Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rita Montoya is ripping into their community engagement efforts. Thank you Ms. Montoya.

Genuine question, what would you like to see for community engagement? What would work? Seems like they are trying the same things over and over and they may not be working, but I haven't seen/heard any suggestions of what would work. I also wonder how it could be staffed, MCPS employees have regular business hours, so who would volunteer to do additional night meetings? Even paid, that's a big ask.

Literally anything. They have done basically zero community engagement on the program analysis. They host "information sessions" to tell people what they've already decided, and don't make any effort to ask people for any input on changes. Heck, a single online feedback form or survey would be a huge leap forward from what they've done so far.

+1 True, but also I think it was Montoya who made the point that even the boundary study community engagement has been terrible. Why are they doing it at high schools of current high school students won't be impacted? Why are they holding in person sessions at BCC when they are proposing "options" that all leave BCC's boundaries exactly the same? They claim they are trying but I don't see it.

I think Stewart, Maloo, and someone else also pointed out that it is kids in grades 4–7 who will be most impacted, and yet there has not been any engagement with ES and MS parents and students.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

Correct. IB courses are generally less advanced than AP versions, but IB does have HL courses which are deeper.

Ah okay the slide says the 11th and 12 grade science classes for the biomedical science pathway are supposed to be HL IB (Bio or Physics)

If they are serious about making rigorous criteria-based biomedical science program, they should at least offer also organic chemistry, bio chem, cell biology, etc., some more specific high-level courses. Everyone in their local schools can take AP bio and AP Physics so what's the point to join a different program in a different school why the math pathway is soooooo lame?

I share your concerns. I think they are making this up as they go along which is concerning. Just to clarify from the slide, it looks like in addition to the standard science classes that I've mentioned there would also be specific "biomedical" classes that are part of the pathway but these do not see to be defined as of yet.

Biomed the way you desire it is redundant with Blair SMCS, which offers these type of classes.

They should more accurately rename biomed as “healthcare support careers” to prevent confusion.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rita Montoya is ripping into their community engagement efforts. Thank you Ms. Montoya.

Genuine question, what would you like to see for community engagement? What would work? Seems like they are trying the same things over and over and they may not be working, but I haven't seen/heard any suggestions of what would work. I also wonder how it could be staffed, MCPS employees have regular business hours, so who would volunteer to do additional night meetings? Even paid, that's a big ask.

Literally anything. They have done basically zero community engagement on the program analysis. They host "information sessions" to tell people what they've already decided, and don't make any effort to ask people for any input on changes. Heck, a single online feedback form or survey would be a huge leap forward from what they've done so far.

+1 True, but also I think it was Montoya who made the point that even the boundary study community engagement has been terrible. Why are they doing it at high schools of current high school students won't be impacted? Why are they holding in person sessions at BCC when they are proposing "options" that all leave BCC's boundaries exactly the same? They claim they are trying but I don't see it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

Correct. IB courses are generally less advanced than AP versions, but IB does have HL courses which are deeper.

Ah okay the slide says the 11th and 12 grade science classes for the biomedical science pathway are supposed to be HL IB (Bio or Physics)

If they are serious about making rigorous criteria-based biomedical science program, they should at least offer also organic chemistry, bio chem, cell biology, etc., some more specific high-level courses. Everyone in their local schools can take AP bio and AP Physics so what's the point to join a different program in a different school why the math pathway is soooooo lame?

I share your concerns. I think they are making this up as they go along which is concerning. Just to clarify from the slide, it looks like in addition to the standard science classes that I've mentioned there would also be specific "biomedical" classes that are part of the pathway but these do not see to be defined as of yet.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

Correct. IB courses are generally less advanced than AP versions, but IB does have HL courses which are deeper.

Ah okay the slide says the 11th and 12 grade science classes for the biomedical science pathway are supposed to be HL IB (Bio or Physics)

If they are serious about making rigorous criteria-based biomedical science program, they should at least offer also organic chemistry, bio chem, cell biology, etc., some more specific high-level courses. Everyone in their local schools can take AP bio and AP Physics so what's the point to join a different program in a different school why the math pathway is soooooo lame?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

I don't understand your answer. Is IB (HL, not SL) worse than AP?

IB HL math contains a wide variety of contents from trig to Calc to stat. So everything is touched but all very shallow. It's not an apple-to-apple comparison.

