Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Or what makes EH and Jefferson similar to Deal which actually has an IB program? I don't even get what it means to "follow" one. Are they somewhere in the process? Have they met goals? On track to have the program when?

There have been several well advertised presentations on these IB programs in and around Capitol Hill. Maybe you should try to make the next one to get these questions answered and to get a better overview of what IB is and how it serves differentiation. Yes, the two schools you mention are well on track towards accreditation, which is a multi-year process, and, to tell from observers as well as answers I've gotten at such meetings, they take IB very seriously. You also see it at work already in classrooms and around the schools, which I hope you have some time to check out. And this is a good place to check out the basics from the comfort of your home: http://www.ibo.org/

I actually have attended and checked out all three schools (4th grader at Brent) to prep on what we are doing. My hope was that EH/Jefferson could be an option. Sadly, after visiting Deal they aren't. Have you been to Deal? In my opinion EH and Jefferson are completely unprepared to implement a MYP anytime soon. I felt that they didn't take the IB program seriously. The EH IB coordinator was unable to answer simple questions posed by another parent which worried me. I won't even get into Jefferson and their issues. I don't know how long the process takes to become IB but it was clear that they are probably 5 years away with very little support from teachers which is my biggest concern. While we will never get into Deal it at least made me realize that EH and Jefferson aren't options either.

Differentiation is just good, sound teaching in order to reach all students and learning styles in the same classroom IB MYP encourages that in its teacher training which is great. But if the teachers aren't good at it, it won't happen.

It is not a part of International Baccalureate to require honors classes or divide students by ability levels.

Thanks for the link. I have read the documents and been to the presentations on Capitol Hill. I am impressed with the program and its goals of including all the children of the school until the Diploma Program in 11th grade. I don't see anything about IB that specifically makes it have a differentiation component. That's why I asked what gave YOU that impression, to see what I am missing.

Anonymous wrote:Or what makes EH and Jefferson similar to Deal which actually has an IB program? I don't even get what it means to "follow" one. Are they somewhere in the process? Have they met goals? On track to have the program when?

There have been several well advertised presentations on these IB programs in and around Capitol Hill. Maybe you should try to make the next one to get these questions answered and to get a better overview of what IB is and how it serves differentiation. Yes, the two schools you mention are well on track towards accreditation, which is a multi-year process, and, to tell from observers as well as answers I've gotten at such meetings, they take IB very seriously. You also see it at work already in classrooms and around the schools, which I hope you have some time to check out. And this is a good place to check out the basics from the comfort of your home: http://www.ibo.org/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great idea! Unfortunately we are oob. Maybe Elliot hine and Jefferson will have something like this in two years, when we need 6th grade.

Just as Deal, Eliot-Hine, and Jefferson follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years program. That's a different model, and some - including myself - argue better than SEM, not least because it comes with international accreditation and oversight. But I'll happily take either anytime because they come with differentiation components that are important in a context in which there are considerable achievement gaps. Both IB and SEM are quite involved and don't come cheap because of training and programing. I'm very glad to see that these pieces continue to be properly funded by DCPS, as well as expanded. That was a real battle in previous years and shouldn't need to be fought again.

Curious what gives you the impression that International Baccalaureate comes with a "differentiation" component in the middle school program? What do you mean by that?

Or what makes EH and Jefferson similar to Deal which actually has an IB program? I don't even get what it means to "follow" one. Are they somewhere in the process? Have they met goals? On track to have the program when?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great idea! Unfortunately we are oob. Maybe Elliot hine and Jefferson will have something like this in two years, when we need 6th grade.

Just as Deal, Eliot-Hine, and Jefferson follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years program. That's a different model, and some - including myself - argue better than SEM, not least because it comes with international accreditation and oversight. But I'll happily take either anytime because they come with differentiation components that are important in a context in which there are considerable achievement gaps. Both IB and SEM are quite involved and don't come cheap because of training and programing. I'm very glad to see that these pieces continue to be properly funded by DCPS, as well as expanded. That was a real battle in previous years and shouldn't need to be fought again.

Curious what gives you the impression that International Baccalaureate comes with a "differentiation" component in the middle school program? What do you mean by that?

Don't get too excited. In their initial budget available online, SH has 0 funds for 0 related arts positions. Only a .5 for a librarian.

WTF?

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a great idea! Unfortunately we are oob. Maybe Elliot hine and Jefferson will have something like this in two years, when we need 6th grade.

Just as Deal, Eliot-Hine, and Jefferson follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years program. That's a different model, and some - including myself - argue better than SEM, not least because it comes with international accreditation and oversight. But I'll happily take either anytime because they come with differentiation components that are important in a context in which there are considerable achievement gaps. Both IB and SEM are quite involved and don't come cheap because of training and programing. I'm very glad to see that these pieces continue to be properly funded by DCPS, as well as expanded. That was a real battle in previous years and shouldn't need to be fought again.

Anonymous wrote: Is Grey still withholding $6 million from the renovation?

That is still being decided but the rest of the renovation is going ahead - so a full arts center with drama and music studios and full museum exhibition space is happening.

OP, I agree this is great news for that school. I dont get the "too late" comment. How exactly is it too late, all the current and future students will benefit from this. Hardy parent, just because you think the progam is non-existent there doesent mean the same will happen at SH. There have been many positive changes since the new ptincipal came. I am keeping an open mind and optimistic outlook about the future of the school based on what has happened there in the last 2 years. Change has to start somewhere.

Too little too late. Is Grey still withholding $6 million from the renovation?

Stuart Hobson will start offering Honors Classes next year and the offering will increase the following year. The plan is to have a full honors program in a couple of years.

I think this is a great idea! Unfortunately we are oob. Maybe Elliot hine and Jefferson will have something like this in two years, when we need 6th grade.

Hardy parent. What a joke. There is no GT program at Hardy. What these DCPS middle schools need are honors classes across the board, not a touch of extra enrichment for anybody who turns up, which is what we have now.

Stuart Hobson is getting a gifted and talented program. Here's an excerp from the DCPS Budget Development Guide:

Schoolwide Enrichment Model
In SY13-14, DCPS will expand the Schoolwide Enrichment Model (SEM), or “gifted and talented” program, to Sousa, Johnson and Stuart-Hobson middle schools for a total of six SEM schools districtwide. The other SEM schools in DCPS are Hardy Middle School, Kelly Miller Middle School and West Education Campus.

Page 11 of this document:
http://dc.gov/DCPS/Files/downloads/ABOUT%20DCPS/Budget%20-%20Finance/FY14%20Budget%20Development%20Guide.pdf