Anonymous wrote:The GTA seems to be desperate to drag everyone into your efforts. We elect the BOE, no? We pay the MCPS salary. Let us make them listen to them. They are the people we pay with our taxes.

I looked at the emails of the GTA listserv and saw them whining that MCPS doesn't listen to them!!! Look at the way they pick on Starr and MCPS.

Why risk being associated with a group that is famous for attacking people they don't like?

How do you read GTA listserv? Are you a GTA organization member? Exactly! GTA listserv has very little connection to GTA as an organization. Most members of GTA listserv are parents whose kids require accelerated education or political people who use the information in the listserv for their political gain. Majority of GTA listserv members are not the member of GTA organization. For example, there is one member of GTA listserve who is a prominent member of a political group who constatly opposes acceleration in schools and supports one-size-fits all education. He gathers information from the listserv and uses it for his organization's political advantage.

So, do not judge the intention of the organization from the emails that gets exchanged between people in the listserv. It is unmoderated discussion group not a representation of GTA's view. In fact I am not member of GTA, and a very inactive member of GTA listserv. I learn from discussions, am a parent of magnet school kids, and support accelerations in neighborhood schools. So, as long as GTA supports this cause, I will support them.

Anonymous wrote:Got it! Here is the MCPS page with contact info for the Super: http://coldfusion.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/index.cfm?s=dbo&pl=20611.

Are you going to the meeting whihc the Super arranged for on March 22 at Magruders High Scool to represent your kids' accelerated education needs and how it can be met in your school?

Anonymous wrote:The GTA seems to be desperate to drag everyone into your efforts. We elect the BOE, no? We pay the MCPS salary. Let us make them listen to them. They are the people we pay with our taxes.

I looked at the emails of the GTA listserv and saw them whining that MCPS doesn't listen to them!!! Look at the way they pick on Starr and MCPS.

Why risk being associated with a group that is famous for attacking people they don't like?

How many organized changes have you seen implemented without organized advocacy? Please site the refernces.

You do not elect BOE. BOE candidates are hand picked by a powerful political group who wants all acceleration in neighborhood school be done with. They do not believe in ability grouping and hence they have used their political muscle to get the candidate elected. Read about voting statistics of current BOE candidate and see for yourself whether these candidates will support advanced learners?

Getting back to your points about MCPS not listening to GTA and people whining, the comments on the GTA site is not from GTA folks only. Second GTA is a parents group not different than you and me. I am parent, not a GTA member, who supports any group who will support accelerated education for all acceleration ready kids in neighborhood schools. Are you?

Got it! Here is the MCPS page with contact info for the Super: http://coldfusion.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/directory/index.cfm?s=dbo&pl=20611.

The GTA seems to be desperate to drag everyone into your efforts. We elect the BOE, no? We pay the MCPS salary. Let us make them listen to them. They are the people we pay with our taxes.

I looked at the emails of the GTA listserv and saw them whining that MCPS doesn't listen to them!!! Look at the way they pick on Starr and MCPS.

Why risk being associated with a group that is famous for attacking people they don't like?

Anonymous wrote:If you have real issues with Curriculum 2.0 write directly to MCPS and the BOE. Don't get embroiled in the GTA efforts.

Not a GTA member and not a buddy of any GTA office bearere, but my philosophy for any advocacy is different than what you say.

We can each individually write to MCPS and BOE about curriculum 2.0 and will not achieve anything - BOE and MCPS will not respond to any individual need. Or we can band together as a group (at this point I see GTA is the only organized group) and achieve some changes. There has been no real change in the world without a goup effort. GTA's effort is our effort. If we do not like it, each of us can be member of the organization and change it to our liking. Do not get side tracked by individual like and dislike for a few people in a organization.

If you have real issues with Curriculum 2.0 write directly to MCPS and the BOE. Don't get embroiled in the GTA efforts.

There are only 3 days left to put in your written comments about how you perceive accelerated education is helping or harming your kids. You do not have to do this GTA. Do it for your own child. Speak your mind. Your voice matters.

