Virtual Learning - Why Not MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have other counties been able to overcome the 1-1 Chromebook hurdle but mcps can’t? Or are those counties not concerned with that?

They're not because there's no learning going on during their "virtual" days.

What’s your evidence of that? I have friends in Alexandria PS and their kids were online with their teachers the way all our kids were during COVID. They even had teacher “office hours” that day so kids could get extra help.
And since they knew a storm was coming, ACPS had its act together and made sure all the kids grade 4 and up took their laptops home.

Meanwhile Taylor and his MCPS senior management prioritized “snow day videos.”

Taylor, central office and the BOE have been clear they are anti virtual. They don’t care who they hurt and are selfish. It doesn’t work for their kids be a they are not involved parents.

They understand that they have no way to accommodate students virtually.

Snort. Send them on a field trip to Arlington PS, DCPS, Anne Arundel, Baltimore or NYC. These are all large school districts that “managed to accommodate students virtually.” MCPS is just lazy and incompetent.

They absolutely did not manage to do that. Look at any study and it shows how absolutely horrible online learning was

Do feel free to quote the study that offered that shows how ineffective virtual learning last week during the snow day was. ( Hint:research studies take longer than a day to complete/peer review/publish.)

[Anonymous]

themocoshow: Montgomery County Public Schools has clarified why it is not shifting to virtual learning during weather related school closures, despite ongoing questions from families
According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option durina these closures for several kev reasons tied to access, timina, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent manv students from participating fullv in instruction.
Second, the current closures coincide with the start of a new semester. Many high school students are beginning new courses with new teachers, and MCPS says attempting a short term pivot to virtua learning during this transition would be disruptive and impractical. Administrators note that starting new classes online for only a few days, then switching back to in person learning, would create confusion rather than continuity
Finally, MCPS does not have a state approved virtual learning plan in place. Without that approval the district is not permitted to move instruction online during weather closures, regardless of logistical considerations.
The clarification echoes information previously shared by Moderately MoCo, which confirmec directly with MCPS superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor that snow related closures remain traditionak snow days, not virtual learning days. MCPS has emphasized that if its ability or authorization to offer virtual learning ever changes, the district wil make a clear and official announcement
For now, MCPS says closures due to weather will continue to function as traditional school closures with no remote instruction taking place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what an embarrassment. half the counties in the state including baltimore city had plans in place for remote learning--and places like garrett and frederick counties that have far more rural areas were two hour delayed. Really, MCPS?

Most places were and are not doing virtual because they know it doesn't work.

Yes, MCPS could have opened, but Taylor can't manage.

NYC and baltimore county both have virtual school this week-- why is it an equity issue here and not those places? both still allow for plenty of play in the snow time

Hundreds of schools have had virtual school this week, NYC had it Monday the day after the storm, and had kids back in classrooms on Tuesday.
Anne Arundel has also done virtual learning this week.
Even Oklahoma has managed to do virtual school this week.
MCPS is just lazy.

Virtual is the lazy path. Everyone knows those virtual days are worthless. Schools only do them because they're easier and cheaper than adding real days. That's not a good reason.

Who is everyone? Universities, community colleges, NYC, Anne Arundel schools, Baltimore schools, lots of Virginia schools including Alexandria did virtual learning this week. My kid has had some great virtual learning instruction.

So no, “everyone” does NOT think these days are worthless and think it’s better to add three half days in end June and tell kids not to come to school because no real instruction is going on.

Yeah but everyone who cared enough about the subject made sure to tell the county that virtual learning on snow days was a bad idea when the county specifically asked for community input. Maybe you should have compaigned a bit harder to counteract that decision

Where are the data that show that parents preferred to have schools closed for an entire week rather than have virtual learning? Hint: you won’t find any.

No one asked that question explicitly but in 2021, DCUM bellowed that virtual was worse than nothing.

