Support the Montgomery Virtual Academy (MVA) from Budget Cuts!

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

PP, I agree with you. This should not be publicly funded. There are virtual private school options just as there are in-person private school options. I don't care how much it costs, this should not be funded through taxpayer money. There was a time for it, and that time has passed.

But. There is not. I don’t want my taxes to go towards sports that take away from educational priorities. I don’t want public funds to go towards artificial football turfs. I don’t want public funds to go towards a big meeting space for the board that is not used on a daily basis. I don’t want public funds to go towards any new initiatives. Or meals or travel for CO staff. That’s just a start. We all don’t get what we want with public funds.

We don't all get what we want. We get what our elected representative choose, which is no MVA.

Which is why we are allowed to advocate for what WE want. We don’t care about your schools or taking away programs from your children. If your “elected rep” took away a precious magnet program in a W school you all would be on speed dial to the governor. Get real Linda.

Now you're hallucinating some lady named Linda? Good grief.

Ok Karen. I apologize. If you can’t compete, get lost. Your comment is meaningless.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

PP, I agree with you. This should not be publicly funded. There are virtual private school options just as there are in-person private school options. I don't care how much it costs, this should not be funded through taxpayer money. There was a time for it, and that time has passed.

Yes, everyone would prefer these families advocate for accommodations for these children in private placements and we will be happy to pay for that. Of course, it will be more expensive than MVA but that is fine. As long as the children are not educated in a way we hate. We are happy to pay more for their education if we can get them where we never see them.

DP. Where did you get the idea that MCPS would or should pay for private placement for these reasons? The pp seemed to be suggesting that parents pay for private school if they are not happy with what the public school provides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

Anyone can attend. Equity is having the school. It’s not a private school and cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

PP, I agree with you. This should not be publicly funded. There are virtual private school options just as there are in-person private school options. I don't care how much it costs, this should not be funded through taxpayer money. There was a time for it, and that time has passed.

Yes, everyone would prefer these families advocate for accommodations for these children in private placements and we will be happy to pay for that. Of course, it will be more expensive than MVA but that is fine. As long as the children are not educated in a way we hate. We are happy to pay more for their education if we can get them where we never see them.

DP. Where did you get the idea that MCPS would or should pay for private placement for these reasons? The pp seemed to be suggesting that parents pay for private school if they are not happy with what the public school provides.

Where do you think all the higher need special ed kids will go?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I was talking to my husband about this and about my mixed feelings. There are families who really need a virtual program. Their children have severe physical disabilities or severe learning disabilities. However, some of the reasons I saw other parents give were pure baloney. They don’t want to be bullied (news flash, no parent wants that!), they are afraid of school shootings, covid, fashion(!), and other focus reasons that don’t justify keeping the program open.

+1 It was too bad for those families that really needed the MVA for medical reasons that they got lumped in with the parents who were quoted in the news media as needing the MVA because their kids would be too distracted by fashion if they went to in-person schools. Those students with real medical issues saw a big improvement in their educational experience over what the county traditionally provided (IIS) but I think they were lost in the noise of the families who were pushing the MVA because their kids were shy, didn't like social interaction, etc.

My hope is that those families with the severe medical issues get some type of state assistance so they are children can continue with an education. The boy with the disabilities in the wheelchair comes to mind. I don’t want those kids to be forgotten in all of this nonsense.

Your hope. You advocated for its closure and got it without thinking of the consequences. The state is not stepping in. These children are not going to get an education thanks to people like you who have a distorted view and it’s all about your lack of empathy. Be grateful no one just destroyed your child’s education like you did theirs.

Who advocated for its closure to the BOE? I didn't see any testimony at all in favor of closing the MVA, nor did I see any written comments to the BOE advocating for its closure or any op-eds or opinion pieces in the media. Are you implying that the debate here on an anonymous internet message board somehow swayed the BOE's decision?

This. I think people like the PP are bitter that non-MVA families didn’t rally to support the MVA. But in fairness even the MVA families didn’t really rally to support the most medically needy kids- as seen in the articles and testimony they all had their different reasons for choosing MVA.

Yes, they did. It depended on what news you read. There was a huge mix. Clearly you didn't pay attention. I am bitter they closed the school that will hurt so many kids. The reasons why parents choose it is not important. The important thing is it works for the kids. There is a reason why the BOE refused to provide data and waitlist information. If they did, they'd show the program was thriving and the reason for the number decline is they refused to let new kids in. Some of us care about all the kids, not just the medically fragile kids in the MVA. They didn't deserve this.

Wait, what? The reason the program lost more than two-thirds of its participants is because MCPS refused to let new kids in? The reason the program lost more than 40% of its participants each year for two years in a row is because MCPS wouldn’t let more in? Please explain how that works. 40% of the program each year was made up of graduating seniors or something?

