Reply to Another article about the magnet programs in Washington Post

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "Another article about the magnet programs in Washington Post "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote]For those worried about the magnets being watered down, aren't there many qualified kids who don't quite make the cut? Would it be so bad if, for example, the HGCs served the top 7% of kids in the county rather than the top 3%? [/quote]

It doesn't sound MCPS is proposing expanding magnets to serve the top 7%. It sounds like they are attempting to create different entrance criteria based on race which to my knowledge is not legal in public K-12 education per MD state law and federal funding. MCPS can legally do more outreach, encouragement, and provide special services to minority students but they can't create two different standards for entrance criteria anymore than they can create two different grading scales dependent on race.

To my knowledge all kids take the first GT test -Raven or InView in 2nd grade. Did the consultants provide any data about how many minority students scored within the top 3%, 5%, 7%, 10%? Understanding the pool of qualified students within the demographic that you are targeting is the first step.

If there is evidence from the 2nd grade test that there are enough minority students scoring within the top 3% to increase diversity at magnets but that these students are just not applying then the solution is to address what are the barriers to applying. If there is evidence that enough minority students are within 3% of the top scores but are not being selected then the solution is to address why they weren't accepted despite their high scores.

If there are only enough minority scoring at 6% rather than 3% and MCPS plans to double the seats to accommodate all students meeting this target then its fair.

If there are not enough minority students scoring within the 3% then lowering the target to 6% without doubling the seats in the magnets and HGC to accommodate all students meeting this new target -only minority students-it is equally unfair. A non-minority student scoring 3% or higher would be losing their seat to a minority student scoring lower. [/quote]

And, let me tell you, kids are not stupid. That non-minority student will remember and resent the fact his/her seat was taken away for a long time. Now you know why Trump is so popular.  [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics