Reply to BOE reconsidering the Virtual Academy, Leader in Me, and Innovative School Year Calendar

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Folks really should click through the report on MVA because it doesn't look good, assuming one wants to take an evidence-based approach. At the very least, the VA needs to be revamped to address the issues detailed in the report.

The report is easy to read, and clearly laid out, even if it does seem it took MCPS quite a while to make it public. The biggest takeaway is that MVA is not working at the ES level in particular. Attendance is worse for MVA than in-person school, and testing outcomes are significantly worse.

At the MS and HS levels, chronic absenteeism is about the same as the in-school population, but that itself is alarming given the dismal state of attendance in general.

At best, the data would suggest that MVA is not an appropriate model for K-5.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/sharedaccountability/reports/2023/Virtual%20Academy%20FINAL.pdf

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Some of t that data is not accurate as many families opted out if testing.  [/quote]

This doesn't make any sense, though. The report says that for MAP-M only about 11% of kids opted out of the test. So, of the 89% of MVA kids who did take the tests, there were statistically significant (in some cases very significant) differences for K-5 kids in particular.

So, unless the missing 11% is for some reason also the highest scoring 11%, the numbers still show that MVA isn't working for K-5, at least in terms of attendance and mastery of core academic subjects. There's no reason to believe that the 89% who did take the test is not statistically representative of the broader group and in fact much more reason to believe that the 11% who didn't test are more likely to be lower scorers than higher scorers.

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Stop bringing up facts and data in response to the fever dream that the virtual academy is a worthwhile program [/quote]

MAP is the only test that is allowed to be taken virtually.  All other standardized tests have to be taken in person.  Many opted out of those because the home schools all test on different days and it was very disruptive to their academic schedule as they missed VA classes to take the test and they usually were forced to sit in an empty room all by themselves all day.  I wish some of you would allow a conversation to occur instead of picking up on one tiny nuance to justify your hate of a program that benefits students.  Many students LOVE being home and learning.  It would help if you asked a few.  Even though the VA numbers are shrinking (mainly because of limited classes at the moment and home schools refusing to keep up their end of the bargain) it's still as large as some stand-alone elementary and middle schools here in the county.  [b]Could you imagine if we were talking about your child's school or magnet program shutting down? You all would be up in arms here[/b].  Try to have some empathy folks.  I know you have it in you.  [/quote]

Naw. If MCPS decided to build a new experimental school a few years ago and I opted to roll the dice to attend, I wouldn’t be up in arms if attendance dropped 40% two years in a row and the system started asking whether it’s wise to keep the school open. [/quote]

+1.  Also, at the posters saying that the test scores are biased because high performing families opted out- you are shooting yourself in the foot. If your kids are doing so we’ll get them in there for the tests. Otherwise don’t complain about the data. MCPS can only use what it has in front of it.[/quote]

You are right, we did shoot ourselves in the foot, but its a bunch of bad choices and if you are in the MVA for health reasons, its a bit concerning to send your child to a school, that you have no contact with, when no one is masking or taking basic precautions AND the school refuses to accommodate the concerns. [/quote]

I thought the kids would be in a room by themselves taking the test? Not mingling with the unmasked masses.[/quote]

That would make sense, but no, I was told they'd be in the large lunch room with everyone else.    They could have had a separate room for all the virtual kids, but our school refused.  [/quote]

Can’t your kids wear masks?  Worn correctly they are very effective.  Oh well, too late now.[/quote]

Mine always mask but it helps, it’s not 100 percent.  And, thaton.y helps with airborne, not surface.   Not everything is about Covid.  [/quote]

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