FCPS High School Poverty and Enrollment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

Schools/School districts provide special treatment to a lot of different groups. Not sure what the big deal here is.

That proves too much. It’s not a good reason to continue a policy that has weakened schools like Mount Vernon all over the state.

This policy does not weaken MV.

Those families with high schoolers living on post are higher ranking that are required to live on base due to their jobs.

If they did not have the ability to pupil place their high school students to other fcps schools, they would do one of these things, none of which would result in their military kids attending MV.

1) Turn down the assignment and retire.
2) Send the military parent alone, while the rest of the family remains at the current duty station while the kids are in high school or the active duty parent gets a new assignment, whicbever comes first.
3) move the entire family, but put the high school student in provate or religious school, probably Bishop OConnel or Bishop Ireton.
4) Homeschool
5) Leave the high schooler with friends or grandparents, so they can finish out school where they are or at a better school.

Every military family knows people who have done one of the things on this list to prevent their high schoolers from moving to a failing high school when the parent is required to live on a base that is zoned for the failing school.

Allowing those military kids stationed to Ft. BElelvoir to transfer hight schools means those military kids move into fcps and guarantees fcps receives their coveted military impact aide.

If this is true, and it may well not be since it sounds quite speculative on your part, it would still be better to force them to reveal their true colors by engaging in such shenanigans than to continue giving them undeserved special treatment when it comes to picking preferred schools and disrespecting others.

DP. The bolded is exactly what has been happening for years, ever since AAP kids were given a choice of attending their base schools or an AAP center. Gen Ed kids get no such choice. Talk about *undeserved special treatment*. How do you feel about that?

Military families sacrifice so much, all in order to serve their country. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and letting them choose which school their kids should attend seems like the bare minimum we could offer. These are the deserving. Not some random AAP kid.

That’s a transparent exercise is “whataboutism” and proof of the maxim “two wrongs don’t make a right.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

cont. If they lived in the "local community" they would not have this privilege to pupil place in any school.

But, again, it is likely that some of these kids have moved to Fort Belvoir from other high schools in the area and want to stay in those schools. There is usually a wait list to live on post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

You make it sound like they never leave the military area, which obviously isn’t the case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

The anti military trolls from recent topics found this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

You make it sound like they never leave the military area, which obviously isn’t the case.

Fort Belvoir is pretty big. Shopping, hospital, recreation, etc. It is basically a town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

The anti military trolls from recent topics found this thread.

One doesn’t have to be anti-military to think they don’t deserve special perks when it comes to selecting which public schools they want their kids to attend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

cont. If they lived in the "local community" they would not have this privilege to pupil place in any school.

But, again, it is likely that some of these kids have moved to Fort Belvoir from other high schools in the area and want to stay in those schools. There is usually a wait list to live on post.

They do live in the local community, just in the WestPo or Hayfield pyramids or they send their kids to Ireton or O'Connell if they choose to live nearer to Belvoir

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

cont. If they lived in the "local community" they would not have this privilege to pupil place in any school.

But, again, it is likely that some of these kids have moved to Fort Belvoir from other high schools in the area and want to stay in those schools. There is usually a wait list to live on post.

They do live in the local community, just in the WestPo or Hayfield pyramids or they send their kids to Ireton or O'Connell if they choose to live nearer to Belvoir

There are quite a few military families at Mount Vernon, just not as many as there would be if FCPS paid more attention to MVHS and military families weren’t given special transfer options denied others.

[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:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

cont. If they lived in the "local community" they would not have this privilege to pupil place in any school.

But, again, it is likely that some of these kids have moved to Fort Belvoir from other high schools in the area and want to stay in those schools. There is usually a wait list to live on post.

They do live in the local community, just in the WestPo or Hayfield pyramids or they send their kids to Ireton or O'Connell if they choose to live nearer to Belvoir

There are quite a few military families at Mount Vernon, just not as many as there would be if FCPS paid more attention to MVHS and military families weren’t given special transfer options denied others.

I doubt this is more than a handful of kids. There are unlikely to be that many high school kids living on Fort Belvoir. There is a multitude of possibilities why they have been given pupil placement options.
I spent years teaching military kids for DOD. I don't think most people have a clue of the challenges these kids face because their parents choose to serve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

The anti military trolls from recent topics found this thread.

One doesn’t have to be anti-military to think they don’t deserve special perks when it comes to selecting which public schools they want their kids to attend.

Nah.

Definitely anti military trolls on the past few pages of this thread.

[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:If it doesn’t cost us anything then all parents in the county should be allowed to choose the school of choice for their child.

The argument boils down to advocating for more fringe benefits for military personnel instead of just actually paying them more or actually providing better healthcare.

They chose/volunteered. Did their kids? No. But neither did the kids born to single parent/low income/homeless choose to be born into their situation. That argument doesn’t actually go very far.

This is exactly right. Some of the PPs are adamant to protect the special fringe benefits military families are getting because they think it’s somehow patriotic to do so, but giving them schooling options denied other families still is poor educational policy. If you want to incentivize people to enlist, teach, or be a doctor in a poor community, just pay them more.

The open enrollment based on exisiting open capacity in any Virginia school division is state not local. https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter1/section22.1-7.2/

The fact is if a military connected family does not get on base housing the student does not get the out of FCPS cycle opportunity for transfer. Bases do not have an unlimited supply of 1 to 3 bedroom units.

That was already pointed out earlier. Just because the special treatment may be afforded under state law does not mean it is good public policy.

It is a very good and logical policy.

+1

Bad public policy is a school system shifting kids for demographics. Why? Because they are not helping the kids--they are just hiding the problem. Good public policy is educating kids-no matter how many are poor.

That’s exactly what the state law allows - shifting military kids around in accordance with their parents’ demographic preferences rather than educating the kids in schools closest to where they live.

+1. If these families were truly patriotic wouldn’t they want to be a part of the local community and send their kids to the local schools?

These kids live on post--not in the "local community."

cont. If they lived in the "local community" they would not have this privilege to pupil place in any school.

But, again, it is likely that some of these kids have moved to Fort Belvoir from other high schools in the area and want to stay in those schools. There is usually a wait list to live on post.

They do live in the local community, just in the WestPo or Hayfield pyramids or they send their kids to Ireton or O'Connell if they choose to live nearer to Belvoir

There are quite a few military families at Mount Vernon, just not as many as there would be if FCPS paid more attention to MVHS and military families weren’t given special transfer options denied others.

I doubt this is more than a handful of kids. There are unlikely to be that many high school kids living on Fort Belvoir. There is a multitude of possibilities why they have been given pupil placement options.
I spent years teaching military kids for DOD. I don't think most people have a clue of the challenges these kids face because their parents choose to serve.

Yep.

There are very few high school kids who live on base.

[Anonymous]

this is from wikipedia based on 2010 census. Numbers may be quite different now.

"There were 1,777 households, out of which 80.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.2% were headed by married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 4.3% were non-families. 4.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 0.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.80, and the average family size was 3.90.[10]"

Bear in mind that of the number of households with kids--it is 80%--it could be higher or lower now. But, one thing I know for sure--of those with kids under 18, the percentage of high school kids is quite low.

I taught in a DOD school on a military post with six to eight first grades and three or four sixth grades. The parents start retiring as the kids get older. A high school on a military post is usually quite small.

[Anonymous]

Just looked up Fort Benning (not sure if it has been renamed to Fort Moore yet): six elementary schools; ONE middle school, and NO high schools. That is because the high school population is not high enough to provide for a high school. This is typical on a military post.