So MCPS makes policy based on what DCUM says? Somehow I don’t think that’s the case and if you think so, you should take some time to educate yourself better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:themocoshow: Montgomery County Public Schools has clarified why it is not shifting to virtual learning during weather related school closures, despite ongoing questions from families
According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option durina these closures for several kev reasons tied to access, timina, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent manv students from participating fullv in instruction.
Second, the current closures coincide with the start of a new semester. Many high school students are beginning new courses with new teachers, and MCPS says attempting a short term pivot to virtua learning during this transition would be disruptive and impractical. Administrators note that starting new classes online for only a few days, then switching back to in person learning, would create confusion rather than continuity
Finally, MCPS does not have a state approved virtual learning plan in place. Without that approval the district is not permitted to move instruction online during weather closures, regardless of logistical considerations.
The clarification echoes information previously shared by Moderately MoCo, which confirmec directly with MCPS superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor that snow related closures remain traditionak snow days, not virtual learning days. MCPS has emphasized that if its ability or authorization to offer virtual learning ever changes, the district wil make a clear and official announcement
For now, MCPS says closures due to weather will continue to function as traditional school closures with no remote instruction taking place.

So Baltimore, NYC, DC, Alexandria and Anne Arundel public schools don’t care about equity? Somehow I think they do yet they had virtual schooling last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have other counties been able to overcome the 1-1 Chromebook hurdle but mcps can’t? Or are those counties not concerned with that?

They're not because there's no learning going on during their "virtual" days.

What’s your evidence of that? I have friends in Alexandria PS and their kids were online with their teachers the way all our kids were during COVID. They even had teacher “office hours” that day so kids could get extra help.
And since they knew a storm was coming, ACPS had its act together and made sure all the kids grade 4 and up took their laptops home.

Meanwhile Taylor and his MCPS senior management prioritized “snow day videos.”

Taylor, central office and the BOE have been clear they are anti virtual. They don’t care who they hurt and are selfish. It doesn’t work for their kids be a they are not involved parents.

They understand that they have no way to accommodate students virtually.

Snort. Send them on a field trip to Arlington PS, DCPS, Anne Arundel, Baltimore or NYC. These are all large school districts that “managed to accommodate students virtually.” MCPS is just lazy and incompetent.

They absolutely did not manage to do that. Look at any study and it shows how absolutely horrible online learning was

Done properly it can be very effective. People like you are the problem and in the meanwhile our kids get no education thanks to selfish people like you. Let’s compare the real Mva data to equal schools. Oh wait, MCPS and the bone refuse to release it…kids are not doing well in person per test scores. So, is no education really better? My kids thrived in online but they had loving supportive parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:themocoshow: Montgomery County Public Schools has clarified why it is not shifting to virtual learning during weather related school closures, despite ongoing questions from families
According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option durina these closures for several kev reasons tied to access, timina, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent manv students from participating fullv in instruction.
Second, the current closures coincide with the start of a new semester. Many high school students are beginning new courses with new teachers, and MCPS says attempting a short term pivot to virtua learning during this transition would be disruptive and impractical. Administrators note that starting new classes online for only a few days, then switching back to in person learning, would create confusion rather than continuity
Finally, MCPS does not have a state approved virtual learning plan in place. Without that approval the district is not permitted to move instruction online during weather closures, regardless of logistical considerations.
The clarification echoes information previously shared by Moderately MoCo, which confirmec directly with MCPS superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor that snow related closures remain traditionak snow days, not virtual learning days. MCPS has emphasized that if its ability or authorization to offer virtual learning ever changes, the district wil make a clear and official announcement
For now, MCPS says closures due to weather will continue to function as traditional school closures with no remote instruction taking place.

Sometimes teachers change but it’s the same courses and it’s rare to start new courses mid year. Hs students have their chromebooks or phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what an embarrassment. half the counties in the state including baltimore city had plans in place for remote learning--and places like garrett and frederick counties that have far more rural areas were two hour delayed. Really, MCPS?