Have you provided your comment or question regarding the accelerated education in MCPS a http://www.gtamc.org/2012-gt-forum?

Please plan to attend the meeting on March 22 at Magruders HS.

Anonymous wrote:"So, if your kids happens to enter a grade with already knowing all on-grade concepts in Math, he/she still will sit waiting for the next year. "

How in the world is that tolerable in such a "good" school district????

Because there is a very strong political group against ability grouping pushing for it. They have a union's strength in number and many parents like me and you do not act beyond forums and discussion groups.

If you care to make a difference, attend the meeting at Magruders HS on March 22 and do not forget to put comments at the site OP provided.

"So, if your kids happens to enter a grade with already knowing all on-grade concepts in Math, he/she still will sit waiting for the next year. "

How in the world is that tolerable in such a "good" school district????

Anonymous wrote:I've heard about the forum and am unfortunately out of town (yes, I posted at that link already). But don't know how the curriculum 2.0 issue relates to this. OP could you explain? All I see on the web is MCPS info on it which I'm sure is one side.

Please ask your friends to post on the site too. The comments and question posted there would be shared with Dr. Starr, the new superintendent of MCPS. If enough parents comment and show up it will give strength to the need of advanced students.

Anonymous wrote:I've heard about the forum and am unfortunately out of town (yes, I posted at that link already). But don't know how the curriculum 2.0 issue relates to this. OP could you explain? All I see on the web is MCPS info on it which I'm sure is one side.

OP here. My knowledge of Curriculum 2.0 is based on AEI (Accelerated and Enriched Instruction)'s presentation to GT Liason groups last year and many anacdotal evidences expressed by parents whose kids are already affected by Curriculum 2.0 implementation by elementary schools. Theoritically, curriculum 2.0 is supposed to go deeper in a concept in every subject in a particular grade. Concepts will be taught in many ways so that kids get it. AEI said that curriculum 2.0 "may" allow a few kids to accelerate, however the criteria for assessing mastery of grade level concepts are not defined yet. So, there is no assessment defined. As a result most schools are implementing Curriculum 2.0 as a one-size-fits-all method since they do not want to come up with a assement method. Teachers are expected to teach a very wide range of prepared kids in the same class. So, if your kids happens to enter a grade with already knowing all on-grade concepts in Math, he/she still will sit waiting for the next year. This is happening right now for schools who have implemeted Curriculum 2.0 in 2nd and 3rd grade. This also affect the accelerated reading groups.

A side effect of this is, curriculum 2.0 will possibly prevent students competing for the magnet schools considering magnet applications expect kids to be 2 years ahead, unless parents suppliment outside the school significantly.

NP here -- I'm also interested in more information about how the new curriculum 2.0 relates to all of this. My DD's school just announced that the new curriculum will be mandatory next year. I am concerned that this will mean an end to the differentiation/acceleration that has worked so well for my child.
Any information would be appreciated.

I've heard about the forum and am unfortunately out of town (yes, I posted at that link already). But don't know how the curriculum 2.0 issue relates to this. OP could you explain? All I see on the web is MCPS info on it which I'm sure is one side.

What does accelerated education mean to you? Does your kids get/got the kind of education they need/needed in their local school? Did you have to move home because you thought your neighborhood school was not being able to provide your child the acceleration your child need to reach his/her full potential? Did/do you worry about magnet school admissions annd wondered/wonder what to do if your child did not get accepted? Have you heard of Curriculum 2.0? Do you know how that would affect accelerated education in MCPS?

Maryland state policy requires local school system to provide required education for academically advanced kids. Do you feel MCPS serves your academically advanced kid well? If you care about accelerated education to stay so that your child does not stagnate, take action.

Have you provided your comment or question regarding the accelerated education in MCPS at http://www.gtamc.org/2012-gt-forum?

If not please visit the site and write your comment. Contact other people who might be interested to put in their comments too.

Also, plan to attend the accelerated education meeting on March 22, in Marguders HS at 7pm.