Anonymous
04/17/2025 06:33
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
It always seems like so much time is dedicated toward data when the open secret in education is that the data is usually falsely inflated(grades) and falsely deflated (incidents) so what exactly are data meetings accomplishing? Making sure all teachers are doing their diligence making up numbers that make admin look good only? This sucks for us bc admin is usually making up bad reviews on us teachers to make us feel low morale and powerless.
Anonymous
04/16/2025 14:51
Subject: Re:Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
It's been like that for a long time at most districts. As long as you turn an assignment, in its a 100% for completion.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 11:29
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
I’ve seen a few of the replacements and some of them quit before their first year ends. Nobody should be learning how to teach on the job. So they either need to listen to teachers and how they can make it better or get ready to hire more warm bodies. There are so many things that can be done now that will improve things for teachers and students. More planning/grading time that is protected from unnecessary meetings. Consequences for student behavior, remove the expectation for technology in elementary schools, a LOT less testing.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 11:15
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Principals could start by having their teachers enter grades on time, not after they are due. It could help curb grade inflation. Students may submit assignments on time, but teachers haven't entered scores so grades are not accurate.
I work 14-15 hours every weekend. I work an additional 2-3 hours every weekend night. And guess what? I STILL can’t stay on top of this job.
Perhaps you can ask principals to make the job more sustainable. Maybe you can ask them to provide us with time at work to grade and plan. Considering these are essential parts of our job, it’s alarming that we receive almost no time during the work week to get it done.
You are relying on teachers to give up their own health and home lives in order to have things done in a timely fashion. And I’ve been doing that for you for over a decade. I’m growing increasingly resentful and slowing down, and eventually I’ll quit like so many others.
So perhaps asking for more blood from stone isn’t your best option.
Note that parents asked for grades to be done timely. They didn’t ask you to work over the weekend to get it done. If you’re not being given time to complete that task, parents have no control over that. That’s between you, your boss, and your employer. And I’m fairly sure you have several means to express your grievance to help resolve: Meetings with boss, meetings with team, climate surveys, a Union, and the ability to talk with all the political representatives. Being frustrated with parents who are asking for grades, ideally so they know when there are problems and can help support, isn’t helpful.
I suppose we are at a standstill, then.
You continue to be angry at me because I can’t get it all done. Working 20-25 extra hours a week for you still isn’t enough, and the expectation is always that I do more.
You could have said, “I see the problem and I’m sorry that’s the state of education right now.” Instead, I got, “well, that’s your problem and you should spend even more time solving it. I have no sympathy for you.”
And not that it matters to you, but I speak up regularly to leadership. It falls on deaf ears. And so I watch my coworkers quit to find better balance in other fields. I’ll be joining them.
I’m not sure who will be grading your child’s papers in two years. The martyrs are burning out and quitting, and the teachers who remain aren’t going to continue sacrificing everything for this job.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 11:06
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Yup. I agree with you. But here's where it flips back on CO: If they left their offices or homes (apparently a significant chunk of CO staff are still WFH) more and spent more time in schools regularly they'd be in a much better position to enforce and spot the problems that are happening.
We also need to really re-examine the power we've given to principals and MCAAP. People complain about MCEA and their power and influence, but MCAAP is the real power broker here and no one seems to realize that.
No it doesn’t get flipped back to anyone except the Principal. First, the amount of time folks in CO spend WFH is greatly over exaggerated. Second, if principals and schools are going to be given leeway, then CO’s job is to review then data and then ask questions/investigate as to why standard/performance/scores are not being achieved. AND then take the appropriate action to rectify the situation which could be support, coaching, or removing the leeway.
You realize CO includes OSSI, which includes Directors and Associate Superintendents who are supposed to be supervising the principals, right?
Supervising is a very loose term for what they’re actually doing. Saw Beidleman’s supervisor pop into staff meetings when he was clearly unwell and teachers were all scared to even breathe. Yet she smiled the whole time and recommended his promotion to PB.
