Reid’s new email

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of “off track” and “needs intensive support” at the elementary level.

And what exactly will be the result of this designation? Are they actually going to GET the "intensive support" that they need? Or is this rating just another way to dump on our poorest schools?

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the most vulnerable populations need "intensive support" to keep up with their peers. If this designation puts them in line for additional resources, I'm all for it. If it's just another label so that the more well-to-do families can avoid them, well....

Fwiw, I'm a relatively high earner but kept my kids in our local Title 1 elementary school, which is labeled Off Track in this report, because we love the community and the school. The admin and teachers are top notch, but of course there is a large segment of the school population that needs real help. Labeling the school to scare people off doesn't help, but some additional resources really would.

They already get extra support. There are smaller class sizes. There are extra reading and math specialists. There are outreach attempts. I am not sure what the schools can do more than what they are doing.

The issue, that the schools cannot solve, is that the population needing the support needs the support at home but doesn’t have it. Many are not read to as babies or toddlers. Many don’t have the supports to deal with school work sent home. Many are hungry and can’t focus at school. And the schools can’t do anything about that. Society can’t fix homes that don’t value education.

Maybe we need to start holding kids back who are not on grade level in early ES, that seems to be working in Mississippi. But it is not like the schools have not been trying to help the kids out, they have been.

These are the kids most impacted by this crazy calendar where their parents are scrambling for childcare for them every week and they're not getting the routine and repetition they need at the early grades.

I expect Reid to take no responsibility.

+1

Everyone loves to be magnanimous about equity but they also love all their days off and snow days and early release and this sh*t box of a calendar without any consideration that the people it is hurting the most are students who will never enjoy a trip to the zoo or hot cocoa and sledding and a trip to see grandma in London or whatever else the rich folks like to do with all the time off.

Some of us have been arguing for year-round school so that kids are in school more consistently and there is less academic slide but then people freak out about swim schedules and needing a long summer and how most of the country doesn't do year-round school.

Have a 2 week break after each quarter. The Teachers would have one week of work, for finishing grades, planning, and professional development. Summer vacation is 6 weeks long. Better consistency, kids in school with shorter breaks, cheaper travel for the families that can/want to travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious about something: A lot (not all) of the Distinguished ES are AAP center schools. I'm assuming the schools are taken as a whole, not breaking out AAP kids from GenEd. For parents who have kids at centers that also happen to be their base school, what's your sense of how the school would look without the center kids there? Enough difference to drop to On Track?

My kids AAP center is also our base and I am sure it would be "distinguished" even if you took out the kids that came for AAP. Notably, every base ES that feeds into our center is also "distinguished."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of “off track” and “needs intensive support” at the elementary level.

And what exactly will be the result of this designation? Are they actually going to GET the "intensive support" that they need? Or is this rating just another way to dump on our poorest schools?

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the most vulnerable populations need "intensive support" to keep up with their peers. If this designation puts them in line for additional resources, I'm all for it. If it's just another label so that the more well-to-do families can avoid them, well....

Fwiw, I'm a relatively high earner but kept my kids in our local Title 1 elementary school, which is labeled Off Track in this report, because we love the community and the school. The admin and teachers are top notch, but of course there is a large segment of the school population that needs real help. Labeling the school to scare people off doesn't help, but some additional resources really would.

They already get extra support. There are smaller class sizes. There are extra reading and math specialists. There are outreach attempts. I am not sure what the schools can do more than what they are doing.

The issue, that the schools cannot solve, is that the population needing the support needs the support at home but doesn’t have it. Many are not read to as babies or toddlers. Many don’t have the supports to deal with school work sent home. Many are hungry and can’t focus at school. And the schools can’t do anything about that. Society can’t fix homes that don’t value education.

Maybe we need to start holding kids back who are not on grade level in early ES, that seems to be working in Mississippi. But it is not like the schools have not been trying to help the kids out, they have been.

These are the kids most impacted by this crazy calendar where their parents are scrambling for childcare for them every week and they're not getting the routine and repetition they need at the early grades.

I expect Reid to take no responsibility.

+1

Everyone loves to be magnanimous about equity but they also love all their days off and snow days and early release and this sh*t box of a calendar without any consideration that the people it is hurting the most are students who will never enjoy a trip to the zoo or hot cocoa and sledding and a trip to see grandma in London or whatever else the rich folks like to do with all the time off.

This is where someone will scream that school isn’t childcare.

But yeah the parent driving lyft once their partner gets home to PAY for the childcare for 39 days off in the school year sure isn’t reading with their kid.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked at the other area school systems? They all have about the same rates of distinguished/on track/off track. Except Alexandria City where virtually all of the schools are only conditionally accredited and Prince William where all the HSs are conditionally accredited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious about something: A lot (not all) of the Distinguished ES are AAP center schools. I'm assuming the schools are taken as a whole, not breaking out AAP kids from GenEd. For parents who have kids at centers that also happen to be their base school, what's your sense of how the school would look without the center kids there? Enough difference to drop to On Track?

Not exactly related, but I wonder if Shrevewood had kept their Local Level IV program the way it was rather than switching to the cluster model, would the school still be Off Track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of “off track” and “needs intensive support” at the elementary level.

And what exactly will be the result of this designation? Are they actually going to GET the "intensive support" that they need? Or is this rating just another way to dump on our poorest schools?

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the most vulnerable populations need "intensive support" to keep up with their peers. If this designation puts them in line for additional resources, I'm all for it. If it's just another label so that the more well-to-do families can avoid them, well....

Fwiw, I'm a relatively high earner but kept my kids in our local Title 1 elementary school, which is labeled Off Track in this report, because we love the community and the school. The admin and teachers are top notch, but of course there is a large segment of the school population that needs real help. Labeling the school to scare people off doesn't help, but some additional resources really would.

They already get extra support. There are smaller class sizes. There are extra reading and math specialists. There are outreach attempts. I am not sure what the schools can do more than what they are doing.

The issue, that the schools cannot solve, is that the population needing the support needs the support at home but doesn’t have it. Many are not read to as babies or toddlers. Many don’t have the supports to deal with school work sent home. Many are hungry and can’t focus at school. And the schools can’t do anything about that. Society can’t fix homes that don’t value education.

Maybe we need to start holding kids back who are not on grade level in early ES, that seems to be working in Mississippi. But it is not like the schools have not been trying to help the kids out, they have been.

These are the kids most impacted by this crazy calendar where their parents are scrambling for childcare for them every week and they're not getting the routine and repetition they need at the early grades.

I expect Reid to take no responsibility.

+1

Everyone loves to be magnanimous about equity but they also love all their days off and snow days and early release and this sh*t box of a calendar without any consideration that the people it is hurting the most are students who will never enjoy a trip to the zoo or hot cocoa and sledding and a trip to see grandma in London or whatever else the rich folks like to do with all the time off.

Some of us have been arguing for year-round school so that kids are in school more consistently and there is less academic slide but then people freak out about swim schedules and needing a long summer and how most of the country doesn't do year-round school.

Have a 2 week break after each quarter. The Teachers would have one week of work, for finishing grades, planning, and professional development. Summer vacation is 6 weeks long. Better consistency, kids in school with shorter breaks, cheaper travel for the families that can/want to travel.

No one, especially teachers, want year round school. They’ve made this very clear. We just want breaks that make sense built in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of “off track” and “needs intensive support” at the elementary level.

And what exactly will be the result of this designation? Are they actually going to GET the "intensive support" that they need? Or is this rating just another way to dump on our poorest schools?

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the most vulnerable populations need "intensive support" to keep up with their peers. If this designation puts them in line for additional resources, I'm all for it. If it's just another label so that the more well-to-do families can avoid them, well....

Fwiw, I'm a relatively high earner but kept my kids in our local Title 1 elementary school, which is labeled Off Track in this report, because we love the community and the school. The admin and teachers are top notch, but of course there is a large segment of the school population that needs real help. Labeling the school to scare people off doesn't help, but some additional resources really would.

They already get extra support. There are smaller class sizes. There are extra reading and math specialists. There are outreach attempts. I am not sure what the schools can do more than what they are doing.

The issue, that the schools cannot solve, is that the population needing the support needs the support at home but doesn’t have it. Many are not read to as babies or toddlers. Many don’t have the supports to deal with school work sent home. Many are hungry and can’t focus at school. And the schools can’t do anything about that. Society can’t fix homes that don’t value education.

Maybe we need to start holding kids back who are not on grade level in early ES, that seems to be working in Mississippi. But it is not like the schools have not been trying to help the kids out, they have been.

