Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 22:16     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:

I put my child in the Virtual Academy when she was shut out of the lottery (MAPs well within the 99th percentile for years, clear signs of giftedness since she was a preschooler), because her home school refused to accelerate her in math. Virtual Academy was willing to let her skip ahead in math, and skip ahead two years in orchestra. Her new math class still doesn't have a single thing she doesn't know already, and she solves all problems at a glance, but it's less mind-numbing than what she'd have received at her home school.

So if you're OP, pointing fingers at the VA, please understand that I HATE the current fake magnet selection as much as you do, and I HATE moronic gatekeepers that don't believe some kids are capable of doing advanced work, but... Virtual Academy saved the day (slightly). My plan is to return my child to her home school only on the condition they honor her current math track.

Perhaps you can do the same, OP. Or find another solution. The bottom line is that MCPS is no friend to really gifted students. Parents would do well to seek creative solutions and workarounds instead of tearing each other down - because that works in MCPS' favor, you see. Divide and conquer. Don't fall for that.



What does "skip ahead two years" in virtual orchestra consist of? I'm asking sincerely.


If it’s like band, the middle school intermediate and advanced bands were combined so it means nothing.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 22:15     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:

I put my child in the Virtual Academy when she was shut out of the lottery (MAPs well within the 99th percentile for years, clear signs of giftedness since she was a preschooler), because her home school refused to accelerate her in math. Virtual Academy was willing to let her skip ahead in math, and skip ahead two years in orchestra. Her new math class still doesn't have a single thing she doesn't know already, and she solves all problems at a glance, but it's less mind-numbing than what she'd have received at her home school.

So if you're OP, pointing fingers at the VA, please understand that I HATE the current fake magnet selection as much as you do, and I HATE moronic gatekeepers that don't believe some kids are capable of doing advanced work, but... Virtual Academy saved the day (slightly). My plan is to return my child to her home school only on the condition they honor her current math track.

Perhaps you can do the same, OP. Or find another solution. The bottom line is that MCPS is no friend to really gifted students. Parents would do well to seek creative solutions and workarounds instead of tearing each other down - because that works in MCPS' favor, you see. Divide and conquer. Don't fall for that.



What does "skip ahead two years" in virtual orchestra consist of? I'm asking sincerely.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 22:02     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:Since Covid vaccines are now available for all school going ages, should VA be canceled starting MP3? Time to go back to normal. This way standardized testing like CogAT can be administered in time for ES and MS magnet programs.


Normal wasn’t working pre-covid… everyones so quick to get back to normal when we absolutely should
be changing education. I’m sorry you cannot adapt or evolve. Times are changing. Try and keep up.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 21:53     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
I've been a consistent critic of the school closures, and the generally ridiculous COVID policies for school/preK/childcare, but I really don't understand the people that want to see virtual academy killed off. Yes, it is subpar education that bad for the development of kids, the alternative for some families would be homeschooling. And that would be even worse. VA is unfair to the kids stuck in it, but it isn't harming anyone else. Let them keep it.

The main thing is change, though, is that virtual school should be handled statewide, not in individual districts. Have MSDE set up the program for anyone in the state that wants to use it instead of going to a local school.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 21:35     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
FWIW, VA offered in-person testing for 504/IEP testing accommodations. Whatever the business is about other testing sounds like smoke and mirrors to distract from the real issues. Do folks realize that CES isn't a golden ticket to anything...it's merely meeting the needs of students who don't have a similar peer group to learn with/from. Stop stressing.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 19:44     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Since Covid vaccines are now available for all school going ages, should VA be canceled starting MP3? Time to go back to normal. This way standardized testing like CogAT can be administered in time for ES and MS magnet programs.


They're not going to cancel the whole program mid school year. Sorry.


They have funding for the next few years.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 19:42     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Agree with those who said that virtual academy is a fantastic resource and would be great if it stays.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 19:40     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:Since Covid vaccines are now available for all school going ages, should VA be canceled starting MP3? Time to go back to normal. This way standardized testing like CogAT can be administered in time for ES and MS magnet programs.


They're not going to cancel the whole program mid school year. Sorry.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 19:30     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you for that response. I was going to ignore the posters who immediately honed in on what it meant for my child, and why I may be bitter. But yes, I do think that my kid who is a straight A student, has MAP scores in the 99th percentile and had CogAT scores in the 99th percentile is more suited (I know people will get triggered if I say deserving), to the Magnet/CES program than kids at the 85% level. Cue up the "Your kid is a robot who was trained by Dr Li" comments.


I put my child in the Virtual Academy when she was shut out of the lottery (MAPs well within the 99th percentile for years, clear signs of giftedness since she was a preschooler), because her home school refused to accelerate her in math. Virtual Academy was willing to let her skip ahead in math, and skip ahead two years in orchestra. Her new math class still doesn't have a single thing she doesn't know already, and she solves all problems at a glance, but it's less mind-numbing than what she'd have received at her home school.

So if you're OP, pointing fingers at the VA, please understand that I HATE the current fake magnet selection as much as you do, and I HATE moronic gatekeepers that don't believe some kids are capable of doing advanced work, but... Virtual Academy saved the day (slightly). My plan is to return my child to her home school only on the condition they honor her current math track.

Perhaps you can do the same, OP. Or find another solution. The bottom line is that MCPS is no friend to really gifted students. Parents would do well to seek creative solutions and workarounds instead of tearing each other down - because that works in MCPS' favor, you see. Divide and conquer. Don't fall for that.




Most elementary schools don’t allow acceleration. Many middle schools do.


