truth, the best schools in Fairfax county have farms 10 to 35%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: Do fairfax county elementary schools in high FARMS schools still place children in groups according to their math, reading, etc abilities? (aside from AAP). I know I was in an advanced group in my school for reading and math. We had different assignments and instruction. I think THIS is the most important thing, regardless of the % of FARMS students. I heard in MoCo all the kids are taught the same material together no matter what their ability level.

I doubt it. Once the FARMs get high enough, I think most teachers just presume the whole class is pretty dumb and teaches to the lowest common denominator. That's why you really want to stay out of the high FARMs schools.

I have a 2nd and 3rd grader in a Title I school. Both have differentiated homework. I know for certain that there are reading groups, DD mentioned recently how excited she was a 3rd child joined hers. DS in 3rd gets weekly Level III pullouts. Both get extra work, especially my daughter who asks for it. I'll be curious how this will look when some leave for AAP (not sure if DD will be placed), but we've been very pleased in the early grades. Honestly, they've gotten a lot more attention than my older son who went to a very non-diverse, high test score school. Class size is much better. FARMS rate is 70%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I do not want income verification if that means that the kids in my classroom go hungry. For many of those kids, it's the only meal a day they get. If they require paperwork, parents who don't understand the system, don't speak English, maybe don't have a regular job that gives a W2 (Many of my kids' parents are house cleaners and day laborers. It's all under the table) won't be getting a decent meal.

I'm sure you can implement an income verification system that would avoid kids going hungry. You can have a box on the form saying you don't have the information but you certify that you meet the income requirements. You can have teachers/administrators using discretion to make sure kids are getting fed. I think the idea that we only have two options - no income verification and abuse vs. income verification and kids starving is a false one.

The county is bleeding money.

Income verification is used for many services in life. There is no reason that it should not be used for 13 years of free meals and all the benefits that go with being in the FARMS program (free gym uniforms, reduced price parking passes at the high school level - it is NOT just free meals.)

Hello, I an anon, and I live in the Parklawn School District, which has a very high FARMS rate, and I would applaud a full audit of FCPS' FARM Program, to root out blatant fraud and unscrupulous parents looking for a free ride. None of this is free. We do not get nearly enough federal money for educating FARMS students to justify not having some form of income verification.