Most places were and are not doing virtual because they know it doesn't work.

Yes, MCPS could have opened, but Taylor can't manage.

NYC and baltimore county both have virtual school this week-- why is it an equity issue here and not those places? both still allow for plenty of play in the snow time

Hundreds of schools have had virtual school this week, NYC had it Monday the day after the storm, and had kids back in classrooms on Tuesday.
Anne Arundel has also done virtual learning this week.
Even Oklahoma has managed to do virtual school this week.
MCPS is just lazy.

Virtual is the lazy path. Everyone knows those virtual days are worthless. Schools only do them because they're easier and cheaper than adding real days. That's not a good reason.

Who is everyone? Universities, community colleges, NYC, Anne Arundel schools, Baltimore schools, lots of Virginia schools including Alexandria did virtual learning this week. My kid has had some great virtual learning instruction.

So no, “everyone” does NOT think these days are worthless and think it’s better to add three half days in end June and tell kids not to come to school because no real instruction is going on.

Yeah but everyone who cared enough about the subject made sure to tell the county that virtual learning on snow days was a bad idea when the county specifically asked for community input. Maybe you should have compaigned a bit harder to counteract that decision

Where are the data that show that parents preferred to have schools closed for an entire week rather than have virtual learning? Hint: you won’t find any.

No one asked that question explicitly but in 2021, DCUM bellowed that virtual was worse than nothing.

So MCPS makes policy based on what DCUM says? Somehow I don’t think that’s the case and if you think so, you should take some time to educate yourself better.

You’d be surprised. They don’t give y’all everything you want, but they do cave on a lot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would support distance learning during extended closure. Like if conditions are truly dangerous and school needs to be closed for more than a week, they could offer some kind of instruction. For ES, they could mail packets home. I would support using this to reduce makeup days by up to 2 days per week of closure (after one week)

Mail?

I just got mail delivered for the first time in a week yesterday.

Meanwhile, someone has to be able to get to work to
1) print each teacher’s packets.
2) copy all of those packets.
3) stuff envelopes
4) address the envelopes.
and 5) drop all of the envelopes off at the post office.

I think the idea is stupid, but presumably the pp meant email.

Which is even crazier because I'd imagine like 60% of the county doesn't have a printer in their home. And I'm not just talking the FARMS kids. I make 6 figures and have not owned a home printer in over a decade. No need to have one when I can print everything at the office.

You can clearly get online no problem so they can do the work online or buy a printer.

I'm not buying a printer so your socially inept nerd kids can do their school work. My kid is using this time off to hit the squat rack in the basement. Football is in a few months

Can’t they do football and schoolwork at the same time. You are stealing from your employer. You sound like a terrible parent who doesn’t value education. I’m happy to buy your kid a printer but they are in hs so they have a Chromebook or they can use your device.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would support distance learning during extended closure. Like if conditions are truly dangerous and school needs to be closed for more than a week, they could offer some kind of instruction. For ES, they could mail packets home. I would support using this to reduce makeup days by up to 2 days per week of closure (after one week)

Mail?

I just got mail delivered for the first time in a week yesterday.

Meanwhile, someone has to be able to get to work to
1) print each teacher’s packets.
2) copy all of those packets.
3) stuff envelopes
4) address the envelopes.
and 5) drop all of the envelopes off at the post office.

I think the idea is stupid, but presumably the pp meant email.

I posted work on Canvas on Monday after the announcement about Tuesday. Seven students submitted it.

We aren’t seeing anything on canvas but one teacher is emailing both students and parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How have other counties been able to overcome the 1-1 Chromebook hurdle but mcps can’t? Or are those counties not concerned with that?

They're not because there's no learning going on during their "virtual" days.

