HS Choice Programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Application and results will be streamlined. Students will select all high school programs of interest via one form/process and the outcomes for all programs requested will be delivered at the same time in one letter.

I think that's a positive change.

[Anonymous]

Nothing about more SMAC programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing about more SMAC programs?

Central admins only presented info about Phase I changes starting in the fall. One of the board members asked about additional planned programs and was told the board would hear more in the future. The central office hasn't even worked out the catchment areas for the new regional centers yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing about more SMAC programs?

Central admins only presented info about Phase I changes starting in the fall. One of the board members asked about additional planned programs and was told the board would hear more in the future. The central office hasn't even worked out the catchment areas for the new regional centers yet.

That will be the most contentious part of this change.

[Anonymous]

I'll just leave this here:

Key Finding 7: The overall demand for choice and special academic programs in MCPS exceeds the
supply of seats in the programs.

Recommendation 7: To the extent that MCPS invests in expanding seat capacity in choice
and special programs to catch up with growth in district enrollment and demand, it should
ensure that these efforts are aligned with the district’s core values, including equity, and
consider a wider variety of models, such as dual language and whole-school, theme-based
magnet programs that use lottery admissions processes that rely primarily on student interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll just leave this here:

Key Finding 7: The overall demand for choice and special academic programs in MCPS exceeds the
supply of seats in the programs.

Recommendation 7: To the extent that MCPS invests in expanding seat capacity in choice
and special programs to catch up with growth in district enrollment and demand, it should
ensure that these efforts are aligned with the district’s core values, including equity, and
consider a wider variety of models, such as dual language and whole-school, theme-based
magnet programs that use lottery admissions processes that rely primarily on student interest.

Start prepping for the lottery...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll just leave this here:

Key Finding 7: The overall demand for choice and special academic programs in MCPS exceeds the
supply of seats in the programs.

Recommendation 7: To the extent that MCPS invests in expanding seat capacity in choice
and special programs to catch up with growth in district enrollment and demand, it should
ensure that these efforts are aligned with the district’s core values, including equity, and
consider a wider variety of models, such as dual language and whole-school, theme-based
magnet programs that use lottery admissions processes that rely primarily on student interest.

Yes, but the GT expert's report they used as guidance to present to the board made it clear that eliminating criteria-based advanced programs is not best practice and will hurt the school system in the long run by causing UMC parents to leave the system and hurt low income highly able students by not allowing them access to appropriate curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll just leave this here:

Key Finding 7: The overall demand for choice and special academic programs in MCPS exceeds the
supply of seats in the programs.

Recommendation 7: To the extent that MCPS invests in expanding seat capacity in choice
and special programs to catch up with growth in district enrollment and demand, it should
ensure that these efforts are aligned with the district’s core values, including equity, and
consider a wider variety of models, such as dual language and whole-school, theme-based
magnet programs that use lottery admissions processes that rely primarily on student interest.

Yes, but the GT expert's report they used as guidance to present to the board made it clear that eliminating criteria-based advanced programs is not best practice and will hurt the school system in the long run by causing UMC parents to leave the system and hurt low income highly able students by not allowing them access to appropriate curriculum.

The only ones left are the cheapskates, anyway.

[Anonymous]

Lotteries for certain programs are totally appropriate, like immersion. They are not appropriate for GT programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lotteries for certain programs are totally appropriate, like immersion. They are not appropriate for GT programs.

They made it clear they are not using lotteries for application magnet programs that require testing, grades, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lotteries for certain programs are totally appropriate, like immersion. They are not appropriate for GT programs.

The Wheaton programs already work on a variant of this principle. There are the 25 test in seats (per program), but then there's the academy program open to all comers, who then can access nearly the same curriculum. And then pressure to avoid barriers between the two.