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

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I agree that all mcps students who want these options (13 APs, Calc AB or BC? Multivariable?) should have them.

I do not think the regional program is the way to do that. I would add additional countywide programs as needed.

But realize that the universities are going to meet your student where they are and done may not give credit for certain APs.

Your student needs to maximize the opportunities at their school and give back to their community. That’s the key.[/quote]

That's [i]one[/i] key, and places the burden entirely on the student (and possibly sympathetic teachers working outside the norm) to rectify the difference in opportunity afforded by the local school.

Rectifying [i]that[/i] disparity is the other key, and is on MCPS to resolve.  That is, if they are being honest about their priorities.[/quote]

MCPS is not willing to rectify it.  They've been clear to some of us who have kids at schools that don't meet their needs.  And, the new regions are going to make things worse, not better.[/quote]
Generally, the A students (by objective measure, not report cards) are the ones who are able to handle rigor.

There are only 440 seats in Blair SMCS, for over 51,000 students in MCPS. More than 40% of those 440 seats are taken by students from Wootton and Churchill. This is not equitable. I like that the regional model will allow many more students access to sought-after programs.[/quote]

I said in one of my replies first based on my personal and anecdotal experience: SMCS curriculum is challenging even for the top 1% student. As I have one top 1% kid and one 0.1% kid in every possible measure, my top 0.1% kid rode through this program with joy and fullness, while the top 1% kid can struggle in some classes as I can envision (they are still young but not as talented). The 440 seats attract about the top 1%. You can use better measures to identify the absolute top 1%, or expand the seats to about 500 or so. But the only way to handle students &gt; 90% but below 99% is to significantly water down the program. No single region among the 6 new regions would contribute that many 99% students. If you are lucky to be in Region #1 where Blair sits, you better pray the water down process happens slower. If you live in the other five regions, good luck to you as building-up even a significantly watered-down program still takes years of effort based on the past experience with forming the Poolsville SMCS.[/quote]
+1 Applies to RMIB, as well, and for the IB, it will be even worse.

Look at the diploma rate of the other regions.  If you scatter the 1% performers in RMIB to other regions, you will see the IB pass rate decline.  Even if the teachers water down the curriculum so that the 90% students are able to keep up,  the exam doesn't get watered down, so the pass rate will decline.[/quote]

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