BOE reconsidering the Virtual Academy, Leader in Me, and Innovative School Year Calendar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP again, it's IIS Interim Instructional Services.

That is not even close to being a proper education. IIS only has the core courses that meet for 1.5 hours a week each. That’s 6 hours a week. It’s for extremely fragile children that just need to keep a line of learning open. No homework; no tests; no quizzes; no real work. The VA is a tremendous benefit to those who can handle a full course load but may need the flexibility of being at home for a variety of reasons. Many kids are thriving there. Don’t throw “data” back. A child’s needs go deeper than a number. No one is harmed by it being open. It’s just one more program in MCPS; it’s just controversial because some people choose not to keep an open mind.

If your kids are well enough to handle a full courseload, then why aren't they in school?

Ok? They are in school.

No, they're not. Why are you afraid to let them leave your sight? You must know how suspicious that looks.

What makes you think that?

You don't think it's strange and suspicious when parents don't let their kids go to school? You don't seem to read the news very much.

They are going to school. Don't you think it's strange you are so upset over MCPS having a virtual school. You want your families needs met but yet, you don't consider someone else's needs may be different than yours.

The real mystery here is why you're not more concerned about meeting your children's needs. Why are you so afraid of letting them go to school? You know they're going to move out of your house at some point, don't you?

What on earth are you talking about? Kids can thrive in virtual. Not all kids thrive in person. How do you not get that? There are more opportunities for kids to socialize outside of school or are you against activities too?

Do you let your kids do those activities? Or only if you're able to supervise them at all times?

Why do you care? Why are you so obsessed? You house what’s best for your kids and we will choose what’s best for ours. I’m sorry you’d rather spend your time here vs support your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait they are thinking of bringing Leader in Me back?!

No, they're thinking of getting rid of it altogether. (Some schools still have it.)

Well, that is a good thing. They should get rid of that trash. I didn't realize some schools still have it.

You're being generous. Trash isn't actively harmful like Virtual Academy has shown to be.

How is the Virtual Academy actively harmful?

I would think it would be tremendously valuable for students who are homebound for extended periods. If a child’s medical condition keeps them from attending school for a while, we shouldn’t expect the family to have to homeschool on top of everything else.

It seems like it provides useful differention to some students as PPs have described.

If it is somehow harmful, can the content be modified while maintaining the flexibility the format offers?

It's harmful the same way a charter school is harmful. It pulls money away from everything else.

Right now the school is getting the funding for a virtual student and not providing any services. Almost all of the schools are overcrowded so this reduces overcrowding and the funding loss to each school would be minimal if they stop paying that school for the slot.

And, maybe if the schools were better able to meet all students needs, there wouldn't be a need for virtual for some families but that isn't the case.

dp.. this is impossible realistically. MCPS doesn't have an infinite budget.

[Anonymous]

Leader in Me can go. Most schools don’t like it which means they need to work with Counselors to find more appropriate programs.

Innovative School calendar can stay. Particular after the pandemic that needs additional time to find its rhythm. One of the bigger issues being new families not knowing that school starts earlier.

Virtual Academy can stay because the point has always been to expand how it operates giving students access to classes not in their home school.

What they can do is standardized some of these different named HS programs that are essentially the same so that those program can learn from one another, have similar program evaluation, and the can be enhanced as having more kids in them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leader in Me can go. Most schools don’t like it which means they need to work with Counselors to find more appropriate programs.

Innovative School calendar can stay. Particular after the pandemic that needs additional time to find its rhythm. One of the bigger issues being new families not knowing that school starts earlier.

Virtual Academy can stay because the point has always been to expand how it operates giving students access to classes not in their home school.

What they can do is standardized some of these different named HS programs that are essentially the same so that those program can learn from one another, have similar program evaluation, and the can be enhanced as having more kids in them.

The schools that have the innovative calendar hate it. They did an evaluation study and it showed nothing beneficial. It's going away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leader in Me can go. Most schools don’t like it which means they need to work with Counselors to find more appropriate programs.

Innovative School calendar can stay. Particular after the pandemic that needs additional time to find its rhythm. One of the bigger issues being new families not knowing that school starts earlier.

Virtual Academy can stay because the point has always been to expand how it operates giving students access to classes not in their home school.

What they can do is standardized some of these different named HS programs that are essentially the same so that those program can learn from one another, have similar program evaluation, and the can be enhanced as having more kids in them.

The schools that have the innovative calendar hate it. They did an evaluation study and it showed nothing beneficial. It's going away.

