Another article about the magnet programs in Washington Post

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So the fact that 40% of the program are National Merit Scholars and the average SAT score of the program is 2250 means nothing if kids choose to go to UMD because it has the program they want or is most financially manageable to them.

The middle class/upper middle-class kids would still likely have SAT scores of 2250 and be NMS at their home schools. The lower-income students would still be at the magnet. So, I'm not saying it means nothing, I'm saying it's a wash.

Do you really think that UMD is these kids dream school? (I'm not saying anything bad about the school). If Blair really created amazing students we would see more students going to top schools (both because they would get in and because of merit scholarships).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Not PP, but I think there is a strong implementation here. When you emphasize certain groups in this discussion without any explanation its just fuel to the fire. I think it hurts the argument to say, "we need more of this demographic in the magnet" as opposed to saying "we have more qualified applicants than are accepted so lets expand the magnet". The reason this is a hot button item is poor communication. At the end of the day, what we want is the needs met for all kids so why can't we say that instead of having this divisive discussion by separating us out into various groups.

There is plenty of explanation in the report. Have you read it?

The reason it's a hot button issue is because the have parents (at least on DCUM) tend to interpret anything related to the have-nots as "MCPS IS GOING TO DISADVANTAGE MY CHILD IN FAVOR OF THOSE UNDESERVING PEOPLE!" Why? Why assume that MCPS's solution is to admit unqualified kids to the application magnets based on race -- especially given that this is illegal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the fact that 40% of the program are National Merit Scholars and the average SAT score of the program is 2250 means nothing if kids choose to go to UMD because it has the program they want or is most financially manageable to them.

The middle class/upper middle-class kids would still likely have SAT scores of 2250 and be NMS at their home schools. The lower-income students would still be at the magnet. So, I'm not saying it means nothing, I'm saying it's a wash.

Do you really think that UMD is these kids dream school? (I'm not saying anything bad about the school). If Blair really created amazing students we would see more students going to top schools (both because they would get in and because of merit scholarships).

Your measure of academic success seems to be: matriculation at fancy-pants private colleges. Why?

[Anonymous]

The Blair Magnet was created to pull successful students in to Blair. It has been considered successful. It was not created to pull up the scores of the students themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So the fact that 40% of the program are National Merit Scholars and the average SAT score of the program is 2250 means nothing if kids choose to go to UMD because it has the program they want or is most financially manageable to them.

The middle class/upper middle-class kids would still likely have SAT scores of 2250 and be NMS at their home schools. The lower-income students would still be at the magnet. So, I'm not saying it means nothing, I'm saying it's a wash.

Do you really think that UMD is these kids dream school? (I'm not saying anything bad about the school). If Blair really created amazing students we would see more students going to top schools (both because they would get in and because of merit scholarships).

Blair students are in the UMD Honors program and thus given more attention than the rest of the student body. UMD also happens to be ranked top 20 for engineering/computer science, which is actually better than the majority of Ivy leagues. By and large, elite schools do not give merit scholarships; only need based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not PP, but I think there is a strong implementation here. When you emphasize certain groups in this discussion without any explanation its just fuel to the fire. I think it hurts the argument to say, "we need more of this demographic in the magnet" as opposed to saying "we have more qualified applicants than are accepted so lets expand the magnet". The reason this is a hot button item is poor communication. At the end of the day, what we want is the needs met for all kids so why can't we say that instead of having this divisive discussion by separating us out into various groups.

There is plenty of explanation in the report. Have you read it?

The reason it's a hot button issue is because the have parents (at least on DCUM) tend to interpret anything related to the have-nots as "MCPS IS GOING TO DISADVANTAGE MY CHILD IN FAVOR OF THOSE UNDESERVING PEOPLE!" Why? Why assume that MCPS's solution is to admit unqualified kids to the application magnets based on race -- especially given that this is illegal?

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

Do you qualify for FARMS, and/or are you and/or your child black and/or Hispanic? You don't have to answer this question, of course!

[Anonymous]

Doesn't sound like NYC is all that diferent..

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/03/gifted_and_talented_education_cities_try_to_make_programs_more_inclusive.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

Do you qualify for FARMS, and/or are you and/or your child black and/or Hispanic? You don't have to answer this question, of course!

YES!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

Do you qualify for FARMS, and/or are you and/or your child black and/or Hispanic? You don't have to answer this question, of course!

YES!

Why the eye roll? As I'm sure you know, there are minorities in Montgomery County who don't or aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

Do you qualify for FARMS, and/or are you and/or your child black and/or Hispanic? You don't have to answer this question, of course!

YES!

Why the eye roll? As I'm sure you know, there are minorities in Montgomery County who don't or aren't.

who don't or aren't what? Your question said or, or, or... so it could be anyone of the three. The eye roll is that the question implied that I must've been Asian or something to have that view.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

So you think the guy is just making it up about lots of families not knowing the programs exist?


