What is the real reason MCPS uses Lottery for Middle School Magnet Program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've reached the same conclusion as many many other parents. The only question now is why Wolfe and McKnight don't do this? According to another thread, they're spending 1.6M on Kid's Museum instead of enhancing programs?

I've been one of the loudest proponents of differentiation on this thread, but I'm unbothered by the Kid Museum partnership. Kids, including gifted kids, benefit from these sorts of partnerships because they expose kids to resources they would not otherwise be able to access. Maybe it lights a spark that would otherwise not be lit.

Does anyone know if this is the first time MCPS gave money to KIDS museum? The Museum has been in the basement of Davis Library for over Ten years. Last time They were talking about move it to a new office building in Rockville. I always wondering why such great venue for kids, especially the kids they intended to help whose parents are less likely to expose them to STEM, not locate in downtown SS, Wheaton, or Germantown.

Why are we investing in a Kid Museum at all. We live in a city of free museums. Transportation is a huge issue (not enough buses to use for field trips) and often cited at my kids' ES on why they don't take more field trips. Why don't they take the 1.6 million and distribute it to schools to pay for coach buses so kids can take advantage of all museums that already exist?

I'm sure somebody has the real numbers - but I'm supposing that it is more cost efficient to have something nearby than it is to pay for those coach buses to take our kids into DC year after year after year after year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former superintendent, Dr. Starr’s wife is the founder of the Kid Museum. System is beyond corrupt.

This is disinformation. Say what you like about the partnership, but that is just a flat-out lie. I think his wife might be on the board, but she's not the founder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've reached the same conclusion as many many other parents. The only question now is why Wolfe and McKnight don't do this? According to another thread, they're spending 1.6M on Kid's Museum instead of enhancing programs?

I've been one of the loudest proponents of differentiation on this thread, but I'm unbothered by the Kid Museum partnership. Kids, including gifted kids, benefit from these sorts of partnerships because they expose kids to resources they would not otherwise be able to access. Maybe it lights a spark that would otherwise not be lit.

Does anyone know if this is the first time MCPS gave money to KIDS museum? The Museum has been in the basement of Davis Library for over Ten years. Last time They were talking about move it to a new office building in Rockville. I always wondering why such great venue for kids, especially the kids they intended to help whose parents are less likely to expose them to STEM, not locate in downtown SS, Wheaton, or Germantown.

Why are we investing in a Kid Museum at all. We live in a city of free museums. Transportation is a huge issue (not enough buses to use for field trips) and often cited at my kids' ES on why they don't take more field trips. Why don't they take the 1.6 million and distribute it to schools to pay for coach buses so kids can take advantage of all museums that already exist?

I'm sure somebody has the real numbers - but I'm supposing that it is more cost efficient to have something nearby than it is to pay for those coach buses to take our kids into DC year after year after year after year

How are kids getting to the Kid Museum? They are still going to need Coach buses to get there. I guess kids can walk from Ashburton, but there is probably some MCPS rule against that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've reached the same conclusion as many many other parents. The only question now is why Wolfe and McKnight don't do this? According to another thread, they're spending 1.6M on Kid's Museum instead of enhancing programs?

I've been one of the loudest proponents of differentiation on this thread, but I'm unbothered by the Kid Museum partnership. Kids, including gifted kids, benefit from these sorts of partnerships because they expose kids to resources they would not otherwise be able to access. Maybe it lights a spark that would otherwise not be lit.

Does anyone know if this is the first time MCPS gave money to KIDS museum? The Museum has been in the basement of Davis Library for over Ten years. Last time They were talking about move it to a new office building in Rockville. I always wondering why such great venue for kids, especially the kids they intended to help whose parents are less likely to expose them to STEM, not locate in downtown SS, Wheaton, or Germantown.

Why are we investing in a Kid Museum at all. We live in a city of free museums. Transportation is a huge issue (not enough buses to use for field trips) and often cited at my kids' ES on why they don't take more field trips. Why don't they take the 1.6 million and distribute it to schools to pay for coach buses so kids can take advantage of all museums that already exist?

I'm sure somebody has the real numbers - but I'm supposing that it is more cost efficient to have something nearby than it is to pay for those coach buses to take our kids into DC year after year after year after year

How are kids getting to the Kid Museum? They are still going to need Coach buses to get there. I guess kids can walk from Ashburton, but there is probably some MCPS rule against that.

$5 per mile on top of $1500-$2000 for the day charter.

