Anonymous wrote:Do we really think MCPS cares about busing costs? They presented a boundary Option for Woodward that made a bunch of islands and would obviously increase busing costs. And yet the option is presented as though it is a possibility, suggesting the costs don’t matter.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like SO MUCH BUSING.

Yes. This is essentially a new form of ‘bus-in, bus-out,’ presented under the guise of regional programs.

This, lets gets some rich kids out of their enclave and get a some seats for poor kids to swap and the we will sprinkle the best classes where they need the biggest shifts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This sounds like SO MUCH BUSING.

Yes. This is essentially a new form of ‘bus-in, bus-out,’ presented under the guise of regional programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

No, this PP is completely wrong, ignore their post. There is a list of 7 categories, and the idea is to have 6 regional versions of each of these 7: Science, Math, and Technology;
Information Technology, Engineering, & Robotics;
Global Humanities and Leadership; Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing;
Arts, Entertainment, and Design;
Health and Human Services; and
Education and Public Service.

DP. Tbd this too many programs. So you are going to have 1-2 regional programs per school. MCPS should be focused on providing a good education program at all schools. These programs are smoke and mirror to cover up that MCPS is not doing that now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

No, this PP is completely wrong, ignore their post. There is a list of 7 categories, and the idea is to have 6 regional versions of each of these 7: Science, Math, and Technology;
Information Technology, Engineering, & Robotics;
Global Humanities and Leadership; Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing;
Arts, Entertainment, and Design;
Health and Human Services; and
Education and Public Service.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

That's why we need to see the cost of doing it and then compare it to cost currenly in DCC for providng bus to all students for attending differnet high schools.

It may be more than 2-3 courses. It may be 4-5 courses. I don't know, I was just specualting, but taking let's say 4 courses in field of interest will keep kids enganged in school. We simply need to see how much cost will come and compare it with current option provided in DCC for bussing everyone and thagt one is not even program based.

This will be a better utilization of resources.

What I see is that the regional plan adds many more bus routes, within each region. For example, at least several buses at each high school to another 4 high schools since each high school covers a big zone). Each region will result in 20-30 more buses. And there are 6 regions. This doesn’t sound financially feasible.

What's why we need to have exact data. Have the bussing cost and compare it with current bussing cost in DCC. If cost is going much higher than scale down the programs from 6-7 to 4. Most of thes eprograms are fluff and for keeping kids enganged anyway. All you need is strong courses choices availble to everyone one way or another.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

+1. That is a very serious point. If *most* of a student’s schedule is regular academic requirements like English and math that should be equally available at all schools, how many schedule slots are even available for specialty programs and is this whole round robin “worth” it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

That's why we need to see the cost of doing it and then compare it to cost currenly in DCC for providng bus to all students for attending differnet high schools.

It may be more than 2-3 courses. It may be 4-5 courses. I don't know, I was just specualting, but taking let's say 4 courses in field of interest will keep kids enganged in school. We simply need to see how much cost will come and compare it with current option provided in DCC for bussing everyone and thagt one is not even program based.

This will be a better utilization of resources.

What I see is that the regional plan adds many more bus routes, within each region. For example, at least several buses at each high school to another 4 high schools since each high school covers a big zone). Each region will result in 20-30 more buses. And there are 6 regions. This doesn’t sound financially feasible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

That's why we need to see the cost of doing it and then compare it to cost currenly in DCC for providng bus to all students for attending differnet high schools.

It may be more than 2-3 courses. It may be 4-5 courses. I don't know, I was just specualting, but taking let's say 4 courses in field of interest will keep kids enganged in school. We simply need to see how much cost will come and compare it with current option provided in DCC for bussing everyone and thagt one is not even program based.

This will be a better utilization of resources.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

No, this PP is completely wrong, ignore their post. There is a list of 7 categories, and the idea is to have 6 regional versions of each of these 7: Science, Math, and Technology;
Information Technology, Engineering, & Robotics;
Global Humanities and Leadership; Finance, Entrepreneurship, and Marketing;
Arts, Entertainment, and Design;
Health and Human Services; and
Education and Public Service.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.

If it’s only 2-3 courses, then why bus kids around for 4 years? Is it worth so much investment?
This regional plan still sounds like a glorified busing plan to me.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Here are the regional HS programs:

Medical Science
Clinical Healthcare
Medicine & Pharmacy
Engineering and
Robotics
Engineering and
Construction
Future Teachers
Academy
International
Interdisciplinary Studies
Global Languages
Visual Art and Design
Performing Arts
Communications &
Media
Law and Criminal
Justice
Leadership and
Advocacy
Finance and Business
Entrepreneurship
Information Technology
Cybersecurity
Data Science & Analytics

This is an insane list, IMO. Most of these are professional programs that don’t belong in high school. How will they be spread across the 6 regions? What if the one you want isn’t in your region? They’re certainly not proposing putting each of these 15(?) programs in all 6 regions, are they?

I agree that the focus on choosing a narrow career/high school focus for 13 year olds is bizarre. I was undecided as a college freshman!

Yeah and many people change careers and majors several times.

I didn't appreciate it back then and probably wanted more of the technical school type of training they're offering. And didn't want to waste my time or money on things that wouldn't directly help me get a job.

But now appreciate how teaching someone to press a button is different then having someone fully understand what the button does and how it works.

Part of education is to gain critical thinking skills and general awareness.

It's the trend now to make students career ready. And it's kind of crazy to me to see the professional certs that some high school students are working towards or the type of questions they'd ask adults, like really gearing towards a specific path in a career.

Most people go into the family business or into careers with low education requirements (AA degree). Those students need a cheap, quick college education to get ready to work, and to redo it if they need to switch career paths.

Some families are in the elite SES business.

Like I said, I've been there and done that. Kind of have regrets about it in some ways and is why I want my kids to focus on quality of education overall instead of just getting a paycheck.

My main issue is that it may pigeonhole some students or let them take the quick way out. When they don't really have a broader view of what the options are. And unless the overall market changes, people taking this path will hit a wall in their career due to not having a four year degree or grad degree. Where I've seen some people who have been at some more old fashioned/traditional places for 20 or 30 years straight out of high school not be considered for management opportunities due to not having a degree. Doesn't matter how much people like them there, they can't even get their application past HR due to not having the qualifications necessary. So they'll always just be a worker or a button pusher.

The board members also touched upon another concern, where you don't know if some of these paths may eventually become obsolete.

But see some benefits of it as well. It's great to be able to get a well paying job at such a young age. And they'll still be taking the other regular courses for a well rounded curriculum.

I think these programs are like take 2-3 course in your interest and rest of course courses like everyone else. If you change your interest, you do specialization in undergrad/grad level. Taking 2-3 extra courses is not going to pigeonhold anyone, Anyione will still needs to do specialization later if they want that field. HS should be still about getting a well rounded education.