Reply to Program Analysis Lets Shut It Down

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]They will stop if there is threat of many lawsuits. [/quote]

on what basis would anyone sue?  "My kid isn't getting special advanced coursework not offered at the school"?  "My kid wasn't offered AP Music"?

[/quote]

MCPS isn’t following their own regulations on program development. They haven’t provided a valid educational justification for the new programs, what the goals are, or how the new programs will achieve them. They haven’t presented real numbers on staffing (including reassigning current teachers), or any data on the how the new proposal will impact current MCPS programs, schools and students (exact language from the reg pasted below).

That last point is important. If they did a comprehensive impact study they would have to admit that the new model is less flexible than the DCC and NEC, leaving those communities with a net loss of choice. They’d have to clearly state that they will be reducing access existing magnets, both by changing the eligible applicant pool and by cutting the size of the programs (the presentation last week had RM only accepting 60 non-RM students per year to the IB magnet. It’s about 100 per year now, I think). They’d have to acknowledge the likely changes to local programs that will now have to compete with magnet programs. And they’d have to admit that they’re not replicating the great magnets we already have. The curriculum samples they showed in last week were watered-down versions that line up with newly revised state pathways. Will they also water down existing programs? That’s another thing they don’t want to discuss.

MCPS also hasn’t talked about the massive socioeconomic disparities in current magnet enrollment and how they intend to improve access for low-income students. If they use current admissions processes, they’ll just compound the problem, giving more opportunities to affluent kids while shutting out their less wealthy peers.

By not clearly stating what these programs are supposed to do and not disclosing the full scope of likely impacts, MCPS breaking their own rules and hiding the real effects of their plan. I'm not a lawyer, but it seems like there is room to threaten to take MCPS to court and demand that they change existing programs until they have done the requisite impact studies.

https://marylandpublicschools.org/programs/Pages/CTE/standards.aspx

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMJHXR4AA9BD/$file/Boundary%20Studies%20Program%20Analysis%20Update%20251016%20PPT%20REV.pdf

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ieera.pdf

The program development regs require:

"Each proposal for a special program shall be in writing and include:
1. The name of the proposed special program and the office or unit which shall be
responsible for its planning and implementation
2. The MCPS Goal(s) of Education, MCPS/BOE priority, or Board policy which the
program is designed to help achieve
3. A brief statement of the specific student needs or population the program is
designed to meet
4. A strategic plan, briefly stating the goal, objectives and strategies to be employed
in the special program over a three year period, supported whenever possible by
applicable research studies
5. For each of the first three years:
a) The number, grade levels and schools attended by students the program
is designed to serve
b) The specific learning or skill gains anticipated for students served
c) The additional staff, or those to be reassigned from other tasks (by number
and position class), and any other resource and facility requirements,
including those to be budgeted by other MCPS units (such as
transportation, etc.)
d) A plan for evaluating the special program and its success in meeting stated
student needs
6. A plan for communicating information about the special program and its successes
to other MCPS staff
7. The specific rationale for limiting the special program to certain schools, geographic
areas, minority/ethnic/socioeconomic or other groups, or special needs
8. The anticipated impact of the special program on other MCPS programs, schools
or students."[/quote]

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