MCPS to end areawide Blair Magnet and countywide Richard Montgomery's IB program

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

So....do you favor an Uber stipend for students with need, or just make it so that such programs remain relatively infeasible for them to attend?

Provide buses or offer the opportunity at all schools so kids don’t need to go to other schools.

Sounds good. That would tend to ensure access.

The PPP was responding to concerns about inequality posed by the suggestion to require families to drive with an anecdote about their own driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Great. And no student would have to do that to access better public opportunities than are available at their home school, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

MCPS is where smart kids come to become average. Welcome…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

Virtual classes are an inferior form of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

Virtual classes are an inferior form of education.

OK. So all MS students taking Algebra 2 should have it in person, and MCPS should be providing the transportation needed for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need a critical mass of highly able students in the same classroom, a good program, and good teachers for this to be successful. Montgomery county benefited from the national awards won by Blair, Poolesville, and RM students, by increased tax revenue for instance. It is simply not possible to achieve the same level of success with regional programs. There won't be enough interested and capable students to justify the same level of classes at the same number of classes. There won't be enough teachers capable of teaching these classes at the same level they are taught today. For all practical purposes, this is the end of a very successful program. Sad.

There is a 1000 students apply for 125 slots at RM, and 800+ for 90 at Poolesville Ecology. It seems we have the students.

you mean you have the numbers but not enough high performing kids

We all know there are more qualified kids than slots in magnet or special programs.

But where can we find that data? Not just total who applied, but total qualified applicants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

So, what do you propose when your school does not have the classes they promised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

Virtual classes are an inferior form of education.

No they aren’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

Virtual classes are an inferior form of education.

What evidence do you have for that, for MS/HS-level classes without any lab or other physical components, for motivated and focused students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

Virtual classes are an inferior form of education.

What evidence do you have for that, for MS/HS-level classes without any lab or other physical components, for motivated and focused students?

Why don't you google virtual education outcomes during the pandemic? Remember when all parents were losing their minds because MCPS stayed virtual for an additional semester than many other school districts? They were outraged because students were struggling academically with Zoom classes. Ample evidence exists about virtual education and its poor outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed. Virtual class could be an option.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If MCPS can't serve the entire county with resources equally - end the programs. Period.

The programs aren't the issue but they should require parents to provide transportation. And, they should not allow famlies outside the DCC to attend Blair as they have their own schools with much better offerings. Instead, expand it and make more offerings at all schools.

Inequality initiative?

Parents are forced to drive their kids to different schools all the time. A few years ago I had to drive mine daily for a math class while kids at other schools got buses. Thankfully a few of us carpooled but it was a pain.

What was the reason why some kids got buses and others didn’t? Was it the distance between your house and the school where the math class was held?

No idea. Parents should not be required to transport during school hours.

No student is required to choose an alternate school.

Sometimes it is not in the student’s control. We moved here from another state when DC was in middle school. Our MCPS MS, while a lovely place overall, did not offer the math course DC needed in 8th grade. There were no alternatives, so DC had to attend the HS to take it. And the MS did not have to provide transportation.

I don’t think the MS should have been required to offer an in-person course just for one student, but there should be a solution that doesn’t require outside transportation during the school day.

...assuming all middle schools offering that class (presumably Algebra 2) did so via virtual.

Virtual classes are an inferior form of education.

What evidence do you have for that, for MS/HS-level classes without any lab or other physical components, for motivated and focused students?

Why don't you google virtual education outcomes during the pandemic? Remember when all parents were losing their minds because MCPS stayed virtual for an additional semester than many other school districts? They were outraged because students were struggling academically with Zoom classes. Ample evidence exists about virtual education and its poor outcomes.

Oh come on, you don't seriously think that the challenges of forced across-the-board virtual learning during the pandemic mean that the entire concept of virtual learning doesn't work, do you? I can't believe I have to explain this to you and honestly don't even know where to start. It sounds like you do not in fact have any evidence for this belief besides wanting to compare apples to oranges...