What’s your evidence of that? I have friends in Alexandria PS and their kids were online with their teachers the way all our kids were during COVID. They even had teacher “office hours” that day so kids could get extra help.
And since they knew a storm was coming, ACPS had its act together and made sure all the kids grade 4 and up took their laptops home.

Meanwhile Taylor and his MCPS senior management prioritized “snow day videos.”

Taylor, central office and the BOE have been clear they are anti virtual. They don’t care who they hurt and are selfish. It doesn’t work for their kids be a they are not involved parents.

They understand that they have no way to accommodate students virtually.

Snort. Send them on a field trip to Arlington PS, DCPS, Anne Arundel, Baltimore or NYC. These are all large school districts that “managed to accommodate students virtually.” MCPS is just lazy and incompetent.

They're ignoring students with special needs, too.

After the way MCPS has treated us, I will absolutely use every legal tool to fight virtual unless they come up with an appropriate and effective plan for accommodating students.

Ok have fun with that. The world doesn’t revolve around your kid.

It’s kinda sad they have that kind of time and money to fight unnecessary things but not work with their child. They can have accommodations in virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would support distance learning during extended closure. Like if conditions are truly dangerous and school needs to be closed for more than a week, they could offer some kind of instruction. For ES, they could mail packets home. I would support using this to reduce makeup days by up to 2 days per week of closure (after one week)

Mail?

I just got mail delivered for the first time in a week yesterday.

Meanwhile, someone has to be able to get to work to
1) print each teacher’s packets.
2) copy all of those packets.
3) stuff envelopes
4) address the envelopes.
and 5) drop all of the envelopes off at the post office.

I think the idea is stupid, but presumably the pp meant email.

Which is even crazier because I'd imagine like 60% of the county doesn't have a printer in their home. And I'm not just talking the FARMS kids. I make 6 figures and have not owned a home printer in over a decade. No need to have one when I can print everything at the office.

You can clearly get online no problem so they can do the work online or buy a printer.

I'm not buying a printer so your socially inept nerd kids can do their school work. My kid is using this time off to hit the squat rack in the basement. Football is in a few months

Can’t they do football and schoolwork at the same time. You are stealing from your employer. You sound like a terrible parent who doesn’t value education. I’m happy to buy your kid a printer but they are in hs so they have a Chromebook or they can use your device.

My kid has a 3.6 GPA and college offers to play football. He manages both schoolwork and football just fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would support distance learning during extended closure. Like if conditions are truly dangerous and school needs to be closed for more than a week, they could offer some kind of instruction. For ES, they could mail packets home. I would support using this to reduce makeup days by up to 2 days per week of closure (after one week)

Mail?

I just got mail delivered for the first time in a week yesterday.

Meanwhile, someone has to be able to get to work to
1) print each teacher’s packets.
2) copy all of those packets.
3) stuff envelopes
4) address the envelopes.
and 5) drop all of the envelopes off at the post office.

I think the idea is stupid, but presumably the pp meant email.

I posted work on Canvas on Monday after the announcement about Tuesday. Seven students submitted it.

We aren’t seeing anything on canvas but one teacher is emailing both students and parents.

My MS kid had three canvas assignments posted last week but sort of surreptitiously that it wasn’t required to be done until school was back in session (but you know dedicated teachers are getting stressed about how they’re going to finish the curriculum with all these days of no instruction.)

My kid was happy to have something to do and did them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would support distance learning during extended closure. Like if conditions are truly dangerous and school needs to be closed for more than a week, they could offer some kind of instruction. For ES, they could mail packets home. I would support using this to reduce makeup days by up to 2 days per week of closure (after one week)

Mail?

I just got mail delivered for the first time in a week yesterday.

Meanwhile, someone has to be able to get to work to
1) print each teacher’s packets.
2) copy all of those packets.
3) stuff envelopes
4) address the envelopes.
and 5) drop all of the envelopes off at the post office.

I think the idea is stupid, but presumably the pp meant email.