These are the kids most impacted by this crazy calendar where their parents are scrambling for childcare for them every week and they're not getting the routine and repetition they need at the early grades.

I expect Reid to take no responsibility.

+1

Everyone loves to be magnanimous about equity but they also love all their days off and snow days and early release and this sh*t box of a calendar without any consideration that the people it is hurting the most are students who will never enjoy a trip to the zoo or hot cocoa and sledding and a trip to see grandma in London or whatever else the rich folks like to do with all the time off.

Some of us have been arguing for year-round school so that kids are in school more consistently and there is less academic slide but then people freak out about swim schedules and needing a long summer and how most of the country doesn't do year-round school.

Have a 2 week break after each quarter. The Teachers would have one week of work, for finishing grades, planning, and professional development. Summer vacation is 6 weeks long. Better consistency, kids in school with shorter breaks, cheaper travel for the families that can/want to travel.

No one, especially teachers, want year round school. They’ve made this very clear. We just want breaks that make sense built in.

+1. The choice isn't between this awful, disjointed calendar and year round school. There is a lot that can be done to fix this Calendar that's middle ground. Stop digging in your heels on this, folks! Fix the Calendar. Speak up to your Reps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of “off track” and “needs intensive support” at the elementary level.

And what exactly will be the result of this designation? Are they actually going to GET the "intensive support" that they need? Or is this rating just another way to dump on our poorest schools?

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the most vulnerable populations need "intensive support" to keep up with their peers. If this designation puts them in line for additional resources, I'm all for it. If it's just another label so that the more well-to-do families can avoid them, well....

Fwiw, I'm a relatively high earner but kept my kids in our local Title 1 elementary school, which is labeled Off Track in this report, because we love the community and the school. The admin and teachers are top notch, but of course there is a large segment of the school population that needs real help. Labeling the school to scare people off doesn't help, but some additional resources really would.

They already get extra support. There are smaller class sizes. There are extra reading and math specialists. There are outreach attempts. I am not sure what the schools can do more than what they are doing.

The issue, that the schools cannot solve, is that the population needing the support needs the support at home but doesn’t have it. Many are not read to as babies or toddlers. Many don’t have the supports to deal with school work sent home. Many are hungry and can’t focus at school. And the schools can’t do anything about that. Society can’t fix homes that don’t value education.

Maybe we need to start holding kids back who are not on grade level in early ES, that seems to be working in Mississippi. But it is not like the schools have not been trying to help the kids out, they have been.

These are the kids most impacted by this crazy calendar where their parents are scrambling for childcare for them every week and they're not getting the routine and repetition they need at the early grades.

I expect Reid to take no responsibility.

+1

Everyone loves to be magnanimous about equity but they also love all their days off and snow days and early release and this sh*t box of a calendar without any consideration that the people it is hurting the most are students who will never enjoy a trip to the zoo or hot cocoa and sledding and a trip to see grandma in London or whatever else the rich folks like to do with all the time off.

Some of us have been arguing for year-round school so that kids are in school more consistently and there is less academic slide but then people freak out about swim schedules and needing a long summer and how most of the country doesn't do year-round school.

Have a 2 week break after each quarter. The Teachers would have one week of work, for finishing grades, planning, and professional development. Summer vacation is 6 weeks long. Better consistency, kids in school with shorter breaks, cheaper travel for the families that can/want to travel.

No one, especially teachers, want year round school. They’ve made this very clear. We just want breaks that make sense built in.

+1. The choice isn't between this awful, disjointed calendar and year round school. There is a lot that can be done to fix this Calendar that's middle ground. Stop digging in your heels on this, folks! Fix the Calendar. Speak up to your Reps.

This. The fix is easy, addresses a whole bunch or self-created problems, and even helps children learn which in theory is something FCPS cares about.

[Anonymous]

Year round school might actually help the kids who are struggling by keeping them in school more consistently and decreasing the academic loss. And it would help provide 5 day school weeks, which would help the kids who are struggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Year round school might actually help the kids who are struggling by keeping them in school more consistently and decreasing the academic loss. And it would help provide 5 day school weeks, which would help the kids who are struggling.

So would a rational traditional calendar. Maybe let’s start there. The lack of five days school weeks is a choice and FCPS can choose differently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Year round school might actually help the kids who are struggling by keeping them in school more consistently and decreasing the academic loss. And it would help provide 5 day school weeks, which would help the kids who are struggling.