Also track how often these directors get shuffled around so there isn’t any consistency
Also track how many directors were failed principals themselves who got promoted to that position instead of being booted out of the system as they should have been for their poor performance.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 11:05
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Yup. I agree with you. But here's where it flips back on CO: If they left their offices or homes (apparently a significant chunk of CO staff are still WFH) more and spent more time in schools regularly they'd be in a much better position to enforce and spot the problems that are happening.
We also need to really re-examine the power we've given to principals and MCAAP. People complain about MCEA and their power and influence, but MCAAP is the real power broker here and no one seems to realize that.
No it doesn’t get flipped back to anyone except the Principal. First, the amount of time folks in CO spend WFH is greatly over exaggerated. Second, if principals and schools are going to be given leeway, then CO’s job is to review then data and then ask questions/investigate as to why standard/performance/scores are not being achieved. AND then take the appropriate action to rectify the situation which could be support, coaching, or removing the leeway.
You realize CO includes OSSI, which includes Directors and Associate Superintendents who are supposed to be supervising the principals, right?
Yes. You realize that supervising can look like a lot of things. And also this particular discussion spinoff from someone saying the school principals got a lot of leeway. Given that, my expectation would not be micromanagement from CO and instead setting clear expectations, providing supporting, and then holding principals and there staff to account for meeting the expectations. If data shows they aren't meeting the expectations, then appropriate investigation into why needs to be done and then decisions made about next actions. On the flip side, a lot of school folks are always saying they don't have that much autonomy. In which case I would expect OSSI chooses supervisory method is doing much more follow-up and monitoring to ensure that things are being implemented and executed as directed and if necessary removing those who are impending progress.
CO is telling the BOE that implementation with fidelity is what is being sought and looked at and support provided to improve. Also that when we look at how schools operate it seems to be highly variable both school to school and even sometimes class to class. Now I'm not sure if CO is micromanaging and providing less autonomy is because the leeway wasn't working, OR if that was always their default and principals and schools don't have as much flexibility as folks think OR if the truth is somewhere in between (I suspect the later). What I do know is that current data isn't favorable for the district and that needs to change. So everybody across the system needs to get onboard with a supervision/monitoring method and accountability structure. And it needs to be communicated out to everyone so ALL know what to expect.
There is no meaningful "supervision" of the principals coming from the directors or associate supers. And a lot of them are not active and present in the schools they're supposed to be supervising. Those are the people that Taylor wants them to get out of CO and get in the field.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 11:03
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Principals could start by having their teachers enter grades on time, not after they are due. It could help curb grade inflation. Students may submit assignments on time, but teachers haven't entered scores so grades are not accurate.
I work 14-15 hours every weekend. I work an additional 2-3 hours every weekend night. And guess what? I STILL can’t stay on top of this job.
Perhaps you can ask principals to make the job more sustainable. Maybe you can ask them to provide us with time at work to grade and plan. Considering these are essential parts of our job, it’s alarming that we receive almost no time during the work week to get it done.
You are relying on teachers to give up their own health and home lives in order to have things done in a timely fashion. And I’ve been doing that for you for over a decade. I’m growing increasingly resentful and slowing down, and eventually I’ll quit like so many others.
So perhaps asking for more blood from stone isn’t your best option.
Note that parents asked for grades to be done timely. They didn’t ask you to work over the weekend to get it done. If you’re not being given time to complete that task, parents have no control over that. That’s between you, your boss, and your employer. And I’m fairly sure you have several means to express your grievance to help resolve: Meetings with boss, meetings with team, climate surveys, a Union, and the ability to talk with all the political representatives. Being frustrated with parents who are asking for grades, ideally so they know when there are problems and can help support, isn’t helpful.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 07:45
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Principals could start by having their teachers enter grades on time, not after they are due. It could help curb grade inflation. Students may submit assignments on time, but teachers haven't entered scores so grades are not accurate.
