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]MCPS makes things clear as mud, to be sure.

Local norms for us mean that the percentile score is based on the population of same-grade sutdents in the system from schools with somewhat similar demographic characteristics (FARMS or ever-FARMS, language learners, etc.).  For elementary, I think there may be 3 such tranches of schools, and I don't think it's cluster-based, though one might expect some similarities within a cluster that would see elementaries tend to fall into the same local norming tranche.

The basic idea is that a naturally GT kid from a high-FARMS/high-ELL area may not have the circumstances (presence of cohort, access to tutoring, etc.) at their school to facilitate exposure to material that would positively influence raw test scores in the same way that a GT kid from a low-FARMS/low-ELL area might.  Presuming that the objective is to identify the innate ability (not the achievement level) when determining who might benefit most from magnet placement, local norming can make sense.

It can also be taken too far, if driven by another agenda.  Making the specifics of MCPS's local norming practice public would go a long way towards silencing the critics -- as long as the specifics don't indicate that another agenda is in play.[/quote]

+1  Transparency is critical so that we all understand what the goals are and what the process is. Unfortunately, some drags the race into the conversation and divert the whole thing to the point the discussion becomes unproductive[/quote]
A lot of culture warriors on DCUM.[/quote]

It's one or two paid astroturfers always stirring up trouble.
[/quote]

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