Not the PP but I think the problem goes deeper and sending out more emails or calls will not fix it.



OK, if more e-mails and calls won't fix the problem of families that don't know the programs exist, what will fix the problem? What can MCPS do to make sure that everybody knows about these programs and understands whether and how to apply to them?"

1) For lottery programs just enter everyone or make them opt out. If you "win" the lottery you need to affirmatively claim your seat by x date to keep it. Most importantly do not have a lottery that many people do not know about since they are not yet receiving MCPS info (immersion program).

2) For selective programs do not put the onus on parents to apply unless they are trying to override an initial decision. In FCPS I think the first AAP cuts are just based on test scores of a test they give ALL kids and teacher scores of all kids above a certain point. A parent can do extra steps in an application but I do not think they are required. Basically shift the primary screening onus to the schoola not the parents. This would be a good first step to at least improve more equal shots at the slots.

This isn't feasible because waiting for the entire K cohorts parents to respond (many who could care less) during the summer will not give enough time to fill the slots by the beginning of school. They barely can do it now.

The way MCPS does language immersion magnets is particularly egregious because the application is due months before schools do the big kindergarten enrollment push. So, if you don't have a child in the system or neighbors/friends to give you a heads up, you have no way of knowing the application is even due. That, plus sibling preference, is probably the most unfair part of the whole magnet/choice system and I hope it is the first to be changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

Do you qualify for FARMS, and/or are you and/or your child black and/or Hispanic? You don't have to answer this question, of course!

YES!

Why the eye roll? As I'm sure you know, there are minorities in Montgomery County who don't or aren't.

who don't or aren't what? Your question said or, or, or... so it could be anyone of the three. The eye roll is that the question implied that I must've been Asian or something to have that view.

Who don't qualify for FARMS and aren't black and/or Hispanic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

So you think the guy is just making it up about lots of families not knowing the programs exist?


Not the PP but I think the problem goes deeper and sending out more emails or calls will not fix it.



OK, if more e-mails and calls won't fix the problem of families that don't know the programs exist, what will fix the problem? What can MCPS do to make sure that everybody knows about these programs and understands whether and how to apply to them?"

1) For lottery programs just enter everyone or make them opt out. If you "win" the lottery you need to affirmatively claim your seat by x date to keep it. Most importantly do not have a lottery that many people do not know about since they are not yet receiving MCPS info (immersion program).

2) For selective programs do not put the onus on parents to apply unless they are trying to override an initial decision. In FCPS I think the first AAP cuts are just based on test scores of a test they give ALL kids and teacher scores of all kids above a certain point. A parent can do extra steps in an application but I do not think they are required. Basically shift the primary screening onus to the schoola not the parents. This would be a good first step to at least improve more equal shots at the slots.

This isn't feasible because waiting for the entire K cohorts parents to respond (many who could care less) during the summer will not give enough time to fill the slots by the beginning of school. They barely can do it now.

The way MCPS does language immersion magnets is particularly egregious because the application is due months before schools do the big kindergarten enrollment push. So, if you don't have a child in the system or neighbors/friends to give you a heads up, you have no way of knowing the application is even due. That, plus sibling preference, is probably the most unfair part of the whole magnet/choice system and I hope it is the first to be changed.

For the most part I agree with you.. In my view sibling preference is the most unfair practice in the whole system at the moment. Yet you have clueless immersion parents on the list serve with every intention of soldiering on in its defense.

The application being due ~6 months before enrollment while not the best scenario I'm not quite sure how to avoid if you feel as I do that Immersion should start as young as possible. I think we need to find out a way to notify more parents or get parents to enroll earlier (with immersion option somehow tied to enrollment). But other than that I'm not sure what you can do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I've read the whole report and while we are primarily talking about the article, the report essentially says, "MCPS is not doing enough to diversify the magnets, other schools are doing it, do something about it".

signed- Minority parent of minority child who didn't quite make it into HGC

Do you qualify for FARMS, and/or are you and/or your child black and/or Hispanic? You don't have to answer this question, of course!

YES!

Why the eye roll? As I'm sure you know, there are minorities in Montgomery County who don't or aren't.

who don't or aren't what? Your question said or, or, or... so it could be anyone of the three. The eye roll is that the question implied that I must've been Asian or something to have that view.

Who don't qualify for FARMS and aren't black and/or Hispanic.

But you asked, ".... FARMs and/or black and/or Hispanic.

They way YOU framed the question doesn't tie any of those groups together so you are asking do I belong to anyone of the three. Did you mean to ask if I'm black or Hispanic in addition to qualifying for FARMS?!?!