Extended calendar next school year at two schools

[Anonymous]

The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

[Anonymous]

The achievement gap is not going to be closed this way. I remember 8+ years ago when everyone thought Obama was going to fix race relations. I knew better. Now things are worse. I admit, President Trump is not in the position to fix it either. Hovered, I think he understands the issues more.

[Anonymous]

It would be cheaper to build the wall and add a moat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It would be cheaper to build the wall and add a moat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

First of all, are you a teacher or a parent?

Having the "temperament" to work in a high needs school means nothing. There are plenty of calm and nurturing teachers who can patiently work with kids, but who have no true expectations for learning. It's easy to be nice to children - but not so easy to raise expectations and STILL maintain composure. How do YOU know that these children are truly learning?

Short term solutions never produce lasting results.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that this is something that qualifies for an exemption from Hogans order.

How long has this been in the works because the first thing I thought was that MCPS wanted to stick it to Hogan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think that this is something that qualifies for an exemption from Hogans order.

How long has this been in the works because the first thing I thought was that MCPS wanted to stick it to Hogan.

I’m sure that has something to do with it.

The MCPS BOE is rabidly anti-Hogan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

First of all, are you a teacher or a parent?

Having the "temperament" to work in a high needs school means nothing. There are plenty of calm and nurturing teachers who can patiently work with kids, but who have no true expectations for learning. It's easy to be nice to children - but not so easy to raise expectations and STILL maintain composure. How do YOU know that these children are truly learning?

Short term solutions never produce lasting results.

I have two kids at Roscoe Nix. They both score and read above grade level and are supported by their well qualified teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

You don’t seem to understand what these kids go through as well as you pretend to.

If a child’s father is in prison and the mom has 3 kids and a HS education, plus barely speaks English - the extra 30 days of school aren’t going to solve all the child’s problems.

We need to stop the system that basically rewards young moms for having additional children. And forces schools to take responsibility for feeding/clothing/raising low income kids.

PC or not, the current system isn’t working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

First of all, are you a teacher or a parent?

Having the "temperament" to work in a high needs school means nothing. There are plenty of calm and nurturing teachers who can patiently work with kids, but who have no true expectations for learning. It's easy to be nice to children - but not so easy to raise expectations and STILL maintain composure. How do YOU know that these children are truly learning?

Short term solutions never produce lasting results.

I have two kids at Roscoe Nix. They both score and read above grade level and are supported by their well qualified teachers.

one personal experience - not enough evidence of success

If you're posting on these boards, you're most likely involved and have no language barriers.

Let's look at a longitudinal study of kids at Nix who faced obstacles who have traveled to Cresthaven, Key and then eventually a HS in the NEC (most likely Springbrook).

If the majority are success stories - graduating with good grades and managing to earn a degree - then I'll be satisfied.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

You don’t seem to understand what these kids go through as well as you pretend to.

If a child’s father is in prison and the mom has 3 kids and a HS education, plus barely speaks English - the extra 30 days of school aren’t going to solve all the child’s problems.

We need to stop the system that basically rewards young moms for having additional children. And forces schools to take responsibility for feeding/clothing/raising low income kids.
G
PC or not, the current system isn’t working.

You don't know my background, but I don't have to pretend to understand because I lived it, including incarcerated family members, single parent household, head start, and food stamps. I am a successful attorney, no legal problems, no public assistance. I owe my success to my mother and supportive teachers who did not write me or kids like me off or make assumptions about my family not valuing education. The teachers shared extra worksheets and helped get me in academic summer programs. So, I support this effort from personal experience. I am willing to have an open mind on this, and I don't think it will harm students. If it doesn't work, it won't be continued or expanded.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll believe this when I see it. Don't they need a waiver to go past June 15? I bet Hogan won't let them, because he has a stick up his ass about MCPS and MCEA in particular. He'll make some grandstanding pronouncement about how horrible it is to deny kids summer vacation and that MCPS should try helping kids by having less crappy teachers because the union makes it hard to get rid of them, and this is just another attempt by MCPS to erode his executive order, blah blah blah. Just wait.

No. They can and will get a waiver for ‘innovative’ programs to address academic achievement.

Good. This is how the education system should work. Pilot innovations and see what gets results.

Ha! You must be an administrator. Or you work for MCPS.

Education needs small class sizes, caring, well-educated teachers and parents who respect the value of education.

The rest is BS. We don’t need all the BS initiatives that MCPS continuously rolls out. Kindergarten Head Start? Waste of time and money. Chromebooks in every K class? Also a waste of time and money. Any teacher can tell you how much time and money is wasted on stupid initiatives that get rolled out by admin. With little to no positive results.

