Reply to Re-instituting Virtual Academy in MCPS

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Can we bring back the MVA but in a much smaller and more exclusive way? There were 2 students who were found to have moved out of state who were still attending. There were  kids with no medical needs who just appreciated the comforts of school from their bed. For the first 2 years of existence, the MVA placed all of the IEP meetings and paperwork on the kids home school which I never understood why they couldn’t host their own meetings. Last year,  I read IEPs for MVA students which were full of statements about the students which were simply not true (understandable given that the case manager never met the kid in person). If it comes back, someone needs to make a clear policy about who is it appropriate for. [/quote]

No.   Because the MVA some things like IEPs, services and testing were done in the home schools.  Some of us refused testing that was not a graduation requirement for a variety of reasons.  The MVA is appropriate for any child who wants to be in it and has parent support.  Kids were in it for tons of reasons including being bullied or not feeling safe.  Why didn’t you support those kids more so they would have done better in your school?  People like you are one reason why some families choose the MVA.  [/quote]

Parents don't get to pick the school that is most convenient for them. If you want to send your kids to a special school for which there is not a compelling medical need, then you can pay for it yourself. [/quote]

Actually they do.  There is now a charter and for some areas there are consortium as well as speciality programs.  The MVA was open to all.  And, just think, if it reopens, the kids you clearly don’t want in your school can have a place to go to get a quality education with teachers and staff who care.

By your logic we should get rid of all the magnet and other special programs as well.  [/quote]

I mean, I think the problem with your comparison is that each of those "specialty" programs has some sort of requirements for entry, whether it's living in-bounds, doing an application/lottery, passing a criteria-based test, or applying to the charter.

What people are reacting to here is that MVA didn't have any of that. If you want to make the argument that MVA is functionally a special education program, then make that case but be aware that special education resources are rationed. I cannot opt my child into a program just because I like the ratios, without a compelling need for the public to take on the additional cost of educating my special needs child.

I believe whole-heartedly in educating children with learning differences, behavioral and emotional challenges, and all sorts of other needs, but we have systems in place for a reason. [/quote]

You are coming across as someone who had zero experience with the MVA or our kids.  You really have no clue what you are talking about.  You actually don’t have systems in place and many of the ones you do either the adults don’t follow through or it wasn’t a good experience or kids were denied what they need.  In person is not a good or healthy experience for all.  Fix the problems in MCPS before you demand things you don’t understand.

MVA did educate many kids with special needs and if anything it saved the county money and resources as the parents were acting as the supports for their kids and many did outside therapies.

People like you are the problem.  You don’t understand individual kids needs or family needs.  If you made sure all these kids needs were met and they were safe, then maybe there would be no need for this discussion.

MCPS lost more money with the kids who left MCPS and then you combine those with the sped programs and the other alternative programs and it actually lost money.   [/quote]

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