Yup there was a long waitlist. The data MCPS released was very selective, they did not talk to most families and if they did they’d gave realized how well it was working. Shame.

36 kids spread across three classes is capacity? Yikes. That's not a good look.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

PP, I agree with you. This should not be publicly funded. There are virtual private school options just as there are in-person private school options. I don't care how much it costs, this should not be funded through taxpayer money. There was a time for it, and that time has passed.

Yes, everyone would prefer these families advocate for accommodations for these children in private placements and we will be happy to pay for that. Of course, it will be more expensive than MVA but that is fine. As long as the children are not educated in a way we hate. We are happy to pay more for their education if we can get them where we never see them.

DP. Where did you get the idea that MCPS would or should pay for private placement for these reasons? The pp seemed to be suggesting that parents pay for private school if they are not happy with what the public school provides.

Where do you think all the higher need special ed kids will go?

A fraction of the kids who are in virtual academy will get private placement. Most will not. You need to get real. At least half of VA are in there for bogus reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

PP, I agree with you. This should not be publicly funded. There are virtual private school options just as there are in-person private school options. I don't care how much it costs, this should not be funded through taxpayer money. There was a time for it, and that time has passed.

Yes, everyone would prefer these families advocate for accommodations for these children in private placements and we will be happy to pay for that. Of course, it will be more expensive than MVA but that is fine. As long as the children are not educated in a way we hate. We are happy to pay more for their education if we can get them where we never see them.

DP. Where did you get the idea that MCPS would or should pay for private placement for these reasons? The pp seemed to be suggesting that parents pay for private school if they are not happy with what the public school provides.

Where do you think all the higher need special ed kids will go?

The vast majority of kids in MVA were not high needs. And MCPS programs cover a broad range of physical, intellectual, and emotional disabilities. There's no basis to claim a significant fraction of MVA students would require private placement for FAPE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bUaE2WCFHiF4t1u873Ykf5ZnjAunTYFY67Vv4jwvF82nMX86xrXqkh5VrHrHeEn4l&id=100063712594468
State reps wrote to Dr.F requesting she reconsider, closing The program.

Wow. Gotta hand it to the MVA folks. I thought they were deranged and looney tunes but clearly they've got friends in high places.

Now what? Ball is in Felder and the BOE's court.

I wouldn't call those "high places." And in particular, they have no authority or oversight over MCPS's programs or budget. It's no different than you sending a letter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

I teach at a regular high school. Must be nice not to have to deal with classroom behaviour issues and have tiny classes. All kids deserve smaller classes and more attention. The overcrowded high schools that you disparagingly refer to need more money so we can have smaller class sizes. I have 30-33 students per class.
The money saved by eliminating VA can be better spent. That is all there is to say. And easy for you to say that the VA is all unicorns and rainbows but the data supports in-person learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I couldn’t tune into the meeting yesterday-did MCPS announce the replacement virtual program like someone on here was claiming?

They lied.

It was probably Janis from PC. She didn't exactly lie, she just misleads by withholding context.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

Anyone can attend. Equity is having the school. It’s not a private school and cheaper.

Not quite, when young and poor kids who attend the program do significantly worse than their in-person peers on assessments and have chronic absenteeism rates that are significantly higher as well. Keeping a program that fails the most vulnerable among our students so that the privileged few whose kids are too shy to attend in-person school can have their “needs” catered to is not equitable at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bUaE2WCFHiF4t1u873Ykf5ZnjAunTYFY67Vv4jwvF82nMX86xrXqkh5VrHrHeEn4l&id=100063712594468
State reps wrote to Dr.F requesting she reconsider, closing The program.

Sad that these politicians are playing a game of CYA by sending letters about things they know can't change. What's Felder going to do? Have the BOE re-vote on the budget? It's done, and a letter like this only serves to try to satisfy constituents that "well, I did my best for you, but it was that guy's fault and not mine"

Here is what I would like my state reps to do: Either fully fund Maryland's Blueprint for Education, or repeal it. If we thought the budget cuts were painful this year, wait until free pre-k kicks in for our school district. We don't have the physical school capacity or money for the personnel for the Blueprint. The planning for the Blueprint that was cancelled by the BOE this year? $8 million, just for planning. We're going to have to throw money at this next year to ramp up. So that conundrum is what I would like my state reps to consider, not the MVA.

+1. Also, if the state reps are in fact invested in virtual education, why aren’t they lobbying the state of MD itself to establish a virtual program??

Ok, we have told you many times before. State is not responsible MCPS is.

