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[quote=Anonymous]It’s a bad issue right now due to staffing cuts. MCPS gave secondary principals staffing allotments based on how many kids were attending in person last February. Fast forward to September and lots of new kids move to the area, many kids leaving private or virtual academy to return to their home school but staffing allotments haven’t changed. At my school, this meant 6th grade band was cut and folded in with 7th and 8th graders. Doesn’t matter because there are also 7th and 8th graders trying an instrument for the first time because of the pandemic.

Orchestras in MCPS really get the short end of the stick but enrollment is just so much lower, so many schools can’t offer leveled orchestra classes. Also, MCPS has the same person teaching band and orchestra in most schools. This is very different than Virginia where a teacher specializes in just band or just orchestra. They have teachers specialize in one area and split between a MS and HS if needed. This is fantastic for recruiting and retaining students. It’s also frees up time for the teacher to get PD in either band or orchestra. MCPS has been behind the times for about 30 years in this area. Howard County is where you will find superior music programs. [/quote]

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