Your tax bill will go up by 20% for year-round school. Many teachers work other jobs during the summer to make ends meet so you'll need to cover that lost income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot of “off track” and “needs intensive support” at the elementary level.

And what exactly will be the result of this designation? Are they actually going to GET the "intensive support" that they need? Or is this rating just another way to dump on our poorest schools?

It shouldn't come as any surprise that the most vulnerable populations need "intensive support" to keep up with their peers. If this designation puts them in line for additional resources, I'm all for it. If it's just another label so that the more well-to-do families can avoid them, well....

Fwiw, I'm a relatively high earner but kept my kids in our local Title 1 elementary school, which is labeled Off Track in this report, because we love the community and the school. The admin and teachers are top notch, but of course there is a large segment of the school population that needs real help. Labeling the school to scare people off doesn't help, but some additional resources really would.

They already get extra support. There are smaller class sizes. There are extra reading and math specialists. There are outreach attempts. I am not sure what the schools can do more than what they are doing.

The issue, that the schools cannot solve, is that the population needing the support needs the support at home but doesn’t have it. Many are not read to as babies or toddlers. Many don’t have the supports to deal with school work sent home. Many are hungry and can’t focus at school. And the schools can’t do anything about that. Society can’t fix homes that don’t value education.

Maybe we need to start holding kids back who are not on grade level in early ES, that seems to be working in Mississippi. But it is not like the schools have not been trying to help the kids out, they have been.

These are the kids most impacted by this crazy calendar where their parents are scrambling for childcare for them every week and they're not getting the routine and repetition they need at the early grades.

I expect Reid to take no responsibility.

+1

Everyone loves to be magnanimous about equity but they also love all their days off and snow days and early release and this sh*t box of a calendar without any consideration that the people it is hurting the most are students who will never enjoy a trip to the zoo or hot cocoa and sledding and a trip to see grandma in London or whatever else the rich folks like to do with all the time off.

Some of us have been arguing for year-round school so that kids are in school more consistently and there is less academic slide but then people freak out about swim schedules and needing a long summer and how most of the country doesn't do year-round school.

Have a 2 week break after each quarter. The Teachers would have one week of work, for finishing grades, planning, and professional development. Summer vacation is 6 weeks long. Better consistency, kids in school with shorter breaks, cheaper travel for the families that can/want to travel.

No one, especially teachers, want year round school. They’ve made this very clear. We just want breaks that make sense built in.

+1. The choice isn't between this awful, disjointed calendar and year round school. There is a lot that can be done to fix this Calendar that's middle ground. Stop digging in your heels on this, folks! Fix the Calendar. Speak up to your Reps.

This. The fix is easy, addresses a whole bunch or self-created problems, and even helps children learn which in theory is something FCPS cares about.

Omg, get over the calendar. Feel free to look for other options if it’s that impactful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Year round school might actually help the kids who are struggling by keeping them in school more consistently and decreasing the academic loss. And it would help provide 5 day school weeks, which would help the kids who are struggling.

Your tax bill will go up by 20% for year-round school. Many teachers work other jobs during the summer to make ends meet so you'll need to cover that lost income.

Teacher here and I’m all for year round school, especially if we took the suggestion above that includes teacher work weeks spread throughout the year.

Actually getting paid to grade and plan? Sign me up! Then I won’t need my summer employment.

[Anonymous]

Folks you cannot have equity and have everyone be distinguished. Simple not how the process works from a results outcome.

While I agree a school system should focus on every kid reaching his/her potential clearly FCPS is just in the early stages of lowering the bar across the board.

Think boundary changes are going to make it educational outcomes better? Think spending money on attorneys to fight social justice battles is going to improve educational outcomes? This is the clearest picture yet of where FCPS schools are headed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Year round school might actually help the kids who are struggling by keeping them in school more consistently and decreasing the academic loss. And it would help provide 5 day school weeks, which would help the kids who are struggling.

So would a rational traditional calendar. Maybe let’s start there. The lack of five days school weeks is a choice and FCPS can choose differently.

+1 But kids do need breaks because the brain isn’t a computer that is purely input out put. Humans assimilate and consolidate information while on “break’ and while sleeping. Having all 5 day school weeks year round isn’t what your kid, or a failing kid needs.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/study-shows-how-taking-short-breaks-may-help-our-brains-learn-new-skills