What is MoCo Good at Doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did well in creating the virtual academy.

My kids really thrived during virtual. Also MCPS did a great job averting national teacher shortage.

You are an MCPS employee, correct? The virtual schools were atrocious for most children and there is something like 700 job openings - although the county is apparently double/billeting them as the army likes to say to hide the true number.

These schools have no hope of returning to their luster without first starting with truth. This is the cultural problem I have with MCPS - total focus on optics. This started with Weast, Starr (worst offender next to McKnight). I loathed Smith but at least he got 2.0 out - although likely the contract just ran out.

Really hard problem / how do you alter a culture of lying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They have amazing opportunities available (immersion, magnet, etc.), but it is largely up to parents to seek those out and the supply is less than the demand.

I was impressed by the level of art instruction in elementary. They seem to teach techniques, as opposed to the art classes I grew up with that were just random craft projects.

I understand they’re replacing the standard curriculum, so I am hopeful that will become something good, but I don’t yet have enough specifics to know rither way.

OP here. I'm in DC, but as the kids get older we are wondering if we should stay. After I read for hours on this site about the 2.0 debacle I told my spouse that there was no way I'd move to MoCo now. I understood that 2.0 was going away as of the 2018 JHI report. Is it still in place? Or what curriculum is in place?

C2.0 been gone and it was implemented in ES and MS, not HS.

To be replaced with the ‘outstanding’ (sarcasm) Benchmark curricula…the problem for MCPS is it is too big and the part time school board a major target for Texas based textbook sales companies peddling mediocre curricula. They must simply give small donations for these campaigns and get their votes - quite a good business strategy.

Can’t blame it al on the board. The state should have laws that n place about the quality of curriculum used in public schools. Even states like Mississippi are ahead of MD in this regard.

Yeah and Louisiana and Florida. The Louisiana Believes site rates curricula and the state will back a parish if it picks a tier 1 course. I am so amazed at how DMV can have all these PhDs and yet friggin’ Louisiana does something brilliant like this. Apparently they even raised ACT scores by 10 points by doing this and offering more teacher guidance. Then I researched it a little bit and realized it was a private school grad from DMV - St. Albans’ Jon White, now at Harvard. We get second and third tier education leadership.

There’s planning (a curriculum guide) and then there’s execution (what actually gets taught and the pedagogy). Many of my in-laws live in small towns in Louisiana. They are always amazed at what my kids are doing in MCPS compared to their kids.

Well, comparing a 3 billion dollar enterprise to a likely million dollar enterprise likely wouldn’t be very productive. Oh MCPS will dazzle, that’s for sure…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did well in creating the virtual academy.

My kids really thrived during virtual. Also MCPS did a great job averting national teacher shortage.

You are an MCPS employee, correct? The virtual schools were atrocious for most children and there is something like 700 job openings - although the county is apparently double/billeting them as the army likes to say to hide the true number.

These schools have no hope of returning to their luster without first starting with truth. This is the cultural problem I have with MCPS - total focus on optics. This started with Weast, Starr (worst offender next to McKnight). I loathed Smith but at least he got 2.0 out - although likely the contract just ran out.

Really hard problem / how do you alter a culture of lying?

The McKnight stalker is back!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did well in creating the virtual academy.

My kids really thrived during virtual. Also MCPS did a great job averting national teacher shortage.

You are an MCPS employee, correct? The virtual schools were atrocious for most children and there is something like 700 job openings - although the county is apparently double/billeting them as the army likes to say to hide the true number.

These schools have no hope of returning to their luster without first starting with truth. This is the cultural problem I have with MCPS - total focus on optics. This started with Weast, Starr (worst offender next to McKnight). I loathed Smith but at least he got 2.0 out - although likely the contract just ran out.

Really hard problem / how do you alter a culture of lying?

Clearly it wasn't that bad for most children. Mine do well in virtual too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

My child had severe delays and got zero help. We paid a fortune privately. I think I have a right to complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did well in creating the virtual academy.

My kids really thrived during virtual. Also MCPS did a great job averting national teacher shortage.

You are an MCPS employee, correct? The virtual schools were atrocious for most children and there is something like 700 job openings - although the county is apparently double/billeting them as the army likes to say to hide the true number.

These schools have no hope of returning to their luster without first starting with truth. This is the cultural problem I have with MCPS - total focus on optics. This started with Weast, Starr (worst offender next to McKnight). I loathed Smith but at least he got 2.0 out - although likely the contract just ran out.

Really hard problem / how do you alter a culture of lying?

Clearly it wasn't that bad for most children. Mine do well in virtual too.

The only people I know that complained were ones that ignore their kids and seem to think the county should raise them. They also often believe school is daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

My child had severe delays and got zero help. We paid a fortune privately. I think I have a right to complain.

sure, but that doesn't answer the question. What other large school district does SN well?

BTW, the parent of the SN child I knew in the rich area I was in also spent $$ on private lawyers to get the rich school district to provide the services.

MCPS doesn't do SN well, but neither does any school district, even rich ones. That's all I'm saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did well in creating the virtual academy.

My kids really thrived during virtual. Also MCPS did a great job averting national teacher shortage.

You are an MCPS employee, correct? The virtual schools were atrocious for most children and there is something like 700 job openings - although the county is apparently double/billeting them as the army likes to say to hide the true number.

These schools have no hope of returning to their luster without first starting with truth. This is the cultural problem I have with MCPS - total focus on optics. This started with Weast, Starr (worst offender next to McKnight). I loathed Smith but at least he got 2.0 out - although likely the contract just ran out.

Really hard problem / how do you alter a culture of lying?

Not PP and not an MCPS employee but my kid also thrived in virtual

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

My child had severe delays and got zero help. We paid a fortune privately. I think I have a right to complain.

sure, but that doesn't answer the question. What other large school district does SN well?

BTW, the parent of the SN child I knew in the rich area I was in also spent $$ on private lawyers to get the rich school district to provide the services.

MCPS doesn't do SN well, but neither does any school district, even rich ones. That's all I'm saying.

Lucky that parent. Most of us cannot afford a private lawyer and private services. Some do it better than others and MCPS has its preferred diagnosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They did well in creating the virtual academy.

My kids really thrived during virtual. Also MCPS did a great job averting national teacher shortage.

You are an MCPS employee, correct? The virtual schools were atrocious for most children and there is something like 700 job openings - although the county is apparently double/billeting them as the army likes to say to hide the true number.

These schools have no hope of returning to their luster without first starting with truth. This is the cultural problem I have with MCPS - total focus on optics. This started with Weast, Starr (worst offender next to McKnight). I loathed Smith but at least he got 2.0 out - although likely the contract just ran out.

Really hard problem / how do you alter a culture of lying?

Clearly it wasn't that bad for most children. Mine do well in virtual too.

The only people I know that complained were ones that ignore their kids and seem to think the county should raise them. They also often believe school is daycare.

It partly also depends on the school and teacher. There is a huge difference between the quality of Virtual Academy and virtual covid where the class time was reduced, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

My child had severe delays and got zero help. We paid a fortune privately. I think I have a right to complain.

sure, but that doesn't answer the question. What other large school district does SN well?

BTW, the parent of the SN child I knew in the rich area I was in also spent $$ on private lawyers to get the rich school district to provide the services.

MCPS doesn't do SN well, but neither does any school district, even rich ones. That's all I'm saying.

Lucky that parent. Most of us cannot afford a private lawyer and private services. Some do it better than others and MCPS has its preferred diagnosis.

I think if you have that kind of money, you are just luckier, period.

[Anonymous]

MCPS is really good at outreach and communications. I get all these helpful emails from them constantly. It's almost too much!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

My child had severe delays and got zero help. We paid a fortune privately. I think I have a right to complain.

sure, but that doesn't answer the question. What other large school district does SN well?

BTW, the parent of the SN child I knew in the rich area I was in also spent $$ on private lawyers to get the rich school district to provide the services.

MCPS doesn't do SN well, but neither does any school district, even rich ones. That's all I'm saying.

Perhaps size matters as well as the socio economic level of the community. My nephew was well served in a small San Antonio school district after leaving Maryland. The school team focused less on paperwork and more on meeting his needs. He was extremely successful in a challenging high school curriculum and gained study skills that he used in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Music instruction is very good.

Foreign language instruction is excellent. There are lots of choices, immersion programs and an emphasis on communication.

There are some amazing special educators in MCPS although it really requires the parents pushing.

Have to disagree with last statement. Three years, two schools in W cluster - never saw it on spec Ed side. Actually complete opposite. This was a decade ago for context - but I think I’m more likely to be correct now since there are like 400 MCPS jobs open and most of them are Spec Ed. All the best folks left long, long ago.

Our speech therapy was 30 minutes a week for a child really struggling in a group with 6-8 kids with unrelated needs. Thankfully we could do private but completely unacceptable. The special education team ignored my kid.

There is a shortage of special ed teachers here and across the board. MCPS has many openings for them.

What district around here with this many SN kids does special ed well?

This was long before covid and we didn't need a special education teacher we needed an SLP.

ok, but the question is "what large district does SN well"? I came from a rich area out west, and parents of SN kids complained over there, too. Not blaming them, just noting that this particular issue doesn't seem to be isolated to MCPS.

My child had severe delays and got zero help. We paid a fortune privately. I think I have a right to complain.

sure, but that doesn't answer the question. What other large school district does SN well?

BTW, the parent of the SN child I knew in the rich area I was in also spent $$ on private lawyers to get the rich school district to provide the services.

MCPS doesn't do SN well, but neither does any school district, even rich ones. That's all I'm saying.

Perhaps size matters as well as the socio economic level of the community. My nephew was well served in a small San Antonio school district after leaving Maryland. The school team focused less on paperwork and more on meeting his needs. He was extremely successful in a challenging high school curriculum and gained study skills that he used in college.

I believe this. MoCo is HUGE and the SES levels varies depending on which cluster you are in. Children in lower SES communities may need more support from the school. Combine that need with the lack of teachers and we are in a situation where we may not be able to serve all students appropriately. It is definitely concerning, but what can we do? I know that for my kids, I plan to be more heavily involved in supplementing at home. I am not confident that my kids will get a robust enough education (in my opinion) at school this year. I don't blame the teachers; it just seems that there are so many competing priorities and not enough people to execute them (and it is likely too expensive). Just my thoughts.