+1 The evaluation was really damning, to be honest. I honestly thought the IS calendar would be helpful for the most at-risk kids, as it has shown benefits in other districts, but the data is clear. No gains in fall testing, no remediation of summer slide, and a bunch of kids who have already entered "truancy" territory before the regular school year even starts.

It's not just new families, either. I'm guessing a big part of the problem is that one of the IS schools is K-2 but the "paired" 3-5 school is on a traditional calendar, but even the K-5 school can't get kids to turn up until Labor Day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait they are thinking of bringing Leader in Me back?!

Whatever the cost of this garbage program is too much. If it's $20 it's too much. Cut this waste. Leader in Me is so corny and is all eye rolls from the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its amazing what they can waste money on and then choose to get rid of the VA that benefits some students.

There are very few students left in virtual. It would be far more efficient to have a state-wide virtual option.

+1. But the VA proponents always come up with 100 reasons why that isn't a good idea.

[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:PP again, it's IIS Interim Instructional Services.

That is not even close to being a proper education. IIS only has the core courses that meet for 1.5 hours a week each. That’s 6 hours a week. It’s for extremely fragile children that just need to keep a line of learning open. No homework; no tests; no quizzes; no real work. The VA is a tremendous benefit to those who can handle a full course load but may need the flexibility of being at home for a variety of reasons. Many kids are thriving there. Don’t throw “data” back. A child’s needs go deeper than a number. No one is harmed by it being open. It’s just one more program in MCPS; it’s just controversial because some people choose not to keep an open mind.

If your kids are well enough to handle a full courseload, then why aren't they in school?

Ok? They are in school.

No, they're not. Why are you afraid to let them leave your sight? You must know how suspicious that looks.

What makes you think that?

You don't think it's strange and suspicious when parents don't let their kids go to school? You don't seem to read the news very much.

They are going to school. Don't you think it's strange you are so upset over MCPS having a virtual school. You want your families needs met but yet, you don't consider someone else's needs may be different than yours.

The real mystery here is why you're not more concerned about meeting your children's needs. Why are you so afraid of letting them go to school? You know they're going to move out of your house at some point, don't you?

What on earth are you talking about? Kids can thrive in virtual. Not all kids thrive in person. How do you not get that? There are more opportunities for kids to socialize outside of school or are you against activities too?

Do you let your kids do those activities? Or only if you're able to supervise them at all times?

Why do you care? Why are you so obsessed? You house what’s best for your kids and we will choose what’s best for ours. I’m sorry you’d rather spend your time here vs support your kids.

That's fine- if public school options aren't working for your kids, there are plenty of online options you can pay for. Just like many parents pay for private school.

[Anonymous]

From what I recall the virtual academy services about 1,800 students. That is pretty large, given there are schools with just three hundred or less in the district. The problem is that federal funds have essentially run out. I would prefer that it continue, as there are students who clearly thrive there.

Beyond that I don't think that the system would actually benefit from the virtual academy staff coming back, in-person. Some, because of health reasons, can't. They would probably quit or retire. Others may be problematic, as there are one or two who were transferred there after being troublesome in their own schools. (Harassment of staff comes to mind.)

And then there is the issue of redistributing students, which might push class capacity in some schools. So there are a lot of factors to consider.

[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:PP again, it's IIS Interim Instructional Services.

That is not even close to being a proper education. IIS only has the core courses that meet for 1.5 hours a week each. That’s 6 hours a week. It’s for extremely fragile children that just need to keep a line of learning open. No homework; no tests; no quizzes; no real work. The VA is a tremendous benefit to those who can handle a full course load but may need the flexibility of being at home for a variety of reasons. Many kids are thriving there. Don’t throw “data” back. A child’s needs go deeper than a number. No one is harmed by it being open. It’s just one more program in MCPS; it’s just controversial because some people choose not to keep an open mind.

If your kids are well enough to handle a full courseload, then why aren't they in school?

Ok? They are in school.

No, they're not. Why are you afraid to let them leave your sight? You must know how suspicious that looks.

What makes you think that?

You don't think it's strange and suspicious when parents don't let their kids go to school? You don't seem to read the news very much.

They are going to school. Don't you think it's strange you are so upset over MCPS having a virtual school. You want your families needs met but yet, you don't consider someone else's needs may be different than yours.

The real mystery here is why you're not more concerned about meeting your children's needs. Why are you so afraid of letting them go to school? You know they're going to move out of your house at some point, don't you?

