Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?

This will be the last class from the currently conceived application programs/boundaries. The intent is for these students to complete the programs they began.

Can you point to a publicly available resource (webpage, MCPS notice, BOE meeting/agenda item) that demonstrates that there is that intent?

Look at the slides and video available from the 6/24 BOE meeting. The writing is on the wall between the start of the program changes and the boundary changes for fall 2027

But where did they say anything about students finishing the programs they began?

That was my question. There is nothing in the slides or the meeting video to this effect.

All MCPS has said on the subject is that, in general, Taylor wants rising sophomores to go to their new school, while rising juniors and seniors stay. They haven't even confirmed, though, that they will maintain the programs for these students.

It would only make sense to most to allow those having begun a program to complete it, but their silence on the matter is deafening.

Taylor did talk about that at one of the recent meetings, I can't remember which one. He said students would be allowed to complete programs they had started, but didn't have specific details on how that would work.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?

This will be the last class from the currently conceived application programs/boundaries. The intent is for these students to complete the programs they began.

Can you point to a publicly available resource (webpage, MCPS notice, BOE meeting/agenda item) that demonstrates that there is that intent?

Look at the slides and video available from the 6/24 BOE meeting. The writing is on the wall between the start of the program changes and the boundary changes for fall 2027

But where did they say anything about students finishing the programs they began?

That was my question. There is nothing in the slides or the meeting video to this effect.

All MCPS has said on the subject is that, in general, Taylor wants rising sophomores to go to their new school, while rising juniors and seniors stay. They haven't even confirmed, though, that they will maintain the programs for these students.

It would only make sense to most to allow those having begun a program to complete it, but their silence on the matter is deafening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?

This will be the last class from the currently conceived application programs/boundaries. The intent is for these students to complete the programs they began.

Can you point to a publicly available resource (webpage, MCPS notice, BOE meeting/agenda item) that demonstrates that there is that intent?

Look at the slides and video available from the 6/24 BOE meeting. The writing is on the wall between the start of the program changes and the boundary changes for fall 2027

But where did they say anything about students finishing the programs they began?

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a similar situation. The programs and new boundaries will start when they’re in 7th grade. Really scary to make a decision for 6th grade knowing it will likely be vastly different in 7th.

We are in the DCC and there hasn’t been any discussion yet about how the middle school programs will affect things like bell schedule. All 3 DCC middle schools allow kids to take 3 electives because they have a block schedule with 8 periods. No idea how the staffing is for the DCC middle schools compared to the rest of the county. Taylor mentioned staffing costs being more at current high schools with special programs.

He also noted that this was because the staffing was always an in addition to model, as opposed to at least a good portion of the staffing being already existing in the school. Which I say makes sense. Some parts of the magnet/special programs may require additional staff with selective skills. But for some of the classes it just requires a teacher with enough training and willingness to exact high standard and expectations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?

This will be the last class from the currently conceived application programs/boundaries. The intent is for these students to complete the programs they began.

Can you point to a publicly available resource (webpage, MCPS notice, BOE meeting/agenda item) that demonstrates that there is that intent?

Look at the slides and video available from the 6/24 BOE meeting. The writing is on the wall between the start of the program changes and the boundary changes for fall 2027

Anonymous wrote:The possible change to regions will not happen until fall 2027, and final decisions about the new programs will not even be made until December 2025 or later.

The main question is whether MCPS will make any specific reassurances or guarantees to this fall's applicants or not. For example, they could theoretically say "We commit that students starting a program in fall 2026 (or earlier) will be able to finish out that program.". If you would like that kind of information/reassurance, I would highly suggest you contact the Board of Ed *now*.to demand that, so they have time to put pressure on MCPS to make a statement like that by early fall.

They won’t or if they do it will be a lie. They can’t afford to staff old and new programs at the same time

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?

This will be the last class from the currently conceived application programs/boundaries. The intent is for these students to complete the programs they began.

Can you point to a publicly available resource (webpage, MCPS notice, BOE meeting/agenda item) that demonstrates that there is that intent?

Anonymous wrote:Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?

This will be the last class from the currently conceived application programs/boundaries. The intent is for these students to complete the programs they began.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a similar situation. The programs and new boundaries will start when they’re in 7th grade. Really scary to make a decision for 6th grade knowing it will likely be vastly different in 7th.