PP you replied to. My child was in a CES, and did not get a seat in the magnet middle school. Her home middle school refused to accelerate her in math. Yes, I am well aware, thanks to DCUM, that other middle schools do allow it. But this cluster does not (the high school doesn't either, and pulled the same crap on a magnet middle schooler who could not get a seat in a magnet high school and was returning to this high school).

So off we went to the VA. If MCPS makes my family's life difficult, I have no qualms about playing around with their programs.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 19:26     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you for that response. I was going to ignore the posters who immediately honed in on what it meant for my child, and why I may be bitter. But yes, I do think that my kid who is a straight A student, has MAP scores in the 99th percentile and had CogAT scores in the 99th percentile is more suited (I know people will get triggered if I say deserving), to the Magnet/CES program than kids at the 85% level. Cue up the "Your kid is a robot who was trained by Dr Li" comments.


I put my child in the Virtual Academy when she was shut out of the lottery (MAPs well within the 99th percentile for years, clear signs of giftedness since she was a preschooler), because her home school refused to accelerate her in math. Virtual Academy was willing to let her skip ahead in math, and skip ahead two years in orchestra. Her new math class still doesn't have a single thing she doesn't know already, and she solves all problems at a glance, but it's less mind-numbing than what she'd have received at her home school.

So if you're OP, pointing fingers at the VA, please understand that I HATE the current fake magnet selection as much as you do, and I HATE moronic gatekeepers that don't believe some kids are capable of doing advanced work, but... Virtual Academy saved the day (slightly). My plan is to return my child to her home school only on the condition they honor her current math track.

Perhaps you can do the same, OP. Or find another solution. The bottom line is that MCPS is no friend to really gifted students. Parents would do well to seek creative solutions and workarounds instead of tearing each other down - because that works in MCPS' favor, you see. Divide and conquer. Don't fall for that.




Most elementary schools don’t allow acceleration. Many middle schools do.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 19:05     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:VA is a great way to help with over crowded schools. I do not see it going away.


How many kids are in VA? Has it grown into a rounding error yet?


1500?


3000 with 2000 waitlisted in early September
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 18:31     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:Thank you for that response. I was going to ignore the posters who immediately honed in on what it meant for my child, and why I may be bitter. But yes, I do think that my kid who is a straight A student, has MAP scores in the 99th percentile and had CogAT scores in the 99th percentile is more suited (I know people will get triggered if I say deserving), to the Magnet/CES program than kids at the 85% level. Cue up the "Your kid is a robot who was trained by Dr Li" comments.


I put my child in the Virtual Academy when she was shut out of the lottery (MAPs well within the 99th percentile for years, clear signs of giftedness since she was a preschooler), because her home school refused to accelerate her in math. Virtual Academy was willing to let her skip ahead in math, and skip ahead two years in orchestra. Her new math class still doesn't have a single thing she doesn't know already, and she solves all problems at a glance, but it's less mind-numbing than what she'd have received at her home school.

So if you're OP, pointing fingers at the VA, please understand that I HATE the current fake magnet selection as much as you do, and I HATE moronic gatekeepers that don't believe some kids are capable of doing advanced work, but... Virtual Academy saved the day (slightly). My plan is to return my child to her home school only on the condition they honor her current math track.

Perhaps you can do the same, OP. Or find another solution. The bottom line is that MCPS is no friend to really gifted students. Parents would do well to seek creative solutions and workarounds instead of tearing each other down - because that works in MCPS' favor, you see. Divide and conquer. Don't fall for that.


Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 18:25     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What do you care if MCPS offers VA? You don't have to send your kids. Who are you to decide when its safe for us to send our kids back in person? Maybe if you behaved more responsibly and MCPS handled covid better, we'd be more comfortable.

Is the real issue you feel guilty sending your kids in person?


You honestly sound like a relic. Your arguments are stale and irrelevant.


If you aren't feeling guilty, then why do you care if MCPS offers a VA for families who need or want it? How does it impact you in any way?

Many of us would not send our kids in person right now even if they got rid of VA. So, MCPS would lose that fund as we'd do a private VA, go to a private or homeschool.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 18:24     Subject: Re:Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you for that response. I was going to ignore the posters who immediately honed in on what it meant for my child, and why I may be bitter. But yes, I do think that my kid who is a straight A student, has MAP scores in the 99th percentile and had CogAT scores in the 99th percentile is more suited (I know people will get triggered if I say deserving), to the Magnet/CES program than kids at the 85% level. Cue up the "Your kid is a robot who was trained by Dr Li" comments.


This is kind of disgusting OP.


+1, this has NOTHING to do with virtual and you aren't going to get more magnet/CES slots by taking away virtual. Its not how it works. Many of our kids who have those kind of scores were not accepted into CES or Magnet for ES or MS. Our kids are fine. Your kid will be fine. If anything our kids were better off not in the Magnet for middle school as they were allowed to take Algebra in 6th at their home school vs. at the magnet they would not have been allowed.

You take away virtual and many of us will not be returning to MCPS in person right away so you are if anything doing a disservice to MCPS as they will lose more funding if we leave.

OP, you want elite classes, pay for private but even the privates are not that accelerated for math so good luck with that. Your kid is bright, like most of ours but that's pretty normal around here.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 18:21     Subject: Cancel Virtual Academy
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:VA is a great way to help with over crowded schools. I do not see it going away.


How many kids are in VA? Has it grown into a rounding error yet?


1500?


There are about 1500 in lower school which is K-6th and 1500 in upper school. More on the waitlist but they didn't allow everyone in. They don't have enough teachers or staff to grow it.