Reply to What is the real reason MCPS uses Lottery for Middle School Magnet Program

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]
No one is addressing the point that the county resorted to lottery because of covid (and therefore no Cogats). The point we should be addressing is when they'll get back to using Cogats. I don't think they'll do it in the spring, but they could do it starting the 2022-2023 school year.
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IProblem is there is no transparency in the process. Lottery due to COVID is what they said earlier. However, if you read the case text related to the lawsuit someone posted earlier? MCPS states that if there is cohort of 20 or more kids in homeschool, they will not consider those kids in CES program. If there are less than 20, and the homeschool cannot meet their accilerated need, then they will be placed in Regional programs. It is unclear whether MCPS even considers academic performance at par when they place the kids in regional program.

There is no plan at the moment from MCPS to get back to CoGAT even though kids are back in school in person. Also there is a problem with Virtual Academy in the mix. There are no accelerated program in VA and there is no cohort either. CoGAT is also discontinued.
It is not clear whether MCPS will consider VA students for Regional CES programs based on performance. MCPS BOE gets an F for creating all this mess. [/quote]

The process seems completely clear to me. I think you're confused. Not liking the process is different than not understanding it.[/quote]

(I'm really tired of MCPS employees chiming in.)

Agree.

For new parents - here's the deal.  The reason why MCPS doesn't use CogAT anymore is because CogAT is Nationally-recognized and race-neutral (for example, CogAT can qualify your child for Mensa membership).  IMHO, that is exactly what MCPS does not want - clarity.  If you're selecting sub-par students for Magnet admission, it's a little embarrassing to say "oh yeah, the Mensa kid doesn't qualify" - which, btw, they have done (and are still doing).  So instead if there are a bunch of kids that are smart, they just leave them at the home schools in packs of 20 (e.g. a classroom).

However, I think the part that most lacks clarity is how they select based on "lottery" results.  If it was a true lottery, it would be a double-blind.  In other words, parents are issued random numbers, MCPS publishes a list of random numbers (without knowing who the parents were), and the parent has to self-identify.  However, MCPS has never released their method of selection and deliberately refused to comment on it.  I personally think it's not a lottery at all, but there's no way to prove they're lying without a whistleblower coming forward (or the Magnet parents start bragging that such-and-such did their kid a solid).

Sorry about VA, but honestly, I think MCPS is just punishing the parents that selected virtual instruction for their kids.  Why?  MCPS' narrative is that school is safe to attend in-person and the pandemic is nearly over.  VA contradicts that storyline.  Now, is that what an honest school system serving the public interest would do?  Of course not, but then again, this is MCPS.

I would recommend lobbying and encouraging other parents to vote for non-incumbents and non-apple-ballot nominations this year.  Not sure if you're aware but a minimum of three, and up to six (of seven) board slots are up for election in '22.  It is a unique opportunity to re-shape MCPS and fix what has been long broken.
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People that get elected usually take positions that appeal to the greatest number of voters. Or, in the case of multiple sh***y candidates, the ones that get elected are the ones that alienate fewer people. I don't think spending 12 hours a day telling MCPS families that their middling kids can't hack rigor is going to bear fruit.

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So what you're saying is the reason the BOE is consistently for these changes is because most voters actually like them and it's just a few cranks on DCUM that complain. Got it.[/quote]

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