largest influx of the kids? What kind of additional help is given to a school that receives the equivalent of two classrooms of kids that are poor and, in some cases, with very little formal education, and who speak little or no English?
What additional resources are provided to schools that grow in this manner AFTER the school year has begun?

I was a teacher in a couple of different systems--not Fairfax. In my experience, once the staff and classrooms were set in September, it was very difficult to hire additional teachers. Think about it, setting up new classrooms later in the year is unrealistic.
What is FCPS doing about this? These are schools that are already struggling. And, how are we helping these kids, as well as the schools? Think about it--this has to be extremely difficult for these kids--and, for the teachers who must help them when they are already stretched to the max.

Does anyone on this forum know how it is handled?

[Anonymous]

I don't like my assigned elementary but I will say my FCPS high school did an OUTSTANDING job with my teen who had a mental health crisis and was hospitalized this year. I will forever be grateful and was so impressed with their dedication and professionalism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't like my assigned elementary but I will say my FCPS high school did an OUTSTANDING job with my teen who had a mental health crisis and was hospitalized this year. I will forever be grateful and was so impressed with their dedication and professionalism.

Good to hear and hope your DC has a smoother next year!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...

Plan now to teach the basics; handwriting, spelling, math facts, reading comprehension, grammar, pre-algebra skills, geography, to name a few.

Set aside money for private tutors now if you aren't up to the task or never took chemistry, or can't remember geometry.

This is all absolutely true. Thank you for your honesty.

-1. Typical MAGA blather.

A PP wrote and bolded some elementary school basics. Exactly what does that have to do with MAGA? FCPS calls for on site elementary school volunteers whether middle school after school] or Grandinvolve [meaning retirees] to work with students at schools.

From 2003 to 2018 FCPS enrollment has grown about 23k and 101% is Hispanic, 78% of the growth is Hispanic/ELs/disadvantaged as per VDOE. That increase is not a socioeconomic spread of students from Venezuela. Growth in the number of students means additional facilities. Programs drive building capacity so FCPS has buildings where design capacity is greater than program capacity-lower class sizes, etc.

Who pays for the buildings? If a new building has 50% ELs /disadvantaged/Hispanic and costs 50 million on the CIP then it's 25m long term debt-bond repayment - cost to local property tax payers.

THIS! This is the problem. For some reason stating these facts will get you called a racist, but the reality is we need to come together to solve how to handle this influx of students so that ALL students can get a good education.

If you don’t know the difference between coming together to discuss how to meet the needs of all students - which FCPS leadership does regularly - and citing an increase in one particular demographic as support to argue FCPS is “in decline,” you shouldn’t be surprised when you get called out.

I'm a conservative republican and what Fairfax is doing is the most effective option out of a difficult situation

Yes there are more lower quality students now vs 20 years ago. More money is being spent in the tougher schools and veteran teachers and principals are being placed in the most challenging areas.

As others have said I think there is a tipping point being reached and I don't think many DCUM types folks would send their kids to the lower third of pyramids in FCPS. This is nothing new people have been avoiding certain pyramids for decades. At the same time there is nothing wrong with Robinson or Lake Braddock or West Springfield or Chantilly which are still great schools that middle class folks can afford to buy into. The majority of FCPS is fine. People are still clamoring to get into the majority of the county and schools.

The school board needs to focus on education policy and management

The undocumented immigrant situation needs to be fixed at the federal level and both parties have done nothing besides stupid games to get political points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FACT: The kids are here and must be educated.
FACT: This is the elephant in the room that is not being seriously addressed by FCPS.

Question: How is FCPS addressing and helping the schools that are receiving the largest influx of the kids? What kind of additional help is given to a school that receives the equivalent of two classrooms of kids that are poor and, in some cases, with very little formal education, and who speak little or no English?
What additional resources are provided to schools that grow in this manner AFTER the school year has begun?

I was a teacher in a couple of different systems--not Fairfax. In my experience, once the staff and classrooms were set in September, it was very difficult to hire additional teachers. Think about it, setting up new classrooms later in the year is unrealistic.
What is FCPS doing about this? These are schools that are already struggling. And, how are we helping these kids, as well as the schools? Think about it--this has to be extremely difficult for these kids--and, for the teachers who must help them when they are already stretched to the max.

Does anyone on this forum know how it is handled?

