MCPS teacher shortages continue..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Right the lack of substitutes is bad for schools too. Its hard to get a sub, and if the sub gets sick or cancels we're up the creek

Subs get paid nothing.

[Anonymous]

Special Ed teachers are overwhelmed because there aren't enough of us still teaching, and there aren't enough people wanting to be paraeducators for the crappy pay, and those who remain have too big a caseload and too many students.

Putting in a one-on-one support, or extra services does not guarantee you'll get them if there is no one willing to do the job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Special Ed teachers are overwhelmed because there aren't enough of us still teaching, and there aren't enough people wanting to be paraeducators for the crappy pay, and those who remain have too big a caseload and too many students.

Putting in a one-on-one support, or extra services does not guarantee you'll get them if there is no one willing to do the job.

The lack of pay and teaching conditions is a MCPS Central Office created problem. Increase pay for Special Education Teachers and para educators would help to solve a problem Central Officials has ignored for years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

Lack of special ed staffingis a HUGE issue that isn't going away.

Right- and given that it’s a nationwide issue, MCPS needs to be increasing SPED teacher/para pay stat in order to compete.

They can’t afford to raise the pay relative to the high case load. They need to raise pay AND improve working conditions.

Well part of improving working conditions means lower case load per staff member. They need to hire more staff. They need to find the money before it gets worse, because that will only make more staff leave.

[Anonymous]

Another source for teachers and school administrators to advocate are their unions. Multiple posters recognize the lack of pay, lack of benefits, and difficult work demands are reasons staff are leaving MCPS and it’s difficult for MCPS to fill vacancies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

Lack of special ed staffingis a HUGE issue that isn't going away.

Right- and given that it’s a nationwide issue, MCPS needs to be increasing SPED teacher/para pay stat in order to compete.

They can’t afford to raise the pay relative to the high case load. They need to raise pay AND improve working conditions.

Well part of improving working conditions means lower case load per staff member. They need to hire more staff. They need to find the money before it gets worse, because that will only make more staff leave.

MCPS has millions of dollars in unspent ESSR funds and millions from funded positions they never hired. Money is not the problem.

[Anonymous]

Nobody wants to be a teacher these days, let alone a special ed teacher. I taught elementary school in MCPS for about ten years and had no idea how much work being a special ed teacher was until I worked in a co-taught class. God bless SPED teachers - they are so undervalued and underpaid for the amount of work they do.

I made the choice to leave the profession at 32 because we could swing it financially. The demands put on all educators is out of control at this point. You're never seen as good enough no matter how hard you work. There's only so much within our sphere of influence. We are expected to take fourth graders reading on a kindergarten level and get them on-grade level in nine months. When you don't, you're looked at as a failure. I won't even go into the range of snowplow or absentee parents who add to the stress. I love kids but I couldn't continue to support a broken system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

It’s not a priority at Churchill to teach Special Education students. The school is a prime example of discrimination against students with disabilities given that students have not received their required services.

It's not that special ed students aren't a priority at Churchill, it's that special ed teachers are burnt out all over the county, and have quit. Its a nation-wode problem as well. Between covid, not to mention all the extra paperwork required, no planning time and parents who regularly attend meetings with lawyers ready to pounce and prove their worth, there are not lines of people waiting to fill those jobs. I am at a school that has had a special ed opening posted since before school started and no one has applied.

I’m a parent who has not brought in an attorney to my child’s IEP meetings but MCPS feels compelled to bring in their attorney as well as the Director of RACU (also an attorney) to IEP meetings. Meanwhile, MCPS is continuing not to provide the services as outlined in my child’s IEP.

As a teacher, you may be burnt out. But you should be advocating for more services and help so student needs can be met. Explain at the IEP meeting what the lack of a para educator means for the rest of the staff that needs to do what the para educator would do. Advocate for filling the long term special education vacancies. Tell RACU that without proper staffing that meets the IEP, the school is non-compliant.

Teachers are burnt out because of the lack of resources but MCPS is pocketing millions from not filling the vacancies. You are working overtime for free because there is no incentive for MCPS administrators to fill vacancies for special education positions.

When you say special ed teachers (who as you acknowledge "may be burnt out") should "advocate" for these things, what is it you are suggesting they should do exactly?

And if by "advocate" you mean speaking at IEP meetings as suggested and putting oneself in a bad position with admin or going on about staff shortages that existing teachers have zero control over, you truly think that is what will fix this?

There are a number of ways teachers can and should advocate for students.

All teachers fill out teacher reports as a mechanism for gathering their input for the IEP / 504 team’s consideration. Be honest in these reports. List what they view are their concerns and things they think would help. Teachers spend every teaching day with the student so they know the child and if more support is needed. One teacher is selected to personally attend the IEP / 504 meeting. Just speak up, provide classroom data, and give your professional opinion.

School staff also routinely have pre-meetings before parents are invited into the IEP meeting. There’s an opportunity to explain at this stage or in private meetings with administrators as to what problems they face implementing IEPs / 504 plans.

Finally, if teachers are intimidated by MCPS administrators and lawyers to not provide honest input for a student’s IEP / 504 plan, then that demonstrates a toxic workplace culture. Why would anyone want to continue working for MCPS if they are threatened when advocating for students?