We are in the DCC and there hasn’t been any discussion yet about how the middle school programs will affect things like bell schedule. All 3 DCC middle schools allow kids to take 3 electives because they have a block schedule with 8 periods. No idea how the staffing is for the DCC middle schools compared to the rest of the county. Taylor mentioned staffing costs being more at current high schools with special programs.

?? There are 9 DCC middle schools. And they definitely do not all have a block schedule.

They are thinking of the three Middle School Magnet Consortium schools, each of which has a themed program. Aside from those in-bounds, who rank-order their preference among the three for a lotteried match, 100 seats per grade are available (by a separate lottery) to those couty-wide with interest outside of the overall catchment. They use a block schedule to get to 8 classes so that they can preserve 2 true electives (similar to those at most 7-period-a-day middle schools) for students after holding one spot for theme-specific programming.

Side note: Like many programs, this was done there to try to boost lagging academic performance, with the themes promoting some interest among those in-bounds and those out-of-bounds presumably supplying a relatively dedicated addition, each infusing some positive vibe across the attending population. While results have not been universally good, they have, to my understanding, had some progress toward the intended effect.

SSIMS, similarly, has a block schedule to accommodate a true elective for those for those in Spanish and French immersion, who take double-period foreign language.

TPMS had the same to accommodate the extra class for the Math/Science/CS magnet program, but that changed for the upcoming year. It is not a whole-magnet school like the MSMC schools -- non-magnet students will have the standard two electives and magnet students will have one (often foreign language).

I'm not aware of another DCC middle school with a block schedule, or of one elsewhere utilizing a block schedule without it being a consideration related to a magnet program, but I would not claim omnicience, there. My understanding (again, uncertain) is that Eastern did not have a block schedule to accommodate its Humanities magnet in the first place.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in a similar situation. The programs and new boundaries will start when they’re in 7th grade. Really scary to make a decision for 6th grade knowing it will likely be vastly different in 7th.

We are in the DCC and there hasn’t been any discussion yet about how the middle school programs will affect things like bell schedule. All 3 DCC middle schools allow kids to take 3 electives because they have a block schedule with 8 periods. No idea how the staffing is for the DCC middle schools compared to the rest of the county. Taylor mentioned staffing costs being more at current high schools with special programs.

?? There are 9 DCC middle schools. And they definitely do not all have a block schedule.

Anonymous wrote:The possible change to regions will not happen until fall 2027, and final decisions about the new programs will not even be made until December 2025 or later.

The main question is whether MCPS will make any specific reassurances or guarantees to this fall's applicants or not. For example, they could theoretically say "We commit that students starting a program in fall 2026 (or earlier) will be able to finish out that program.". If you would like that kind of information/reassurance, I would highly suggest you contact the Board of Ed *now*.to demand that, so they have time to put pressure on MCPS to make a statement like that by early fall.

Send the Board or Programs Study committee your questions. They are taking up the MS programs review/options now. It’s also been stated there will be monthly updates. So Insuspect we’ll start hearing new info soon.

The possible change to regions will not happen until fall 2027, and final decisions about the new programs will not even be made until December 2025 or later.

The main question is whether MCPS will make any specific reassurances or guarantees to this fall's applicants or not. For example, they could theoretically say "We commit that students starting a program in fall 2026 (or earlier) will be able to finish out that program.". If you would like that kind of information/reassurance, I would highly suggest you contact the Board of Ed *now*.to demand that, so they have time to put pressure on MCPS to make a statement like that by early fall.

My kid is in a similar situation. The programs and new boundaries will start when they’re in 7th grade. Really scary to make a decision for 6th grade knowing it will likely be vastly different in 7th.

We are in the DCC and there hasn’t been any discussion yet about how the middle school programs will affect things like bell schedule. All 3 DCC middle schools allow kids to take 3 electives because they have a block schedule with 8 periods. No idea how the staffing is for the DCC middle schools compared to the rest of the county. Taylor mentioned staffing costs being more at current high schools with special programs.

It definitely won't be the six regional model. That will not be approved. So likely what they have now -- though there are a lot of questions I have as the parent of a rising 8th grader. All existing programs are going to change the year after our kids start -- what will happen if the program my kid enrolls in is retired, or if the program moves to a different school?

Would it be same as last Fall? Or six regional model? Or somewhere in between?