Reply to Specialty School Programs in PG for all or just the elite?

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Reply to "Specialty School Programs in PG for all or just the elite?"

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[quote=Anonymous]OP, what kind of programs are you actually proposing? Just add additional languages to the mix, add additional schools that use the same languages that are already being taught, add more TAG programs, or more performing arts programs? The specialty programs were originally designed as part of a voluntary desegregation program in lieu of bussing. I'm not sure you can say the current policy is effective. The specialty programs tend to be mixed African-American and white, but have a low representation of Hispanic families and a low number of FARMS students in the buildings. I agree that the county needed to add in Spanish immersion programs when they implemented them a few years ago and the argument could be made to make more Mandarin programs available, but I'm not sure I agree that we need more French immersion programs. No offense to the French immersion program, but the reason so many families apply is because they have good scores (largely because it has a lower number of ELL and FARMS students), not because of an overwhelming demand for families to have French speaking children. All the specialty programs tend to be under capacity in the upper grades because some students leave and the system doesn't fill those available seats. I'm also convinced that the two TAG only center schools was a  horrible idea and should be broken down into two or three school apiece. TAG programs should be in schools with a comprehensive program that would allow students that are high achieving in one area (for example math) to take classes across programs even if they don't qualify for the whole program. Two of the best schools in the state are Heather Hills and Glenarden Woods, but the county reputation as a whole doesn't hinge on the test scores of two schools. As a result, there are a lot of schools with lower ranked scores that might be boosted up a level or two if the comprehensive program also housed a TAG center rather than pulling those kids out.[/quote]

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