Is your child’s learning gaps being filled in?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a tutor or Saturday school.

Nope, the school has an obligation to address these gaps.

You should’ve learned that public education in this country is a joke. We all saw that last year with online learning. Get your kid a tutor.

Public education here is excellent, but there are many hyper-privileged types that expect the county to raise their kids for them.

LMAO. Excellent? Not by a long shot. Especially not in MoCo. We do have some excellent teachers. But the school system as a whole is pretty subpar.

All the evidence suggests otherwise. When I was in MCPS 30 years ago the average SAT score was maybe 1000. Today it's more like 1400. It's pretty clear this dramatic increase in these standardized test scores is because the high-quality of education is just getting better and better with each year.

Stop contradicting our narrative about failing schools with facts!!

These tests have been revised several times since then. Its not the same test and the same scale for the past 30 years.

Nice try but that doesn't cut it since it accounts only for a small portion of the vast gains made.

Very true but facts aren't popular with this crowd.

Lol. It's sad how the MCPS crowd puff themselves up to look good.

If you look at the High School statistics, you also need to take into account the number of children who did not take the SAT (surprisingly high) or overall readiness for college according to UofM standards. If you use a zero for every child who didn't take the SAT, the numbers look very different.

And yet far more take it now than 20 years ago which contradicts your narrative. Scores today are higher and more kids take it today.

20 years ago??? You've got to be kidding. That's your metric??? What a JOKE.

Watkins Mill HS has a Graduation Rate of 81.2%, Attendance Rate of 87.3%, Dropout Rate of 9.6%, Suspension Rate of 4.9%, and less than half met University of Maryland Entrance Requirements. I know someone out there will argue, "oh, but Watkins Mill is different." No it's not. Blair (MCPS' premier magnet HS) only has an Attendance Rate of 90.4%, a Graduation Rate of 86.1% and Dropout Rate of 8.8%. Only 62.9% of Blair kids met UofM entrance requirements. Remember, Blair is the top-of-the-line premier magnet program of MCPS. There is nothing better, according to the MCPS narrative that showcases the results of their stellar academic policies.

The HS that are doing well are the schools that are not following the MCPS academic path. These are the schools where parents are taking it upon themselves to tutor or offer enrichment, etc. because MCPS has failed so miserably in providing fundamentals and basic programs.

You claim MCPS is doing so well - so where's your proof of this? Post the links.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get a tutor or Saturday school.

Nope, the school has an obligation to address these gaps.

You should’ve learned that public education in this country is a joke. We all saw that last year with online learning. Get your kid a tutor.

Public education here is excellent, but there are many hyper-privileged types that expect the county to raise their kids for them.

LMAO. Excellent? Not by a long shot. Especially not in MoCo. We do have some excellent teachers. But the school system as a whole is pretty subpar.

That's strange. I feel my kids are getting a much better education than I did at a W 30 years ago before attending an ivy.

You either have a bad memory or aren't very familiar with what's going on in the classroom now.

NP here, I disagree with you. I don’t feel my children have received a sub par education. You may be able to find a district with similar stats (ESOL, FARMS, etc) that has done better but MCPS overall prepares students quite well. What experiences and data do you have to support such statements?

MCPS giving students students unearned grades just to keep passing students through without basic skills. No late penalties and a minimum 50% is part of that problem. Keeping work examples at school so parents can’t see the real results is another factor. Same is true for all the 100% grades for completion or test corrections.

Work samples? Ask your child- they are probably in canvas. Assessments will not be sent home, for obvious reasons.

I don’t think either of those are examples of a terrible education. I don’t agree with the 50% policy but I’m not sure it’s still in place this year. Most teachers I know were opposed to it, but it doesn’t mean the instruction is terrible. Just a bad policy.

My child’s written work and assessments are kept by teachers at school. It’s a struggle of repeated asks to see them because they are not returned to students.

Logical ways to allow parents to see what is done in school is to scan or send the work home with a student. I like to see my child’s work so I can review the mistakes with my child so my child digests the graded feedback and fills in skills that were missed. This obviously is a task teachers are not doing at school. Teachers give an assignment or an assessment then move on to the next unit.

THIS

This is high school. Canvas gives no feedback whatsoever except a grade. Work and assessments from class shows the process and steps that a child understood or needs to relearn. Learning from mistakes is a cornerstone of the educational process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides being recalibrated, how many kids had SAT prep classes/ tutors to prepare them for the test 25 years ago? How many do now, especially at the wealthier MCPS schools?

How many kids took timed standardized tests on a regular basis 25 years ago as compared to kids today who are constantly tested since they are little? So all these students have also gotten additional practice in test taking and test taking strategies.

This along with the ubiquitous SAT prep of today’s students accounts for some of that increase in SAT scores. Not the excellent education that MCPS is providing.

I and almost all of my friends took SAT prep classes (not expensive one on one tutoring, but affordable group classes) in the 80s, and we were in a mostly blue collar, middle class school (real middle class, not DCUM $400K self-professed “middle class”). Our families understood how important SAT scores were for college, prioritized our education and didn’t just dig in their heels and demand that public schools be all things for their children.

Yes, I can also attest to this. Born and raised in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides being recalibrated, how many kids had SAT prep classes/ tutors to prepare them for the test 25 years ago? How many do now, especially at the wealthier MCPS schools?

How many kids took timed standardized tests on a regular basis 25 years ago as compared to kids today who are constantly tested since they are little? So all these students have also gotten additional practice in test taking and test taking strategies.

This along with the ubiquitous SAT prep of today’s students accounts for some of that increase in SAT scores. Not the excellent education that MCPS is providing.

I and almost all of my friends took SAT prep classes (not expensive one on one tutoring, but affordable group classes) in the 80s, and we were in a mostly blue collar, middle class school (real middle class, not DCUM $400K self-professed “middle class”). Our families understood how important SAT scores were for college, prioritized our education and didn’t just dig in their heels and demand that public schools be all things for their children.

Yes, I can also attest to this. Born and raised in Montgomery County.

I graduated from Whitman 20 years ago. Did not take a class. Did buy a study prep book. I think some of my friends took classes? Definitely not all of them. My SAT score was decent and I got full-tuition scholarships at several top-50 universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math and foreign languages are the areas that are most impacted by learning gaps. Skills build from unit to unit and year to year. MCPS is ignoring this problem so some students are dropping foreign language or struggling in their current math placement.

MCPS needs to do something about this problem. Give assessments and in school tutoring services to target the students with learning losses. Sitting back and doing nothing shows lack of leadership. Universal testing is not being done because MCPS wants to hide a problem vs. fixing a problem. The Board of Ed flat out doesn’t care to require MCPS to address problems.

Why should MCPS have to do something about this? The entire problem only affects students who decided to drop out of school during DL. Maybe it's their parents fault but still why should all the kids who actually did the work be penalized and forced to go back over this material.

MCPS has a responsibility to teach all students. Not every student in MCPS had equal access to the technology, accommodations, and support that they needed to learn. It’s a Civil Rights issue, especially for students with disabilities.

[Anonymous]

MCPS reported on the vast achievement gaps of special populations to the Board of Ed. They promised to close these gaps with wrap around services, extra staff, and compensatory services that never happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In this wealthy country, with high housing costs, no universal healthcare or childcare (the cost of daycare, preschool, and before- and after-school care is astronomical) ...

this often means both parents work. and with single parent households, and nuclear families with smaller support networks ...

we shouldn't be surprised kids don't get the parental attention they need. So yes it is difficult for overstretched parents to help their kids with homework or deal with behavioral issues.

You can move to an area with lower housing costs. There are plenty of homes in this area for $400-500K, you don't need a million dollar home.

There is zero excuse for parents not to help with homework except if you don't speak english or having learning disabilities/educational struggles.

People like you are the problem as you'd rather complain than help your kids.
And, there are child care programs for low income. The rec department has income waivers for summer programs. Some schools have free before/after school care. And, we have low income universal health care. You'd know all this if you were low income.

And if you didn't work, you wouldn't need childcare... some of us actually calculate the expenses of working when we decide whether to SAH.

[Anonymous]

*Are* your child’s learning tapas being filled in?

Grammar starts at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides being recalibrated, how many kids had SAT prep classes/ tutors to prepare them for the test 25 years ago? How many do now, especially at the wealthier MCPS schools?

How many kids took timed standardized tests on a regular basis 25 years ago as compared to kids today who are constantly tested since they are little? So all these students have also gotten additional practice in test taking and test taking strategies.

This along with the ubiquitous SAT prep of today’s students accounts for some of that increase in SAT scores. Not the excellent education that MCPS is providing.

Sounds like a bunch of excuses. Bottom line kids today score much higher than in the past. This is a clear indication that things are much better now.

Your assertions do not make it true.

[Anonymous]

[guardian]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math and foreign languages are the areas that are most impacted by learning gaps. Skills build from unit to unit and year to year. MCPS is ignoring this problem so some students are dropping foreign language or struggling in their current math placement.