What about any of that do you think would result in more staff for special ed? There are an allotted number of slots for special ed staff. Complaining to school admin will not change that allocation. Or do you think more candidates will appear for open positions if the existing teachers complain enough?

The amount of special education staff is driven by the IEP. More and less staff is allocated to a school as required hours of services are changed on an IEP. If teachers are overwhelmed, advocate for the student’s need for more services on the IEP. Likewise, if accommodations on 504 plans and IEPs are unrealistic for the general education teacher to provide, general education teachers should give that input to the school teams. Are there skills that could be taught with special education services to increase the student’s self independence vs. learned helplessness with too many accommodations?

You do not understand how allocations work. Also, like many have said, you can allocate as many positions as you want but if no one is willing to work under the conditions/pay currently given, it doesn't matter. Teachers currently working have no control over this.
Parents like you who claim the problem is that teachers aren't teaching the skills for independence or "advocating" enough for kids are part of why no one wants these jobs. Just try to keep piling more on the teachers, seems to be working well...

[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:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

It’s not a priority at Churchill to teach Special Education students. The school is a prime example of discrimination against students with disabilities given that students have not received their required services.

It's not that special ed students aren't a priority at Churchill, it's that special ed teachers are burnt out all over the county, and have quit. Its a nation-wode problem as well. Between covid, not to mention all the extra paperwork required, no planning time and parents who regularly attend meetings with lawyers ready to pounce and prove their worth, there are not lines of people waiting to fill those jobs. I am at a school that has had a special ed opening posted since before school started and no one has applied.

I’m a parent who has not brought in an attorney to my child’s IEP meetings but MCPS feels compelled to bring in their attorney as well as the Director of RACU (also an attorney) to IEP meetings. Meanwhile, MCPS is continuing not to provide the services as outlined in my child’s IEP.

As a teacher, you may be burnt out. But you should be advocating for more services and help so student needs can be met. Explain at the IEP meeting what the lack of a para educator means for the rest of the staff that needs to do what the para educator would do. Advocate for filling the long term special education vacancies. Tell RACU that without proper staffing that meets the IEP, the school is non-compliant.

Teachers are burnt out because of the lack of resources but MCPS is pocketing millions from not filling the vacancies. You are working overtime for free because there is no incentive for MCPS administrators to fill vacancies for special education positions.

When you say special ed teachers (who as you acknowledge "may be burnt out") should "advocate" for these things, what is it you are suggesting they should do exactly?

And if by "advocate" you mean speaking at IEP meetings as suggested and putting oneself in a bad position with admin or going on about staff shortages that existing teachers have zero control over, you truly think that is what will fix this?

There are a number of ways teachers can and should advocate for students.

All teachers fill out teacher reports as a mechanism for gathering their input for the IEP / 504 team’s consideration. Be honest in these reports. List what they view are their concerns and things they think would help. Teachers spend every teaching day with the student so they know the child and if more support is needed. One teacher is selected to personally attend the IEP / 504 meeting. Just speak up, provide classroom data, and give your professional opinion.

School staff also routinely have pre-meetings before parents are invited into the IEP meeting. There’s an opportunity to explain at this stage or in private meetings with administrators as to what problems they face implementing IEPs / 504 plans.

Finally, if teachers are intimidated by MCPS administrators and lawyers to not provide honest input for a student’s IEP / 504 plan, then that demonstrates a toxic workplace culture. Why would anyone want to continue working for MCPS if they are threatened when advocating for students?

What about any of that do you think would result in more staff for special ed? There are an allotted number of slots for special ed staff. Complaining to school admin will not change that allocation. Or do you think more candidates will appear for open positions if the existing teachers complain enough?

The amount of special education staff is driven by the IEP. More and less staff is allocated to a school as required hours of services are changed on an IEP. If teachers are overwhelmed, advocate for the student’s need for more services on the IEP. Likewise, if accommodations on 504 plans and IEPs are unrealistic for the general education teacher to provide, general education teachers should give that input to the school teams. Are there skills that could be taught with special education services to increase the student’s self independence vs. learned helplessness with too many accommodations?

You do not understand how allocations work. Also, like many have said, you can allocate as many positions as you want but if no one is willing to work under the conditions/pay currently given, it doesn't matter. Teachers currently working have no control over this.
Parents like you who claim the problem is that teachers aren't teaching the skills for independence or "advocating" enough for kids are part of why no one wants these jobs. Just try to keep piling more on the teachers, seems to be working well...

100 percent agree with this PP. I’m a paraeducator and the parent of a kid with SN. I worked in a self-contained special education classroom early in my career in MCPS. There is no amount of money that could convince me to go back to worrying about being physically injured daily. Paras and teachers in special education classrooms deserve a different pay scale than those of us working in gen ed. I am also horrified at the number of special ed para listings that are temporary and offer no benefits. At the very least, offer benefits, MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Why aren’t the unions bargaining for higher salaries and benefits even for para educators? Clearly there’s an impact on teachers and school administrators as well as students when these positions are not filled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

Lack of special ed staffingis a HUGE issue that isn't going away.