Which is even crazier because I'd imagine like 60% of the county doesn't have a printer in their home. And I'm not just talking the FARMS kids. I make 6 figures and have not owned a home printer in over a decade. No need to have one when I can print everything at the office.

You can clearly get online no problem so they can do the work online or buy a printer.

I'm not buying a printer so your socially inept nerd kids can do their school work. My kid is using this time off to hit the squat rack in the basement. Football is in a few months

Can’t they do football and schoolwork at the same time. You are stealing from your employer. You sound like a terrible parent who doesn’t value education. I’m happy to buy your kid a printer but they are in hs so they have a Chromebook or they can use your device.

Unless your football playing kid is still in elementary school, he can use his Chromebook and you can save your precious 100$ and not buy a printer.

The kids who need printed materials are the ones without Chromebooks (ie grades K-3.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:themocoshow: Montgomery County Public Schools has clarified why it is not shifting to virtual learning during weather related school closures, despite ongoing questions from families
According to MCPS, virtual instruction is not an option durina these closures for several kev reasons tied to access, timina, and state requirements. First, the school system does not currently have one to one remote devices available for every student. Without universal access to devices, MCPS says moving to virtual learning would create inequities and prevent manv students from participating fullv in instruction.
Second, the current closures coincide with the start of a new semester. Many high school students are beginning new courses with new teachers, and MCPS says attempting a short term pivot to virtua learning during this transition would be disruptive and impractical. Administrators note that starting new classes online for only a few days, then switching back to in person learning, would create confusion rather than continuity
Finally, MCPS does not have a state approved virtual learning plan in place. Without that approval the district is not permitted to move instruction online during weather closures, regardless of logistical considerations.
The clarification echoes information previously shared by Moderately MoCo, which confirmec directly with MCPS superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor that snow related closures remain traditionak snow days, not virtual learning days. MCPS has emphasized that if its ability or authorization to offer virtual learning ever changes, the district wil make a clear and official announcement
For now, MCPS says closures due to weather will continue to function as traditional school closures with no remote instruction taking place.

Sometimes teachers change but it’s the same courses and it’s rare to start new courses mid year. Hs students have their chromebooks or phones.

So do MS kids. Heck, if the central office had some foresight, they could have sent the 4th and 5th graders home with their Chromebooks.

It’s not like this was a freak winter storm that no one predicted. We knew it was coming a week in advance. Whoever does MCPs operational planning should be replaced

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would support distance learning during extended closure. Like if conditions are truly dangerous and school needs to be closed for more than a week, they could offer some kind of instruction. For ES, they could mail packets home. I would support using this to reduce makeup days by up to 2 days per week of closure (after one week)

Mail?

I just got mail delivered for the first time in a week yesterday.

Meanwhile, someone has to be able to get to work to
1) print each teacher’s packets.
2) copy all of those packets.
3) stuff envelopes
4) address the envelopes.
and 5) drop all of the envelopes off at the post office.

I think the idea is stupid, but presumably the pp meant email.

Which is even crazier because I'd imagine like 60% of the county doesn't have a printer in their home. And I'm not just talking the FARMS kids. I make 6 figures and have not owned a home printer in over a decade. No need to have one when I can print everything at the office.

You can clearly get online no problem so they can do the work online or buy a printer.

I'm not buying a printer so your socially inept nerd kids can do their school work. My kid is using this time off to hit the squat rack in the basement. Football is in a few months

Can’t they do football and schoolwork at the same time. You are stealing from your employer. You sound like a terrible parent who doesn’t value education. I’m happy to buy your kid a printer but they are in hs so they have a Chromebook or they can use your device.

My kid has a 3.6 GPA and college offers to play football. He manages both schoolwork and football just fine.

No, he doesn't if that is his GPA. And, they offers may not materialize as offers are different than college acceptances. He has a chromebook - he can do work on it and doesn't need to print anything. You are the probem. Football is not till the end summer.