Oh no, MVA parents pulled their state reps into this, making this a state discussion. MVA parents - please ask for more state Blueprint money for MCPS and state money for the virtual academy. I am sure that the BOE would reassemble the MVA if the money was available. As it is, the county is forecasting a 4.7 percent increase in property taxes next year. That tax increase is with no MVA in the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bUaE2WCFHiF4t1u873Ykf5ZnjAunTYFY67Vv4jwvF82nMX86xrXqkh5VrHrHeEn4l&id=100063712594468
State reps wrote to Dr.F requesting she reconsider, closing The program.

Sad that these politicians are playing a game of CYA by sending letters about things they know can't change. What's Felder going to do? Have the BOE re-vote on the budget? It's done, and a letter like this only serves to try to satisfy constituents that "well, I did my best for you, but it was that guy's fault and not mine"

Here is what I would like my state reps to do: Either fully fund Maryland's Blueprint for Education, or repeal it. If we thought the budget cuts were painful this year, wait until free pre-k kicks in for our school district. We don't have the physical school capacity or money for the personnel for the Blueprint. The planning for the Blueprint that was cancelled by the BOE this year? $8 million, just for planning. We're going to have to throw money at this next year to ramp up. So that conundrum is what I would like my state reps to consider, not the MVA.

+1. Also, if the state reps are in fact invested in virtual education, why aren’t they lobbying the state of MD itself to establish a virtual program??

Ok, we have told you many times before. State is not responsible MCPS is.

Oh no, MVA parents pulled their state reps into this, making this a state discussion. MVA parents - please ask for more state Blueprint money for MCPS and state money for the virtual academy. I am sure that the BOE would reassemble the MVA if the money was available. As it is, the county is forecasting a 4.7 percent increase in property taxes next year. That tax increase is with no MVA in the budget.

No, they should be asking their state reps to establish a state-wide virtual program through MSDE. Eastern shore counties aren't going to want to pay for a special program just for MoCo kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0bUaE2WCFHiF4t1u873Ykf5ZnjAunTYFY67Vv4jwvF82nMX86xrXqkh5VrHrHeEn4l&id=100063712594468
State reps wrote to Dr.F requesting she reconsider, closing The program.

Sad that these politicians are playing a game of CYA by sending letters about things they know can't change. What's Felder going to do? Have the BOE re-vote on the budget? It's done, and a letter like this only serves to try to satisfy constituents that "well, I did my best for you, but it was that guy's fault and not mine"

Here is what I would like my state reps to do: Either fully fund Maryland's Blueprint for Education, or repeal it. If we thought the budget cuts were painful this year, wait until free pre-k kicks in for our school district. We don't have the physical school capacity or money for the personnel for the Blueprint. The planning for the Blueprint that was cancelled by the BOE this year? $8 million, just for planning. We're going to have to throw money at this next year to ramp up. So that conundrum is what I would like my state reps to consider, not the MVA.

+1. Also, if the state reps are in fact invested in virtual education, why aren’t they lobbying the state of MD itself to establish a virtual program??

Ok, we have told you many times before. State is not responsible MCPS is.

Look where that position got you. Still feel good about it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Educator here. The fact is that research indicates that young people, especially elementary school kids, do not learn well from zoom. Effective learning is active rather than passive. That is how we are wired to learn. Taking a class virtually here and there is okay but having your entire education online is problematic. Are there a few exceptions? Of course. But public education cannot be built around exceptions.

Former virtual academy educator here. I had some of the most motivated and excited-to- learn students I’ve ever had in my classes. It was an incredible experience. My students learned VERY well. Most likely because all I did was teach! I had no behavior issues, very few distractions, and a mandatory study hall at the end of the day. Many students essentially had one-on-one tutoring almost daily. And I did have one student with a IEP that did come for help every single day. She also had a speech impediment. Do you tiny she would have been brave enough to ask for help everyday in person? Would her teacher be available everyday? Absolutely not. I have taught in both situations. Students at the VA flourish. Please do not speak for all students. This program is an excellent resource that provides an education for those who can’t do their best in a loud, crowded, fast-paced environment such as an overcrowded public middle or high school. No student will fall through the cracks in the VA. They are tracked constantly. Staff constantly are in communication with families. Why shouldn’t we support these students? Why aren’t you?

Look, this sounds incredible and I'd also be mad if my child was losing the chance have a private school experience at public expense. However, it is a public expense, and using taxpayer funds to provide an elite few with a bespoke educational experience is neither wise, nor equitable, nor frankly defensible.

Anyone can attend. Equity is having the school. It’s not a private school and cheaper.

Oh boy. So your argument is that an option that requires a stay-at-home parent, but then delivers a 1:8 teacher to student ratio, is somehow equitable? That's absolutely wild. Just a shockingly galaxy brained definition of equity.