Right- and given that it’s a nationwide issue, MCPS needs to be increasing SPED teacher/para pay stat in order to compete.

They can’t afford to raise the pay relative to the high case load. They need to raise pay AND improve working conditions.

Well part of improving working conditions means lower case load per staff member. They need to hire more staff. They need to find the money before it gets worse, because that will only make more staff leave.

MCPS has millions of dollars in unspent ESSR funds and millions from funded positions they never hired. Money is not the problem.

You can’t hire people who don’t want to work for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

Lack of special ed staffingis a HUGE issue that isn't going away.

Right- and given that it’s a nationwide issue, MCPS needs to be increasing SPED teacher/para pay stat in order to compete.

They can’t afford to raise the pay relative to the high case load. They need to raise pay AND improve working conditions.

Well part of improving working conditions means lower case load per staff member. They need to hire more staff. They need to find the money before it gets worse, because that will only make more staff leave.

MCPS has millions of dollars in unspent ESSR funds and millions from funded positions they never hired. Money is not the problem.

You can’t hire people who don’t want to work for you.

So how can MCPS fix that problem? Or are you of the belief that higher pay, full time benefits, and smaller class sizes will not attract people to work for MCPS? Or what about offering other benefits such as subsidized housing or paying off college loans to attract employees?

Nobody on this thread has said MCPS is a glorious place to work. Several posters have offered up ideas for things MCPS and the Board of Education could do to fix the downward spiral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

Lack of special ed staffingis a HUGE issue that isn't going away.

Right- and given that it’s a nationwide issue, MCPS needs to be increasing SPED teacher/para pay stat in order to compete.

They can’t afford to raise the pay relative to the high case load. They need to raise pay AND improve working conditions.

Well part of improving working conditions means lower case load per staff member. They need to hire more staff. They need to find the money before it gets worse, because that will only make more staff leave.

MCPS has millions of dollars in unspent ESSR funds and millions from funded positions they never hired. Money is not the problem.

You can’t hire people who don’t want to work for you.

The problem with the ESSE funds is that they expire. So any long term pay increases get pushed onto the local school boards. That is why there hasn’t been a huge raise for teachers anywhere even with all the money thrown at schools by the feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And then you have the issue of widening gaps between "good schools" and "mediocre/bad schools."

From the article:

Stacy Ganz Kahn, president of the Winston Churchill High School PTSA, says special education programs are dealing with the brunt of the teacher shortage in MCPS. Offering bonuses in high-need areas and pathways to teacher certification for paraprofessionals could help remedy the situation, she said.

Still, Ganz Kahn says the Potomac school is pretty well-staffed, unlike other schools in the county, because people want to teach there.

I read that quote in the article and thought it was in poor taste. And then just now I looked at the available jobs on the MCPS Careers site, and it turns out it's not true at all. Churchill actually has 6 open teacher positions posted, more than any other HS!

6: Churchill
5: Whitman
4: Blair, Blake, Einstein, Springbrook
3: Gaithersburg, Magruder, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood
2: BCC, Kennedy, Northwood, Paint Branch, Watkins Mill
1: Damascus, Northwest, Walter Johnson
0: Clarksburg, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, Seneca Valley, Wheaton, Wootton

The openings at Churchill include mainly special ed positions and long term substitutes. There is only one full time teaching position open. Special ed staffing is an issue country wide.

Lack of special ed staffingis a HUGE issue that isn't going away.

Right- and given that it’s a nationwide issue, MCPS needs to be increasing SPED teacher/para pay stat in order to compete.

They can’t afford to raise the pay relative to the high case load. They need to raise pay AND improve working conditions.

Well part of improving working conditions means lower case load per staff member. They need to hire more staff. They need to find the money before it gets worse, because that will only make more staff leave.

MCPS has millions of dollars in unspent ESSR funds and millions from funded positions they never hired. Money is not the problem.

You can’t hire people who don’t want to work for you.

So how can MCPS fix that problem? Or are you of the belief that higher pay, full time benefits, and smaller class sizes will not attract people to work for MCPS? Or what about offering other benefits such as subsidized housing or paying off college loans to attract employees?

Nobody on this thread has said MCPS is a glorious place to work. Several posters have offered up ideas for things MCPS and the Board of Education could do to fix the downward spiral.

Force the complaining parents to work one day a week for their free child care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its a sad messy situation for everyone..

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2022/11/02/parents-say-mcps-teacher-shortages-are-hurting-students-academic-progress/

We are in a neighborhood zoned for Einstein and know a family with a student in the references algebra class. These are well-educated parents so I think they were first like, ok we will try to help at home. But they soon hired a tutor, which not everyone can afford to do. It's different to try to supplement at home in ES vs. HS. MCPS doesn't even have books anymore. I remember my dad helping me with math in high school but he would literally sit down with the book to teach himself.

MCPS is offering FREE tutoring so stop commenting about those who cannot afford it.

Isn't the free tutoring virtual? Isn't that what got us in this mess to begin with.

If your kid is in algebra, they can handle math tutoring where the only difference is that they aren’t sitting in the same physical room. Insert childish eyeroll emoji here.