What on earth are you talking about? Kids can thrive in virtual. Not all kids thrive in person. How do you not get that? There are more opportunities for kids to socialize outside of school or are you against activities too?

Do you let your kids do those activities? Or only if you're able to supervise them at all times?

Why do you care? Why are you so obsessed? You house what’s best for your kids and we will choose what’s best for ours. I’m sorry you’d rather spend your time here vs support your kids.

That's fine- if public school options aren't working for your kids, there are plenty of online options you can pay for. Just like many parents pay for private school.

Go away

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait they are thinking of bringing Leader in Me back?!

No, they're thinking of getting rid of it altogether. (Some schools still have it.)

Well, that is a good thing. They should get rid of that trash. I didn't realize some schools still have it.

You're being generous. Trash isn't actively harmful like Virtual Academy has shown to be.

How is the Virtual Academy actively harmful?

I would think it would be tremendously valuable for students who are homebound for extended periods. If a child’s medical condition keeps them from attending school for a while, we shouldn’t expect the family to have to homeschool on top of everything else.

It seems like it provides useful differention to some students as PPs have described.

If it is somehow harmful, can the content be modified while maintaining the flexibility the format offers?

It's harmful the same way a charter school is harmful. It pulls money away from everything else.

Right now the school is getting the funding for a virtual student and not providing any services. Almost all of the schools are overcrowded so this reduces overcrowding and the funding loss to each school would be minimal if they stop paying that school for the slot.

And, maybe if the schools were better able to meet all students needs, there wouldn't be a need for virtual for some families but that isn't the case.

dp.. this is impossible realistically. MCPS doesn't have an infinite budget.

Mcps is paying the home schools the funding for the students in virtual. The simple solution is to pull that money as the home schools are not educating the students and give that money to virtual. Done.

[Anonymous]

I also wonder if there would be much cost savings closing the virtual academy. After all, there is no physical building, or anything associated with that. The technology is already baked in, in that all MCPS students have access to cheomebooks and zoom. It may actually be cheaper, in some ways.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its amazing what they can waste money on and then choose to get rid of the VA that benefits some students.

There are very few students left in virtual. It would be far more efficient to have a state-wide virtual option.

+1. But the VA proponents always come up with 100 reasons why that isn't a good idea.

We do not have an educational services at the state level so, if they get rid of it, there will be no virtual program. Plenty of other things to cut, starting with the kid museum. Why is mcps funding nonprofits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also wonder if there would be much cost savings closing the virtual academy. After all, there is no physical building, or anything associated with that. The technology is already baked in, in that all MCPS students have access to cheomebooks and zoom. It may actually be cheaper, in some ways.

It is cheaper when you look at the numbers so this makes no sense.

[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:

Anonymous wrote:PP again, it's IIS Interim Instructional Services.

That is not even close to being a proper education. IIS only has the core courses that meet for 1.5 hours a week each. That’s 6 hours a week. It’s for extremely fragile children that just need to keep a line of learning open. No homework; no tests; no quizzes; no real work. The VA is a tremendous benefit to those who can handle a full course load but may need the flexibility of being at home for a variety of reasons. Many kids are thriving there. Don’t throw “data” back. A child’s needs go deeper than a number. No one is harmed by it being open. It’s just one more program in MCPS; it’s just controversial because some people choose not to keep an open mind.

If your kids are well enough to handle a full courseload, then why aren't they in school?

Ok? They are in school.

No, they're not. Why are you afraid to let them leave your sight? You must know how suspicious that looks.

What makes you think that?

You don't think it's strange and suspicious when parents don't let their kids go to school? You don't seem to read the news very much.

They are going to school. Don't you think it's strange you are so upset over MCPS having a virtual school. You want your families needs met but yet, you don't consider someone else's needs may be different than yours.

The real mystery here is why you're not more concerned about meeting your children's needs. Why are you so afraid of letting them go to school? You know they're going to move out of your house at some point, don't you?

What on earth are you talking about? Kids can thrive in virtual. Not all kids thrive in person. How do you not get that? There are more opportunities for kids to socialize outside of school or are you against activities too?

Do you let your kids do those activities? Or only if you're able to supervise them at all times?

Why do you care? Why are you so obsessed? You house what’s best for your kids and we will choose what’s best for ours. I’m sorry you’d rather spend your time here vs support your kids.

That's fine- if public school options aren't working for your kids, there are plenty of online options you can pay for. Just like many parents pay for private school.

Go away

Gladly. But you need to have a backup plan.