+no. No one seems to give a sh*t. In fact some of the PPs want to talk about the rare case of a poor hispanic going to TJ so they can pat themselves on the back for supporting an *amazing* school system. sigh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...

Plan now to teach the basics; handwriting, spelling, math facts, reading comprehension, grammar, pre-algebra skills, geography, to name a few.

Set aside money for private tutors now if you aren't up to the task or never took chemistry, or can't remember geometry.

This is all absolutely true. Thank you for your honesty.

-1. Typical MAGA blather.

A PP wrote and bolded some elementary school basics. Exactly what does that have to do with MAGA? FCPS calls for on site elementary school volunteers whether middle school after school] or Grandinvolve [meaning retirees] to work with students at schools.

From 2003 to 2018 FCPS enrollment has grown about 23k and 101% is Hispanic, 78% of the growth is Hispanic/ELs/disadvantaged as per VDOE. That increase is not a socioeconomic spread of students from Venezuela. Growth in the number of students means additional facilities. Programs drive building capacity so FCPS has buildings where design capacity is greater than program capacity-lower class sizes, etc.

Who pays for the buildings? If a new building has 50% ELs /disadvantaged/Hispanic and costs 50 million on the CIP then it's 25m long term debt-bond repayment - cost to local property tax payers.

THIS! This is the problem. For some reason stating these facts will get you called a racist, but the reality is we need to come together to solve how to handle this influx of students so that ALL students can get a good education.

If you don’t know the difference between coming together to discuss how to meet the needs of all students - which FCPS leadership does regularly - and citing an increase in one particular demographic as support to argue FCPS is “in decline,” you shouldn’t be surprised when you get called out.

I'm a conservative republican and what Fairfax is doing is the most effective option out of a difficult situation

Yes there are more lower quality students now vs 20 years ago. More money is being spent in the tougher schools and veteran teachers and principals are being placed in the most challenging areas.

As others have said I think there is a tipping point being reached and I don't think many DCUM types folks would send their kids to the lower third of pyramids in FCPS. This is nothing new people have been avoiding certain pyramids for decades. At the same time there is nothing wrong with Robinson or Lake Braddock or West Springfield or Chantilly which are still great schools that middle class folks can afford to buy into. The majority of FCPS is fine. People are still clamoring to get into the majority of the county and schools.

The school board needs to focus on education policy and management

The undocumented immigrant situation needs to be fixed at the federal level and both parties have done nothing besides stupid games to get political points.

I'm a moderate democrat and agree with this PP entirely.

[Anonymous]

I'm a moderate democrat and agree with this PP entirely.

I hope you consider this in your SB choices. I don't know who would be most helpful--I only am sure of a couple who won't be.

We need to focus on the issues that affect the most kids. That doesn't mean ignoring other issues, but it does mean focusing on the big picture. I am so tired of hearing Rigby testify at almost every SB meeting. I understand that his intention is to help marginalized kids, but I don't think our SB has harmed them. It's time to move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FACT: The kids are here and must be educated.
FACT: This is the elephant in the room that is not being seriously addressed by FCPS.

Question: How is FCPS addressing and helping the schools that are receiving the largest influx of the kids? What kind of additional help is given to a school that receives the equivalent of two classrooms of kids that are poor and, in some cases, with very little formal education, and who speak little or no English?
What additional resources are provided to schools that grow in this manner AFTER the school year has begun?

I was a teacher in a couple of different systems--not Fairfax. In my experience, once the staff and classrooms were set in September, it was very difficult to hire additional teachers. Think about it, setting up new classrooms later in the year is unrealistic.
What is FCPS doing about this? These are schools that are already struggling. And, how are we helping these kids, as well as the schools? Think about it--this has to be extremely difficult for these kids--and, for the teachers who must help them when they are already stretched to the max.

Does anyone on this forum know how it is handled?

+no. No one seems to give a sh*t. In fact some of the PPs want to talk about the rare case of a poor hispanic going to TJ so they can pat themselves on the back for supporting an *amazing* school system. sigh.

Not sure why you think everyone would buy into your false narrative that the system is declining all because you don’t like having more Hispanics at Herndon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does it seem like the education from FCPS is nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago? Misused funds, children swept under the rug, principals who lie...

Sound off!

Principals cover their own a** and the ones I encountered are corrupt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does it seem like the education from FCPS is nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago? Misused funds, children swept under the rug, principals who lie...

Sound off!