It adds up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know what is the real reason MCPS BOE uses lottery for CES program?
Why can't it be the consistency of performance against benchmarks in elementary school? and/or likewise consistency of performance in middle school for highschool magnet program

Are they using Lottery for selection into sports and games teams as well instead of performance benchmarks? or is the lottery exclusive for academic programs?

Seriously, the lottery should be held in a public setting instead of a lottery selection shrouded in mystery. Applicant submits application. Receives a raffle ticket. You put your ticket in the bowl (or elect to let them put the ticket in the bowl for you). They shake it up and let some kids pick it. Easy Peasy and everyone knows it is fair.

Lottery exclusively applied for academics so that certain groups can be reduced. You know those kids who work too hard and whose immigrant parents care too much about education. Screw those uppities. You won't replace us.

Please clarify, who is replacing who? But really, they should do it so that if you qualify academically, you get a raffle ticket and the raffle is held in the open.

Their statements aren't factual. The lottery was done because of the pandemic after the makers of the CogAT stated their test could not be administered remotely. They're just making up crazy conspiracy theories for which there is 0 evidence because it supports their extreme political agenda.

Right, even if what you are saying is true, is COGAT is the only possible test? Really? Instead of spending millions of $ on consultants.MCPS could actually create a test where prep wouldn't even matter. what extreme political agenda is it please? The lottery defamation league agenda? I see one side in power making power and some people asking questions and resisting politically expedient lazy solutions.

The PP was correct. Most of this stuff is misinformation to rile up the uninformed. They didn't set out to make a lottery it was the consequence of circumstances beyond their control. A more valid question is now that they could adminster the cogAT why are they keeping it?

That's not true. The year before Covid, MCPS did not adhere to the standards publicly posted on how to calculate the MCPS Percentile used to select MS Magnet students.

It's interesting that now MCPS is not publishing the exact "local norming" and "lottery" methodologies? Notice a pattern there?

It's not curious at all because anyone should be able to figure it out it's basic stuff and detailed on their website so I don't know what you're talking about.

Please post the link to the methodology for local norming and lottery formulation. I am interested and want to understand it.

+1. Everyone says that is “obvious” or “easy” to understand but I would really like MCPS to help me understand.

Yes please. Help me understand!

Let’s just stipulate that I have low intelligence and need things spelled out for me in plain language. It’s not “easy” or “obvious” to me and I have looked on the website and watched the YouTube videos and I’m none the wiser.

Still waiting (cricket chirp, chirp, chirp..)

They post all the info on their website. I've read the last couple times they updated the process. It seemed perfectly clear to me.

Please post the link with “all the info” thanks!

I'd have to google it again and figure you can do that just as easily.

Me too. My Google must be broken. I'm not getting the same results you must be getting.

I'm patient. I can wait. Thanks for getting this info together!

Did anyone ever post the links? I don't see them.

No one has ever posted the links because they don’t exist. MCPS has never publicly released any information about how they conduct “local norming” or formulate the lottery pool. It is actually even conjecture to assume there is ONE pool for each MS.

It’s pretty gross behavior to purposefully go online to lie about special programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've reached the same conclusion as many many other parents. The only question now is why Wolfe and McKnight don't do this? According to another thread, they're spending 1.6M on Kid's Museum instead of enhancing programs?

I've been one of the loudest proponents of differentiation on this thread, but I'm unbothered by the Kid Museum partnership. Kids, including gifted kids, benefit from these sorts of partnerships because they expose kids to resources they would not otherwise be able to access. Maybe it lights a spark that would otherwise not be lit.

Does anyone know if this is the first time MCPS gave money to KIDS museum? The Museum has been in the basement of Davis Library for over Ten years. Last time They were talking about move it to a new office building in Rockville. I always wondering why such great venue for kids, especially the kids they intended to help whose parents are less likely to expose them to STEM, not locate in downtown SS, Wheaton, or Germantown.

Why are we investing in a Kid Museum at all. We live in a city of free museums. Transportation is a huge issue (not enough buses to use for field trips) and often cited at my kids' ES on why they don't take more field trips. Why don't they take the 1.6 million and distribute it to schools to pay for coach buses so kids can take advantage of all museums that already exist?

I'm sure somebody has the real numbers - but I'm supposing that it is more cost efficient to have something nearby than it is to pay for those coach buses to take our kids into DC year after year after year after year

How are kids getting to the Kid Museum? They are still going to need Coach buses to get there. I guess kids can walk from Ashburton, but there is probably some MCPS rule against that.

$5 per mile on top of $1500-$2000 for the day charter.

It adds up.

Yup. Its why we have to pony up the money weeks ahead of time before some field trips. They need to have the money in hand / promised before booking those buses.