Anonymous wrote:I have looked at the MCPS website re 2.0. They don't mention anything about how they plan to incorporate common core standards at the higher grade levels--but I know they are planning to do so. It's a real shame. Parents need to wake up and make a fuss like they did in NY--if we don't, they'll mess up middle school and high school the way they have for elementary school! These standards are a joke and so is the new technology plan.

Which Common Core standards do you think are a joke, and why do you think so?

I have looked at the MCPS website re 2.0. They don't mention anything about how they plan to incorporate common core standards at the higher grade levels--but I know they are planning to do so. It's a real shame. Parents need to wake up and make a fuss like they did in NY--if we don't, they'll mess up middle school and high school the way they have for elementary school! These standards are a joke and so is the new technology plan.

OP here... Thanks for the responses, however I am winderinf more about the changes in the curriculum in middle school and high school rather than reporting of grades (although agree that the P/ES system is a horrendous system). . Does/will common core/2.0 affect non-math courses? According to the MCPS technology plan the goal is to remove all textbooks for all grades by 2016. So will material, resources move on-line -- and will this change be guided by a 2.0 or common core-based curriculum? If so, I am deeply concerned as 2.0 has really lowered standards at the elementary grade levels. I really hope MCPS leaves middle and high shools alone.

The new material will be 2.0 crap. I have no faith that the materials will even be accessible outside of school. You better hope that your child is really good at note taking. Not only will you and your child not have access to any of the tests, quizzes, or exams to see how he or she actually did and what areas are strengths/weaknesses but you won't even be able to access the materials they are studying in class if they follow the same principles that were applied to elementary schools. Homework will vanish.

It will be fantastic for MCPS. Parents will no longer be able to complain about the sloppy and incorrect math problems because they will never get to see them. 2+2 can equal 5 now just because we say it does! Yeah! High SES families will leave the system but who gives a shit! Low SES families are better because they don't complain about the poor quality of the instruction. Let the people seeking a real education and the economic means to move go someplace else.

OP - look on the MCPS website. They have a whole section devoted to 2.0 and when they plan to role it out at what grade level.

OP here... Thanks for the responses, however I am winderinf more about the changes in the curriculum in middle school and high school rather than reporting of grades (although agree that the P/ES system is a horrendous system). . Does/will common core/2.0 affect non-math courses? According to the MCPS technology plan the goal is to remove all textbooks for all grades by 2016. So will material, resources move on-line -- and will this change be guided by a 2.0 or common core-based curriculum? If so, I am deeply concerned as 2.0 has really lowered standards at the elementary grade levels. I really hope MCPS leaves middle and high shools alone.

Anonymous wrote:

No. The elementary school grading system is "standards-based grading". Fairfax County Public Schools also uses standards-based grading for elementary-school report cards. Virginia has not adopted the Common Core standards

Lets not try to pretend that Fairfax has done what MCPS has done. People inside MCPS are VERY sensitive that the surrounding school systems in Maryland and Virginia are performing better and don't have the disaster on their hands that MCPS does with 2.0. Its so hard to pretend your the best when everyone around you is better.

MCPS has interpreted standards based grading to mean that anything between 70-100% is a P. ES is not defined and arbitrary. I and N are equally unclear. In addition, MCPS has used common core to drop the rigor and lower the standards across the board. This is directly related to MCPS's decision to focus solely on PARRC. If something isn't on PARRC there is absolutely no value in ever teaching or allowing children to pursue it. For MCPS common core is a ceiling not a baseline which is the fundamental problem.

Even within MCPS there is recognition that the grading system can no longer be used to fairly assess performance when admitting kids to HGC, magnets, or special programs. If MCPS can't rely on its own system how on earth could any other school system ever use grades given by MCPS for any type of admittance? It puts MCPS students at a disadvantage where SAT and AP scores are everything.

So FCPS hasn't adopted "standards-based grading"? It sure looks like they have, to me.

http://www.fcps.edu/SunriseValleyES/Files%20to%20Link/Documents/Parent%20meeting%20Sunrise%20Valley.pdf

I'm also a bit confused about how grades received in K-5 could put MCPS students at a disadvantage with SAT and AP scores.

No. The elementary school grading system is "standards-based grading". Fairfax County Public Schools also uses standards-based grading for elementary-school report cards. Virginia has not adopted the Common Core standards

Lets not try to pretend that Fairfax has done what MCPS has done. People inside MCPS are VERY sensitive that the surrounding school systems in Maryland and Virginia are performing better and don't have the disaster on their hands that MCPS does with 2.0. Its so hard to pretend your the best when everyone around you is better.

MCPS has interpreted standards based grading to mean that anything between 70-100% is a P. ES is not defined and arbitrary. I and N are equally unclear. In addition, MCPS has used common core to drop the rigor and lower the standards across the board. This is directly related to MCPS's decision to focus solely on PARRC. If something isn't on PARRC there is absolutely no value in ever teaching or allowing children to pursue it. For MCPS common core is a ceiling not a baseline which is the fundamental problem.

Even within MCPS there is recognition that the grading system can no longer be used to fairly assess performance when admitting kids to HGC, magnets, or special programs. If MCPS can't rely on its own system how on earth could any other school system ever use grades given by MCPS for any type of admittance? It puts MCPS students at a disadvantage where SAT and AP scores are everything.

Anonymous wrote:The grading system has to do with common core???

No. The elementary school grading system is "standards-based grading". Fairfax County Public Schools also uses standards-based grading for elementary-school report cards. Virginia has not adopted the Common Core standards.

The grading system has to do with common core???

No P's end in elementary school. MS and HS have traditional grades (with no +/-)

I have not heard whether the everyone is a P grading system will move through high school. Math is scheduled to be rolled out at the high school level.

If your child is not interested in a STEM career, you should only have to focus on outside tutoring and prep for the SAT. If your child is interested in STEM then go to private if one of the STEM magnets is not an option.

Bump...anyone know?

Definitely for math.

Anonymous wrote:
If so, is it just in reading and math? Will 2.0 or common core change the curriculum
for science, history subjects. What about AP courses?

Great question - I would love to know the answer to this too - especially for high school. I really don't want them fiddling with a new curriculum at that level - the stakes are too high if they don't get it right.

If so, is it just in reading and math? Will 2.0 or common core change the curriculum
for science, history subjects. What about AP courses?