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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Honestly, I think if the specialty schools program was expanded, more middle class helicopter parents would put their kids in the county schools.  People need some sort of incentive, like winning a "lottery" or knowing that the other parents in their program at least applied and made an effort.[/quote]

I think this is true, but I wish it weren't because it only exacerbates the inequities. This school district is massive with some dismal schools and some great ones. But no one sees the gems unless they have the cache of a special program and that's a real shame. Some neighborhood schools are sadly getting overlooked. Some parents like the idea of a neighborhood school but are scared away by this very ingrained perception that the only way to make it in this county is in a specialty program. They don't even consider a neighborhood school for an instant. These are middle class helicopter parents who could make a huge difference in a school and use their muscle to make it better and promote the positives.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti-specialty program. I just don't think it solves the bigger issue. To tackle the inequities and improve the reputation, the district as a whole needs to show it can educate all its students, not just those who get lucky enough to win the lottery or test TAG or whatever. [/quote]

+1000

This is so true.  The expansion of the specialty programs is really detrimental to our local schools.  I understand the reasoning but I think county would really benefit from opening more middle school specialty programs and reducing (or at least stop expanding) elementary school ones.  There are lots of great things happening at our local elementary schools.  Just think of how much better it could be if we could get the helicopter parents to opt in to their local schools.

[/quote]

Maybe the lottery itself should be changed.  Maybe "specialty" schools should be expanded, but should take 1/2 kids from the neighborhood, and 1/2 kids who get in through a lottery system.  And then make more "neighborhood" schools "specialty" by introducing a focus for each school, whether it be language learning, or montessori, or STEM.  What do you guys think?[/quote]

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