Jan. 9 BOE Business Meeting Discussion Thread

[Anonymous]

We don't need central office math coaches. We need 1)our staff development teachers and school based math coaches to not be in charge of elopement and behavior issues but actually working with staff and students
2) to allow teachers to adjust pacing to account for mastery of not exposure to topics
3) we need a baseline expectation for math facts fluency in each grade
4) we need reasonable math interventions and staff to lead it
5) we need more support for our special education teachers

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

They really should stop gambling and just build in more snow days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The math team definitely needs more explaining and planning for what they are going to do system wide. The ELA team however has a multi year plan that they can show implementation progress as well as improvement in overall reading progress.

Does that include the ELA team using standards and MCAP testing to determine reading progress? Since this is the first year of CKLA, how can they determine improvement in overall reading progress(winter assessments haven't even been given yet). Since you know, what measures are being used to determine overall reading progress?

I know that is supposed to be a snark based on one comment made during the entire presentation. However, I’ll answer as I did watch the entire presentation and have actually been following along on the situation. CKLA curriculum was only part of the plan. Moving to Science of Reading and changing ELA started three years back. They added the use of Really Great Reading for K-2 to ensure direct phonics instruction. They also added mandatory professional development for Science of Reading and the CKLA curriculum. Those kids won’t take the MCAP until next year. The cohort of Kindergartners starting this year with CKLA won’t take MCAP for another three years. So for now they look at Dibels data, MAP data, and internal benchmarks established to align with MCAP. MCAP is only taken once a year so clearly it can’t be the only measure of progress.

At the secondary level there is a review of the curriculum l, changes made to ensure the grade level books are being used and that the entire writing process is being undertaken. This level is going to need more attention and work because part of what’s needed is planning and grading time for teachers such that they can provide meaningful feedback and support, which is hard to do when you have 30+ students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

And 1/29 exists. Why not use it?

They won't decide until after that.

That's ridiculous. They should use the next available make-up day when one is needed.

[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:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

They really should stop gambling and just build in more snow days.

How about we cut the number of built-in days instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't need central office math coaches. We need 1)our staff development teachers and school based math coaches to not be in charge of elopement and behavior issues but actually working with staff and students
2) to allow teachers to adjust pacing to account for mastery of not exposure to topics
3) we need a baseline expectation for math facts fluency in each grade
4) we need reasonable math interventions and staff to lead it
5) we need more support for our special education teachers

This sounds like common sense. Probably why MCPS is not considering it.

[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:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

They really should stop gambling and just build in more snow days.

How about we cut the number of built-in days instead.

Why would they do that?

[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:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

They really should stop gambling and just build in more snow days.

How about we cut the number of built-in days instead.

Why would they do that?

DP but pretty sure PP was being sarcastic, in that that is what they are doing next year -- going from 2 built-in days to just 1.

[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:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

They really should stop gambling and just build in more snow days.

How about we cut the number of built-in days instead.

Why would they do that?

DP but pretty sure PP was being sarcastic, in that that is what they are doing next year -- going from 2 built-in days to just 1.

Why would they do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The part about student IDs for added safety and security. What is the plan to enforce this? I work at an MCPS HS and maybe 10% of students wear theirs. There are no consequences and they just say it’s lost or at home.

Also, speaking of consequences, the part about attendance. When will MCPS enforce some kind of attendance policy? I don’t except much progress with attendance until this goes back into effect.

There is no plan to enforce the ID policy systemically. They want individual principals and schools to figure it out.

Luckily for principals, there are no tangible criteria or measures of success, so you can do pretty much whatever you feel like doing and claim it as a win.

I guess, but doesn't everyone understand there's no way to actually enforce an ID requirement? It's such a waste of time, money, and effort.

Of course there is. Have kids scan in and out and more security.

And what do you do with all the kids that forget or lose them?

Our school replaced the id and charges a fee.

[Anonymous]

Since you have been just "following along" regarding this transition, if this transition started three years ago, wouldn't we see some elements of growth on MCAP OR MAP already? The current fourth and fifth grade students have been part of that shift three years ago so shouldn't we see gains? The philosophy that we should only be following this cohort of K students to see the impact of the change is flawed.
Also, in my opinion, the one comment made was a pretty big comment regarding beliefs about standards and assessment. I believe the comment was "I don't want to get on my soapbox about MCAP.....". Big belief statement from the head of literacy in MCPS.

[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:Did they talk about the snow days and the calendar at all?

If you mean did they talk about how we'd decide how to make up the snow days with the allotted dates on our calendar? No. But they did use the "Things to Know" newsletter to address criticism around their decision to remain closed for a third day.

Maybe if they just ignore the problem it will go away.

Has someone explained to Taylor that we're going to need make-up days? It's crazy they didn't bring that up at the meeting.

They always wait until they know the total number of days needed to make up.

That doesn't make any sense. Then we'll have already gone past most of the make-up days.

That might have made sense in past when it was easier for districts to aks for a waiver, but we know we're going to need to add at least one day.

No, we'll still have 7 out of the 10 makeup days available.

That's counting the days at the very end of the year. No one wants to use those.

No one wants to, and yet, they exist.

I predict they will change 3/31 or 6/6 to an early release day, or both if needed. Then they won't have to extend the year.

These days are both Eid holidays for Muslims.

Yes, and they are also possible makeup days. 1/29 is also Lunar New Year. The other five makeup days will extend the school year into the week of June 16th. Some people are bound to be unhappy regardless of which day is selected.

They really should stop gambling and just build in more snow days.

How about we cut the number of built-in days instead.

Why would they do that?

DP but pretty sure PP was being sarcastic, in that that is what they are doing next year -- going from 2 built-in days to just 1.

Why would they do that?

Because Taylor wants a transition day to replace what would have been the first day of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since you have been just "following along" regarding this transition, if this transition started three years ago, wouldn't we see some elements of growth on MCAP OR MAP already? The current fourth and fifth grade students have been part of that shift three years ago so shouldn't we see gains? The philosophy that we should only be following this cohort of K students to see the impact of the change is flawed.
Also, in my opinion, the one comment made was a pretty big comment regarding beliefs about standards and assessment. I believe the comment was "I don't want to get on my soapbox about MCAP.....". Big belief statement from the head of literacy in MCPS.

Correct. Melaika Brown made it very clear that she doesn't think MCAP is important. Board President Julie Yang had to correctly point out to her it doesn't really matter what she thinks about MCAP, since the state of Maryland cares about it and uses it to evaluate MCPS's performance.

Someone with Melaika's mindset probably should not be in charge of our ELA curriculum, since she thinks her opinion and expertise can overrule MSDE's.