Wrong. I'm a parent at a high income elementary school in MCPS. No connection to the education field, but I believe in evidence based decision making. I agree with you that small class sizes and well educated professionals are important. Evidence suggests a longer school year can prevent the 'summer slide,' particularly in low income students and I'm glad MCPS is testing this in a systematic way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll believe this when I see it. Don't they need a waiver to go past June 15? I bet Hogan won't let them, because he has a stick up his ass about MCPS and MCEA in particular. He'll make some grandstanding pronouncement about how horrible it is to deny kids summer vacation and that MCPS should try helping kids by having less crappy teachers because the union makes it hard to get rid of them, and this is just another attempt by MCPS to erode his executive order, blah blah blah. Just wait.

No. They can and will get a waiver for ‘innovative’ programs to address academic achievement.

Good. This is how the education system should work. Pilot innovations and see what gets results.

Ha! You must be an administrator. Or you work for MCPS.

Education needs small class sizes, caring, well-educated teachers and parents who respect the value of education.

The rest is BS. We don’t need all the BS initiatives that MCPS continuously rolls out. Kindergarten Head Start? Waste of time and money. Chromebooks in every K class? Also a waste of time and money. Any teacher can tell you how much time and money is wasted on stupid initiatives that get rolled out by admin. With little to no positive results.

Wrong. I'm a parent at a high income elementary school in MCPS. No connection to the education field, but I believe in evidence based decision making. I agree with you that small class sizes and well educated professionals are important. Evidence suggests a longer school year can prevent the 'summer slide,' particularly in low income students and I'm glad MCPS is testing this in a systematic way.

Most of these kids are going to go to summer school anyway. Its a huge issue for divorced parents where one parent may only get summers for their kid and now that will be greatly reduced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The extended year is in addition to supports already in place. There are no more than 18 kids per class, so small class sizes, there are weekend backpacks of food for kids who need that type of support, there are monthly parenting meetings with topics on how to support your child in school, and there are flyers sent home to alert parents of other community resources. I don't see the extended year as a bandaid, and some of you don't seem as familiar with Title 1 schools and the supports in place as you claim. In addition, the teachers are highly qualified and most have the temperment to teach in a high needs school, meaning they display patience and compassion for all the students. I have not witnessed high turnover, and our school events are packed and well attended. Now, it remains to be seen whether this initiative will work. It is true that not all kids need the support, but for the kids that need it or even for the kids who don't seem to need it, it could help. I don't see an extra 30 days of school being harmful.

You don’t seem to understand what these kids go through as well as you pretend to.

If a child’s father is in prison and the mom has 3 kids and a HS education, plus barely speaks English - the extra 30 days of school aren’t going to solve all the child’s problems.

We need to stop the system that basically rewards young moms for having additional children. And forces schools to take responsibility for feeding/clothing/raising low income kids.
G
PC or not, the current system isn’t working.

You don't know my background, but I don't have to pretend to understand because I lived it, including incarcerated family members, single parent household, head start, and food stamps. I am a successful attorney, no legal problems, no public assistance. I owe my success to my mother and supportive teachers who did not write me or kids like me off or make assumptions about my family not valuing education. The teachers shared extra worksheets and helped get me in academic summer programs. So, I support this effort from personal experience. I am willing to have an open mind on this, and I don't think it will harm students. If it doesn't work, it won't be continued or expanded.

That right there is your advantage.

So many of the kids at these schools DO NOT have a supportive adult at home. It makes a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'll believe this when I see it. Don't they need a waiver to go past June 15? I bet Hogan won't let them, because he has a stick up his ass about MCPS and MCEA in particular. He'll make some grandstanding pronouncement about how horrible it is to deny kids summer vacation and that MCPS should try helping kids by having less crappy teachers because the union makes it hard to get rid of them, and this is just another attempt by MCPS to erode his executive order, blah blah blah. Just wait.

No. They can and will get a waiver for ‘innovative’ programs to address academic achievement.

Good. This is how the education system should work. Pilot innovations and see what gets results.

Ha! You must be an administrator. Or you work for MCPS.

Education needs small class sizes, caring, well-educated teachers and parents who respect the value of education.

The rest is BS. We don’t need all the BS initiatives that MCPS continuously rolls out. Kindergarten Head Start? Waste of time and money. Chromebooks in every K class? Also a waste of time and money. Any teacher can tell you how much time and money is wasted on stupid initiatives that get rolled out by admin. With little to no positive results.

Wrong. I'm a parent at a high income elementary school in MCPS. No connection to the education field, but I believe in evidence based decision making. I agree with you that small class sizes and well educated professionals are important. Evidence suggests a longer school year can prevent the 'summer slide,' particularly in low income students and I'm glad MCPS is testing this in a systematic way.

Most of these kids are going to go to summer school anyway. Its a huge issue for divorced parents where one parent may only get summers for their kid and now that will be greatly reduced.

School calendars should be designed to be academically impactful, not to cater to the particular issues of families.