Ah okay thank you. Just to clarify the slide did not mention IB Math HL. Just IB Bio HL and IB Physics HL. The slide I saw was kind of vague about the math pathway for the biomedical program.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rita Montoya is ripping into their community engagement efforts. Thank you Ms. Montoya.

Genuine question, what would you like to see for community engagement? What would work? Seems like they are trying the same things over and over and they may not be working, but I haven't seen/heard any suggestions of what would work. I also wonder how it could be staffed, MCPS employees have regular business hours, so who would volunteer to do additional night meetings? Even paid, that's a big ask.

Literally anything. They have done basically zero community engagement on the program analysis. They host "information sessions" to tell people what they've already decided, and don't make any effort to ask people for any input on changes. Heck, a single online feedback form or survey would be a huge leap forward from what they've done so far.

The slides are posted now:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DMHQPL6A4844/$file/Boundary%20Studies%20Program%20Analysis%20Update%20251016%20PPT.pdf

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

I don't understand your answer. Is IB (HL, not SL) worse than AP?

IB HL math contains a wide variety of contents from trig to Calc to stat. So everything is touched but all very shallow. It's not an apple-to-apple comparison.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Rita Montoya is ripping into their community engagement efforts. Thank you Ms. Montoya.

Genuine question, what would you like to see for community engagement? What would work? Seems like they are trying the same things over and over and they may not be working, but I haven't seen/heard any suggestions of what would work. I also wonder how it could be staffed, MCPS employees have regular business hours, so who would volunteer to do additional night meetings? Even paid, that's a big ask.

Town halls, in-person community meetings with every MS and HS that allow back and forth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

There’s no interest at Einstein to hold that magnet!

Speak for yourself. My kids would love that and as a parent of kids inbounds for Einstein, I think it’s a great switch!

Your future doctors and nurses need far more than the program they are offering.

Like college and medical/nursing school?

Those biomedical programs are more geared toward medical support staff. People angling to get admitted to premed will need much more rigor, like that found at Blair SMCS. I do not have faith that a Sherwood HS SMCS, for example, will offer that level of rigor.

Have you take organic chem? If you can’t handle the rigor of Blair SMCS, I would say you are not likely to be able to hang in there to do what is needed to become a doctor.

Cutting off region 5 access to Poolesville SMCS is similarly inequitable.

Anonymous wrote:Rita Montoya is ripping into their community engagement efforts. Thank you Ms. Montoya.

Genuine question, what would you like to see for community engagement? What would work? Seems like they are trying the same things over and over and they may not be working, but I haven't seen/heard any suggestions of what would work. I also wonder how it could be staffed, MCPS employees have regular business hours, so who would volunteer to do additional night meetings? Even paid, that's a big ask.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

Correct. IB courses are generally less advanced than AP versions, but IB does have HL courses which are deeper.

Ah okay the slide says the 11th and 12 grade science classes for the biomedical science pathway are supposed to be HL IB (Bio or Physics)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

I don't understand your answer. Is IB (HL, not SL) worse than AP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are the program groupings for region 1?

Brand new and not up online yet. The changes I remember is that they are sending the criteria-based humanities program from BCC (bad) to Whitman (much worse), and that they are letting Einstein keep only the music part of the performing arts magnet (theater and dance at Northwood.)

Einstein also has medical science and healthcare

Einstein has no advanced science and math classes so what does this look like.

9th and 10th grade - honors bio and honors chem, cohorted
11th and 12 grade science are IB Bio and IB Physics
And a "Biomedical" sequence

Math is Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th, and then for 11th and 12th it says "secondary math pathway"

So, they aren’t adding any5ing. Algebra in 9th is the slowest path.

Yes, this is also my observation. This "special biomedical science program" is subpar than what a normal HS can offer to a high-achiever. For a student who would like to become a doctor, they'd better stay in local HS, take AP classes, and their resume would look better than those go through this program.

I'm curious - is IB Bio and IB Physics less advanced than the AP versions?

Depends on who you ask but no, nor is in math. This will not help kids trying to get into medical school.

Correct. IB courses are generally less advanced than AP versions, but IB does have HL courses which are deeper.

My take is IB is better term for humanities but arts kids are discouraged from taking IB as some classes are double periods which conflict. Stem kids are better in aps.