APS to offer direct path to college at GMU at 3 high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But is it a permissible way to level the playing field? I have zero objection to any of this, but I’m curious how APS defends against claims that all APS students should have equal access to this type of benefit.

but it's GMU doing this not APS right? What role did APS have? Did it nominate certain schools or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But is it a permissible way to level the playing field? I have zero objection to any of this, but I’m curious how APS defends against claims that all APS students should have equal access to this type of benefit.

but it's GMU doing this not APS right? What role did APS have? Did it nominate certain schools or something?

Good point. GMU may choose schools based on a set percentage (a baseline) of students who are on the free lunch program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But is it a permissible way to level the playing field? I have zero objection to any of this, but I’m curious how APS defends against claims that all APS students should have equal access to this type of benefit.

but it's GMU doing this not APS right? What role did APS have? Did it nominate certain schools or something?

It's a partnership with the schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But is it a permissible way to level the playing field? I have zero objection to any of this, but I’m curious how APS defends against claims that all APS students should have equal access to this type of benefit.

Why should all APS students have access to all of the same programs?

It's "not fair" that my kid doesn't have access H-B. Should we close it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's great and personally have zero problem excluding Yorktown and HB. That said, the lawyer in me thinks this poses a problem for APS even though it's a benefit being offered by an outside institution. It's arguably a significant educational opportunity to have a direct admissions pathway to college, and APS is required to make opportunities equally available to all students who reside within the school district. Now there have always been differences from one school to the next, so equal doesn't always mean identical. Maybe this is analogous to a private donor offering to make a donation just to Wakefield or WL? I suspect there are rules about when that can and can't be done.

Ages ago I recall a dispute about whether our PTA could permissibly buy a new picnic table for the playground at our elementary school. The concern was that wealthy schools would have more resources to make improvements and that wouldn't be equitable. It seemed a little over the top for just a picnic table, IMHO, but when something more significant than a picnic table is at stake, I assume there is a policy that governs?

Our ES PTA bought all new $$$ playground equipment.

A few parents debating it doesn't mean it's not allowed by APS.

[Anonymous]

We were told by our principal that it wasn’t allowed.

[Anonymous]

Every child in APS has the opportunity to enter the blind HB lottery and, in theory, has an equal shot at admission. The other schools only allow transfers if there’s space or if you were admitted to the immersion / IB programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the real benefit is not having to go through the application process.

I don't quite see why they couldn't offer this to all APS students? What is the downside in offering it across the board? Clearly George Mason must not have wanted to agree to that.

They could have offered it to all high schoolers who qualify for FRE, regardless of high school.

They can't. Some white parent will sue them claiming discrimination.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the real benefit is not having to go through the application process.

I don't quite see why they couldn't offer this to all APS students? What is the downside in offering it across the board? Clearly George Mason must not have wanted to agree to that.

They could have offered it to all high schoolers who qualify for FRE, regardless of high school.

This would land a lot better. Lots of kids at W-L, Career Center, and Wakefield don't need this option and yes even a few at Yorktown or HB could use it.

It isn't about affordability. It's about "underrepresented populations" which includes lower income students, as well as students of color who aren't necessarily so impoverished as to qualify for free meals. Many of them still wouldn't necessarily be willing/as supported going through the complicated process of college searches and applications. This makes it simpler - with them KNOWING they are admitted and being able to just focus on that rather than finding and applying to other schools that are probably harder for them to access for reasons beyond finances. Just being able to live at home and commute to GMU makes college more financially accessible for a lot of students.

Affirmative action is illegal now dum dum

That's why they're doing it this way, dum-dum.

Any first year law student can see through this ,it won't last

Then let these schools and students enjoy it while they have the opportunity.

What are they enjoying?

Knowing they're accepted and not having the pressure of a big college search; a streamlined application process. Not as much as the complainers make of it - so why make it such a big deal that not every school is part of it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But is it a permissible way to level the playing field? I have zero objection to any of this, but I’m curious how APS defends against claims that all APS students should have equal access to this type of benefit.

APS isn't making such claims.
GMU made an offer and APS accepted.
Stop trying to find a way to make it a big problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But is it a permissible way to level the playing field? I have zero objection to any of this, but I’m curious how APS defends against claims that all APS students should have equal access to this type of benefit.

but it's GMU doing this not APS right? What role did APS have? Did it nominate certain schools or something?

Good point. GMU may choose schools based on a set percentage (a baseline) of students who are on the free lunch program.

That's exactly what GMU did. Says so in the literature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were told by our principal that it wasn’t allowed.

Policy guiding PTAs is to not provide things that require ongoing maintenance and maintenance costs. Playground equipment requires maintenance costs for APS, not the PTA.

[Anonymous]

Now if UVA would get on board ….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every child in APS has the opportunity to enter the blind HB lottery and, in theory, has an equal shot at admission. The other schools only allow transfers if there’s space or if you were admitted to the immersion / IB programs.

Every family has the opportunity to move within the WHS or W-L boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were told by our principal that it wasn’t allowed.

Policy guiding PTAs is to not provide things that require ongoing maintenance and maintenance costs. Playground equipment requires maintenance costs for APS, not the PTA.

Some principals know how to work the system better than others.