Principals cover their own a** and the ones I encountered are corrupt.

We were generally happy with our pyramid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it just me or does it seem like the education from FCPS is nowhere near as good as it was 20 years ago? Misused funds, children swept under the rug, principals who lie...

Sound off!

Principals cover their own a** and the ones I encountered are corrupt.

We were generally happy with our pyramid.

Good for you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FACT: The kids are here and must be educated.
FACT: This is the elephant in the room that is not being seriously addressed by FCPS.

Question: How is FCPS addressing and helping the schools that are receiving the largest influx of the kids? What kind of additional help is given to a school that receives the equivalent of two classrooms of kids that are poor and, in some cases, with very little formal education, and who speak little or no English?
What additional resources are provided to schools that grow in this manner AFTER the school year has begun?

I was a teacher in a couple of different systems--not Fairfax. In my experience, once the staff and classrooms were set in September, it was very difficult to hire additional teachers. Think about it, setting up new classrooms later in the year is unrealistic.
What is FCPS doing about this? These are schools that are already struggling. And, how are we helping these kids, as well as the schools? Think about it--this has to be extremely difficult for these kids--and, for the teachers who must help them when they are already stretched to the max.

Does anyone on this forum know how it is handled?

+no. No one seems to give a sh*t. In fact some of the PPs want to talk about the rare case of a poor hispanic going to TJ so they can pat themselves on the back for supporting an *amazing* school system. sigh.

Not sure why you think everyone would buy into your false narrative that the system is declining all because you don’t like having more Hispanics at Herndon.

If the problem is not that the schools are overwhelmed with FARMS and ESOL, then what is it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FACT: The kids are here and must be educated.
FACT: This is the elephant in the room that is not being seriously addressed by FCPS.

Question: How is FCPS addressing and helping the schools that are receiving the largest influx of the kids? What kind of additional help is given to a school that receives the equivalent of two classrooms of kids that are poor and, in some cases, with very little formal education, and who speak little or no English?
What additional resources are provided to schools that grow in this manner AFTER the school year has begun?

I was a teacher in a couple of different systems--not Fairfax. In my experience, once the staff and classrooms were set in September, it was very difficult to hire additional teachers. Think about it, setting up new classrooms later in the year is unrealistic.
What is FCPS doing about this? These are schools that are already struggling. And, how are we helping these kids, as well as the schools? Think about it--this has to be extremely difficult for these kids--and, for the teachers who must help them when they are already stretched to the max.

Does anyone on this forum know how it is handled?

+no. No one seems to give a sh*t. In fact some of the PPs want to talk about the rare case of a poor hispanic going to TJ so they can pat themselves on the back for supporting an *amazing* school system. sigh.

Not sure why you think everyone would buy into your false narrative that the system is declining all because you don’t like having more Hispanics at Herndon.

If the problem is not that the schools are overwhelmed with FARMS and ESOL, then what is it?

Parents who are racist dicks.

[Anonymous]

There's always going to be a few parents who go nuts because they don't like ESOL kids or their own kid didn't get into AAP. They post anonymously on forums like this because no one pays attention to them in person. Boo hoo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Please. NP here, but the PPs that talked about how hard it is to accommodate kids who have never held a book and kids that are reading fluently in kindergarten are absolutely correct. I know it's not politically correct--and I am a Dem--but it is impossible to deal with kids who don't speak English, whose parents are not literate in their native languages, who are traumatized by what has happened or is going on at home, who face poverty or homelessness, and/or who have serious behavioral issues, and also accommodate the typical middle class kid. And God forbid that typical kid is quiet and well-behaved (especially a girl), because that kid will be ignored entirely.

My DD spent most of early elementary school at her Title I school stuck in a corner doing worksheets and reading quietly while the teacher dealt with behavioral issues and offering remedial instruction. DD qualified for AAP, but even at her Level IV center the classes are overcrowded, and there are numerous behavioral issues. I went to an underfunded, high poverty public school in the South, and my education was superior to what I am seeing in FCPS. Not impressed.

Bingo.

Re: the bolded -- I don't agree with the especially the girls part. There are several programs geared towards girls (girls on the run, girls stem). I do agree that (and witnessed) quiet, well-behaved, average students left alone to work for long stretches (days) without working with teachers. My own DCs' teachers have admitted that to me. FCPS is stretched so much it isn't serving a lot of students well.