I’d love to enter grades on time. I used to before all of my planning periods were used up by data meetings, IEP/504 meetings, more data meetings. I’m lucky if I get 1-2 planning periods per week. Guess what comes first in that time? Planning.
Are the data meetings not informing planning and instructions?
Maybe the first meeting but dunce they are every week, we end up talking about the same data. This is what happens when people from outside of education come in. In business, meetings are common and are considered the work. In education, those meetings mostly interrupt the work for no real purpose. We never had twice weekly meetings about data until a few years ago. Now they are required. I don’t need two meetings a week to talk about my students’ data. I teach them every day. I know how to use data to plan for them.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 07:42
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Principals could start by having their teachers enter grades on time, not after they are due. It could help curb grade inflation. Students may submit assignments on time, but teachers haven't entered scores so grades are not accurate.
I work 14-15 hours every weekend. I work an additional 2-3 hours every weekend night. And guess what? I STILL can’t stay on top of this job.
Perhaps you can ask principals to make the job more sustainable. Maybe you can ask them to provide us with time at work to grade and plan. Considering these are essential parts of our job, it’s alarming that we receive almost no time during the work week to get it done.
You are relying on teachers to give up their own health and home lives in order to have things done in a timely fashion. And I’ve been doing that for you for over a decade. I’m growing increasingly resentful and slowing down, and eventually I’ll quit like so many others.
So perhaps asking for more blood from stone isn’t your best option.
Anonymous
11/17/2024 07:03
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Yup. I agree with you. But here's where it flips back on CO: If they left their offices or homes (apparently a significant chunk of CO staff are still WFH) more and spent more time in schools regularly they'd be in a much better position to enforce and spot the problems that are happening.
We also need to really re-examine the power we've given to principals and MCAAP. People complain about MCEA and their power and influence, but MCAAP is the real power broker here and no one seems to realize that.
No it doesn’t get flipped back to anyone except the Principal. First, the amount of time folks in CO spend WFH is greatly over exaggerated. Second, if principals and schools are going to be given leeway, then CO’s job is to review then data and then ask questions/investigate as to why standard/performance/scores are not being achieved. AND then take the appropriate action to rectify the situation which could be support, coaching, or removing the leeway.
You realize CO includes OSSI, which includes Directors and Associate Superintendents who are supposed to be supervising the principals, right?
Supervising is a very loose term for what they’re actually doing. Saw Beidleman’s supervisor pop into staff meetings when he was clearly unwell and teachers were all scared to even breathe. Yet she smiled the whole time and recommended his promotion to PB.
Also track how often these directors get shuffled around so there isn’t any consistency
Anonymous
11/17/2024 00:44
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Yup. I agree with you. But here's where it flips back on CO: If they left their offices or homes (apparently a significant chunk of CO staff are still WFH) more and spent more time in schools regularly they'd be in a much better position to enforce and spot the problems that are happening.
We also need to really re-examine the power we've given to principals and MCAAP. People complain about MCEA and their power and influence, but MCAAP is the real power broker here and no one seems to realize that.
No it doesn’t get flipped back to anyone except the Principal. First, the amount of time folks in CO spend WFH is greatly over exaggerated. Second, if principals and schools are going to be given leeway, then CO’s job is to review then data and then ask questions/investigate as to why standard/performance/scores are not being achieved. AND then take the appropriate action to rectify the situation which could be support, coaching, or removing the leeway.
You realize CO includes OSSI, which includes Directors and Associate Superintendents who are supposed to be supervising the principals, right?
Yes. You realize that supervising can look like a lot of things. And also this particular discussion spinoff from someone saying the school principals got a lot of leeway. Given that, my expectation would not be micromanagement from CO and instead setting clear expectations, providing supporting, and then holding principals and there staff to account for meeting the expectations. If data shows they aren't meeting the expectations, then appropriate investigation into why needs to be done and then decisions made about next actions. On the flip side, a lot of school folks are always saying they don't have that much autonomy. In which case I would expect OSSI chooses supervisory method is doing much more follow-up and monitoring to ensure that things are being implemented and executed as directed and if necessary removing those who are impending progress.
