Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 11:38     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:Selfishly, I want the program changes to go through immediately because I think whenever they do it, it is going to be a disaster for the kids that are in the first class of it. Classes without teachers, application process sh$t sh0w, etc. But the sooner they do it the more problems they will have ironed out by the time my kid gets to high school.

But yes, I certainly support those parents of older kids who want them to do this more thoughtfully, because it is going to be more awful the sooner they do it.

That being said I do think the consortia model should end. I would rather have a home school that has a reasonably balanced student body. Not a home school that focuses on STEM if my kid likes art/drama or vice versa. It's not fair to kids that for any number of reasons don't want to travel to a further school to access a decent set of classes that meet their interests. I think the consortium model really works against equity as it is currently working.


+1

Get it done. There will be issues, but it will get ironed out with time.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 10:58     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Selfishly, I want the program changes to go through immediately because I think whenever they do it, it is going to be a disaster for the kids that are in the first class of it. Classes without teachers, application process sh$t sh0w, etc. But the sooner they do it the more problems they will have ironed out by the time my kid gets to high school.

But yes, I certainly support those parents of older kids who want them to do this more thoughtfully, because it is going to be more awful the sooner they do it.

That being said I do think the consortia model should end. I would rather have a home school that has a reasonably balanced student body. Not a home school that focuses on STEM if my kid likes art/drama or vice versa. It's not fair to kids that for any number of reasons don't want to travel to a further school to access a decent set of classes that meet their interests. I think the consortium model really works against equity as it is currently working.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 09:32     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:Essie McGuire kept leaning into the “foundation” metaphor during the CC presentation. Well, you don’t build a foundation on a site you haven’t evaluated. The boundary changes and reopening of Crown and Woodward are going to change things. We need to postpone the regions until we know what this new landscape looks like.

Also, as others have said, be honest about the Maryland CTE requirements. Lying doesn’t help anything.


Yes, great analogy.

I do see that it raises the issue of whether you draw the boundaries factoring in the utilization that results from the current magnet setup (e.g. Blair gets a lot of students transferring in; Northwood doesn't), or what could happen in the future, but I think that's a solvable problem. Just allow some slack -- the new schools make that easier -- for the schools that currently have a lot of students transferring in. So for example, maybe Northwood gets 95% utilization, and Blair gets 90% -- based on home school zoning.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 09:19     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Essie McGuire kept leaning into the “foundation” metaphor during the CC presentation. Well, you don’t build a foundation on a site you haven’t evaluated. The boundary changes and reopening of Crown and Woodward are going to change things. We need to postpone the regions until we know what this new landscape looks like.

Also, as others have said, be honest about the Maryland CTE requirements. Lying doesn’t help anything.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 09:10     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:CTE is part of equity, so I don't understand PP's point.


But putting up 6 programs in 6 regions, without caring if all the programs are good isn’t equity.


Not 6 programs in 6 regions. It's 47 programs in 6 regions, 27 of which are brand new. Among them the new STEM, Humanity and maybe Leadership programs are academic related. The rest are CTE driven. Don't be surprised that visual and performing arts are marked as "criteria-based", and bioscience sounds awesome. The course settings there are for the purpose of giving you a certificate.


Maybe it’s time to dissolve MCPS and let each region manage its own schools. I’m so tired of the big, incompetent system making rushed, one-size-fits-all decisions for everyone.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 09:03     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think they know if they slow down the program analysis it will lost momentum and won’t pass. They know the boundaries must pass because 2 new schools need to open.


It’s this


I agree, but I support the changes. All of them. It's smart politics for them to flood the zone.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 09:01     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:CTE is part of equity, so I don't understand PP's point.


But putting up 6 programs in 6 regions, without caring if all the programs are good isn’t equity.


Not 6 programs in 6 regions. It's 47 programs in 6 regions, 27 of which are brand new. Among them the new STEM, Humanity and maybe Leadership programs are academic related. The rest are CTE driven. Don't be surprised that visual and performing arts are marked as "criteria-based", and bioscience sounds awesome. The course settings there are for the purpose of giving you a certificate.


Addendum: IB has its own requirement. It's not CTE driven. That's my mistake.
The new STEM and humanity programs will likely not copy and paste any existing magnet course syllabus, but rather just stay at the AP standard level.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:58     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:It’s because of Maryland Blueprint deadlines. MCPS needs to get 45% of kids getting CTE-aligned certifications by 2030-31. Most of the new programs are CTE-aligned.

I don’t know why they don’t just say that instead of pretending this is about equity. They don’t care if all the programs in all the regions are any good, they just need the numbers.


I didn't get it either until watching yesterday's Council hearing. It is 100% this, even though they are saying all kinds of other things (Equity, capacity, etc.).

Leaves one having less faith than ever in the idiots running MCPS. And as for transparency, the new Sup has lost what little remaining trust he had. The honeymoon is over, he needs to go, and the program realignment needs to be shut down
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:49     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:CTE is part of equity, so I don't understand PP's point.


But putting up 6 programs in 6 regions, without caring if all the programs are good isn’t equity.


Not 6 programs in 6 regions. It's 47 programs in 6 regions, 27 of which are brand new. Among them the new STEM, Humanity and maybe Leadership programs are academic related. The rest are CTE driven. Don't be surprised that visual and performing arts are marked as "criteria-based", and bioscience sounds awesome. The course settings there are for the purpose of giving you a certificate.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:33     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:It’s because of Maryland Blueprint deadlines. MCPS needs to get 45% of kids getting CTE-aligned certifications by 2030-31. Most of the new programs are CTE-aligned.

I don’t know why they don’t just say that instead of pretending this is about equity. They don’t care if all the programs in all the regions are any good, they just need the numbers.


Ah. This does actually make way more sense. I agree, they should just at this.

But even still, that’s no excuse for failing at the fundamentals of the planning process, which MCPS is demonstrating right now.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:30     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:CTE is part of equity, so I don't understand PP's point.


But putting up 6 programs in 6 regions, without caring if all the programs are good isn’t equity.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:12     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:Have we talked about insane it is to demand that 45% of HIGH SCHOOL students have career credentials?

At least 45% of students must pursue careers and lives that don't require a high school education.


It makes no sense and they are not actually giving access to all students to have choice, just a select few.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:11     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Have we talked about insane it is to demand that 45% of HIGH SCHOOL students have career credentials?

At least 45% of students must pursue careers and lives that don't require a high school education.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:09     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:With all these program, how do they run buses? If it is like current magnet bus system, some kids without a ride to the central stops won't apply to the program. If it is like DCC buses (I don't live in DCC so not sure but), multiple buses coming to each stop?


Correct. And, they will probably only take a handful of kids from each school.
Anonymous
Post 10/10/2025 08:06     Subject: Can we understand & debunk why MCPS thinks the program changes need to happen at the same time boundaries change?
Anonymous wrote:Our best shot is through the county council. If they say they won't fund the changes, then the BOE might pay attention and consider doing its job.


They will fund it. Our property taxes will go up.