MCPS needs to do something about this problem. Give assessments and in school tutoring services to target the students with learning losses. Sitting back and doing nothing shows lack of leadership. Universal testing is not being done because MCPS wants to hide a problem vs. fixing a problem. The Board of Ed flat out doesn’t care to require MCPS to address problems.

Why should MCPS have to do something about this? The entire problem only affects students who decided to drop out of school during DL. Maybe it's their parents fault but still why should all the kids who actually did the work be penalized and forced to go back over this material.

MCPS has a responsibility to teach all students. Not every student in MCPS had equal access to the technology, accommodations, and support that they needed to learn. It’s a Civil Rights issue, especially for students with disabilities.

Every student was given a chrome book and if needed hot spot. Mcps has never given most kids with sn everything they need and deserve. Many of us have spent a fortune on outside help long before Covid. This is not a Covid issue and kids have been in person since the fall. The only kids going without are kids in virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*Are* your child’s learning tapas being filled in?

Grammar starts at home.

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:*Are* your child’s learning tapas being filled in?

Grammar starts at home.

LOL

And proofreading!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[guardian]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math and foreign languages are the areas that are most impacted by learning gaps. Skills build from unit to unit and year to year. MCPS is ignoring this problem so some students are dropping foreign language or struggling in their current math placement.

MCPS needs to do something about this problem. Give assessments and in school tutoring services to target the students with learning losses. Sitting back and doing nothing shows lack of leadership. Universal testing is not being done because MCPS wants to hide a problem vs. fixing a problem. The Board of Ed flat out doesn’t care to require MCPS to address problems.

Why should MCPS have to do something about this? The entire problem only affects students who decided to drop out of school during DL. Maybe it's their parents fault but still why should all the kids who actually did the work be penalized and forced to go back over this material.

MCPS has a responsibility to teach all students. Not every student in MCPS had equal access to the technology, accommodations, and support that they needed to learn. It’s a Civil Rights issue, especially for students with disabilities.

Every student was given a chrome book and if needed hot spot. Mcps has never given most kids with sn everything they need and deserve. Many of us have spent a fortune on outside help long before Covid. This is not a Covid issue and kids have been in person since the fall. The only kids going without are kids in virtual.

MCPS does have a responsibility that includes the kids that showed up during DL and did the work. They shouldn't simply be warehoused for the next 2 years so a few kids who went AWOL during DL can catch up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Besides being recalibrated, how many kids had SAT prep classes/ tutors to prepare them for the test 25 years ago? How many do now, especially at the wealthier MCPS schools?

How many kids took timed standardized tests on a regular basis 25 years ago as compared to kids today who are constantly tested since they are little? So all these students have also gotten additional practice in test taking and test taking strategies.

This along with the ubiquitous SAT prep of today’s students accounts for some of that increase in SAT scores. Not the excellent education that MCPS is providing.

I and almost all of my friends took SAT prep classes (not expensive one on one tutoring, but affordable group classes) in the 80s, and we were in a mostly blue collar, middle class school (real middle class, not DCUM $400K self-professed “middle class”). Our families understood how important SAT scores were for college, prioritized our education and didn’t just dig in their heels and demand that public schools be all things for their children.

Yes, I can also attest to this. Born and raised in Montgomery County.

Same, we all took prep classes. Kaplan was the one I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[guardian]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Math and foreign languages are the areas that are most impacted by learning gaps. Skills build from unit to unit and year to year. MCPS is ignoring this problem so some students are dropping foreign language or struggling in their current math placement.

MCPS needs to do something about this problem. Give assessments and in school tutoring services to target the students with learning losses. Sitting back and doing nothing shows lack of leadership. Universal testing is not being done because MCPS wants to hide a problem vs. fixing a problem. The Board of Ed flat out doesn’t care to require MCPS to address problems.

Why should MCPS have to do something about this? The entire problem only affects students who decided to drop out of school during DL. Maybe it's their parents fault but still why should all the kids who actually did the work be penalized and forced to go back over this material.

MCPS has a responsibility to teach all students. Not every student in MCPS had equal access to the technology, accommodations, and support that they needed to learn. It’s a Civil Rights issue, especially for students with disabilities.

Every student was given a chrome book and if needed hot spot. Mcps has never given most kids with sn everything they need and deserve. Many of us have spent a fortune on outside help long before Covid. This is not a Covid issue and kids have been in person since the fall. The only kids going without are kids in virtual.

MCPS does have a responsibility that includes the kids that showed up during DL and did the work. They shouldn't simply be warehoused for the next 2 years so a few kids who went AWOL during DL can catch up.

They should have made attendance and work mandatory and failed any kid who didn't do the work or show up. Those kids were warehoused before and will be till graduation.

However, MCPS has been open since September in person so stop complaining already.