CO is telling the BOE that implementation with fidelity is what is being sought and looked at and support provided to improve. Also that when we look at how schools operate it seems to be highly variable both school to school and even sometimes class to class. Now I'm not sure if CO is micromanaging and providing less autonomy is because the leeway wasn't working, OR if that was always their default and principals and schools don't have as much flexibility as folks think OR if the truth is somewhere in between (I suspect the later). What I do know is that current data isn't favorable for the district and that needs to change. So everybody across the system needs to get onboard with a supervision/monitoring method and accountability structure. And it needs to be communicated out to everyone so ALL know what to expect.
Anonymous
11/16/2024 17:05
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Yup. I agree with you. But here's where it flips back on CO: If they left their offices or homes (apparently a significant chunk of CO staff are still WFH) more and spent more time in schools regularly they'd be in a much better position to enforce and spot the problems that are happening.
We also need to really re-examine the power we've given to principals and MCAAP. People complain about MCEA and their power and influence, but MCAAP is the real power broker here and no one seems to realize that.
No it doesn’t get flipped back to anyone except the Principal. First, the amount of time folks in CO spend WFH is greatly over exaggerated. Second, if principals and schools are going to be given leeway, then CO’s job is to review then data and then ask questions/investigate as to why standard/performance/scores are not being achieved. AND then take the appropriate action to rectify the situation which could be support, coaching, or removing the leeway.
You realize CO includes OSSI, which includes Directors and Associate Superintendents who are supposed to be supervising the principals, right?
Anonymous
11/16/2024 16:49
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Principals could start by having their teachers enter grades on time, not after they are due. It could help curb grade inflation. Students may submit assignments on time, but teachers haven't entered scores so grades are not accurate.
I’d love to enter grades on time. I used to before all of my planning periods were used up by data meetings, IEP/504 meetings, more data meetings. I’m lucky if I get 1-2 planning periods per week. Guess what comes first in that time? Planning.
Are the data meetings not informing planning and instructions?
Anonymous
11/16/2024 16:42
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Yup. I agree with you. But here's where it flips back on CO: If they left their offices or homes (apparently a significant chunk of CO staff are still WFH) more and spent more time in schools regularly they'd be in a much better position to enforce and spot the problems that are happening.
We also need to really re-examine the power we've given to principals and MCAAP. People complain about MCEA and their power and influence, but MCAAP is the real power broker here and no one seems to realize that.
No it doesn’t get flipped back to anyone except the Principal. First, the amount of time folks in CO spend WFH is greatly over exaggerated. Second, if principals and schools are going to be given leeway, then CO’s job is to review then data and then ask questions/investigate as to why standard/performance/scores are not being achieved. AND then take the appropriate action to rectify the situation which could be support, coaching, or removing the leeway.
Anonymous
11/16/2024 11:27
Subject: Superintendent Taylor admits there is grade inflation in MCPS during BoE meeting
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Were grades inflated in Q1 of Taylor's first year?
How would he have changed it? MCPS is a system of schools. The principals get leeway to do whatever they want. CO offers guidelines and policies but enforcement is nonexistent.
And the bolded is the problem. If the system wants to grant principals a large amount of leeway to do what they want (which isn’t always a bad thing) then the principals and their staff need be held to account for mastery of standards, achievement of proficient scores, performance of staff, and innovation. Otherwise, there needs to be a lot more standardization of implementation and practices so there can be effective measurement on what is working and what is not.
Principals could start by having their teachers enter grades on time, not after they are due. It could help curb grade inflation. Students may submit assignments on time, but teachers haven't entered scores so grades are not accurate.
I’d love to enter grades on time. I used to before all of my planning periods were used up by data meetings, IEP/504 meetings, more data meetings. I’m lucky if I get 1-2 planning periods per week. Guess what comes first in that time? Planning.