Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like they’re trying to throw us a bone…meanwhile it complicates things further because it’s spitting the kids again and completely not an equitable practice by not providing transportation (meanwhile transportation is provided for the “lottery-based” magnets where students will be able to attend for all three years of middle school).

Mcps is just constant changes…really shows that they don’t know what they’re doing…

Yeah, it works well for kids who are in the walk zone to the new middle or high school, but otherwise it's pretty inequitable for kids who would need bus transportation to be shut out of this opportunity in favor of kids whose parents can drive them.

Why not just drop off at the closest bus stop ?

Most buses don't have many, if any, empty seats. My kids report there are often 3 to a row to get everyone in. One person might be able to get away with this, but they will definitely notice 15 or 20 extra kids trying to board the bus.

My DCC kid is one of only 5 kids on their bus. There are 4 Hs busses that come through our neighborhood plus 3 MS busses and the CES bus.

Ours are packed and sometimes you cannot get a seat and sit on the floor.

My kids bus too. We started driving to an earlier stop so she would not have to sit on the floor

Kids shouldn’t be sitting on the floor. This happened on one of the MS buses in our neighborhood and people complained and they changed one stop from the overcrowded bus to a different bus route.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like they’re trying to throw us a bone…meanwhile it complicates things further because it’s spitting the kids again and completely not an equitable practice by not providing transportation (meanwhile transportation is provided for the “lottery-based” magnets where students will be able to attend for all three years of middle school).

Mcps is just constant changes…really shows that they don’t know what they’re doing…

Yeah, it works well for kids who are in the walk zone to the new middle or high school, but otherwise it's pretty inequitable for kids who would need bus transportation to be shut out of this opportunity in favor of kids whose parents can drive them.

Why not just drop off at the closest bus stop ?

Most buses don't have many, if any, empty seats. My kids report there are often 3 to a row to get everyone in. One person might be able to get away with this, but they will definitely notice 15 or 20 extra kids trying to board the bus.

My DCC kid is one of only 5 kids on their bus. There are 4 Hs busses that come through our neighborhood plus 3 MS busses and the CES bus.

Ours are packed and sometimes you cannot get a seat and sit on the floor.

My kids bus too. We started driving to an earlier stop so she would not have to sit on the floor

Pine Crest 5th currently zoned to SSI (and split from peers) got the letter. As did SSI 8th currently zoned to Northwood but changing to Blair articulation in 10.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools could this possibly apply to? For example, isn't Woodward hosting Northwood students in 26-27 and, thus, not available for jump start.

The Wootton cluster schools got this message for sure - both current and future. Not clear what happens if they run into lopsided uptake that creates capacity issues in specific schools.

It also seems late to adjust teacher allocations. Who will handle the course registration of this influx of new students? Will they be allowed to go back if it’s not a good fit or they don’t get the courses they want? Will their first schooo have to cut certain courses due to low enrollment after these last minute transfers? There are no guarantees for students or teachers in this half baked plan

Totally agree - maybe this is overly optimistic but am hoping a silver lining is that they learn that they need to fully bake some systems and processes a bit more that can then be applied to the regional model. At a minimum, they seem to be taking a similar approach here of hoping the numbers sort themselves out and maybe this demonstrates the serious flaws in that approach at a slightly smaller and lower stakes scale?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the cart before the horse. Yes, a kid’s home HS assignment might be changing, but they can’t actually start any of the programs at that newly assigned schooo until 2027. What if the program you want is at a different HS? What if you don’t get in to the program you want at your newly assigned home HS? Those electives you were hoping for go away for you

This isn't about the regional programs, just changing your home school one year sooner than it would be changing anyway.

You’re missing the point. Some of those kids never planned to go to their new home HS. They planned to apply and start a criteria or interest based program at another schooo in their new region. It’s a waste to move life befofe 2027 in HS.

It makes sense to offer the early move to MS, but it’s poorly timed as it will affect course offerings and teacher allocations. Also, textbook money and to be spent by May 1. So too late to adjust resources for these late transfers.

The 8th graders (class of 2030) are not eligible for the new regional programs anyway so they can’t apply for them regardless of where they go to 9th grade.

DCC 8th graders placed through the choice process can stay through 12th at the school they go to for 9th, or, if they want to, they can move in 10th to their newly assigned home school, or, apparently, now if they think they would want to move in 10th grade they can move for 9th grade instead. But they can’t apply to regional programs in 9th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like they’re trying to throw us a bone…meanwhile it complicates things further because it’s spitting the kids again and completely not an equitable practice by not providing transportation (meanwhile transportation is provided for the “lottery-based” magnets where students will be able to attend for all three years of middle school).

Mcps is just constant changes…really shows that they don’t know what they’re doing…

Yeah, it works well for kids who are in the walk zone to the new middle or high school, but otherwise it's pretty inequitable for kids who would need bus transportation to be shut out of this opportunity in favor of kids whose parents can drive them.

Why not just drop off at the closest bus stop ?

Most buses don't have many, if any, empty seats. My kids report there are often 3 to a row to get everyone in. One person might be able to get away with this, but they will definitely notice 15 or 20 extra kids trying to board the bus.

My DCC kid is one of only 5 kids on their bus. There are 4 Hs busses that come through our neighborhood plus 3 MS busses and the CES bus.

Ours are packed and sometimes you cannot get a seat and sit on the floor.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the cart before the horse. Yes, a kid’s home HS assignment might be changing, but they can’t actually start any of the programs at that newly assigned schooo until 2027. What if the program you want is at a different HS? What if you don’t get in to the program you want at your newly assigned home HS? Those electives you were hoping for go away for you

This isn't about the regional programs, just changing your home school one year sooner than it would be changing anyway.

You’re missing the point. Some of those kids never planned to go to their new home HS. They planned to apply and start a criteria or interest based program at another schooo in their new region. It’s a waste to move life befofe 2027 in HS.

It makes sense to offer the early move to MS, but it’s poorly timed as it will affect course offerings and teacher allocations. Also, textbook money and to be spent by May 1. So too late to adjust resources for these late transfers.

No one needs to move early if they don't want to. It's just an option for those who would be interested.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the cart before the horse. Yes, a kid’s home HS assignment might be changing, but they can’t actually start any of the programs at that newly assigned schooo until 2027. What if the program you want is at a different HS? What if you don’t get in to the program you want at your newly assigned home HS? Those electives you were hoping for go away for you

This isn't about the regional programs, just changing your home school one year sooner than it would be changing anyway.

You’re missing the point. Some of those kids never planned to go to their new home HS. They planned to apply and start a criteria or interest based program at another schooo in their new region. It’s a waste to move life befofe 2027 in HS.

It makes sense to offer the early move to MS, but it’s poorly timed as it will affect course offerings and teacher allocations. Also, textbook money and to be spent by May 1. So too late to adjust resources for these late transfers.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sucks for kids zoned for Woodward. I know several DCC 8th graders heading to Wheaton or Blair this fall that have to move to Woodward in 10th grade.

Didn't they promise that all 8th graders entering the DCC, NEC, and/or countywide programs next year get to stay until graduation?

No. They promised DCC kids in regional or countywide programs could stay. That’s only things like the VAC at Einstein. I have screenshots from multiple meetings with MCPS CO staff confirming that DCC kids will have to move. Otherwise, Woodward opens with a full 9th grade, but only 10th graders from Farmland, Luxmanor and KP.

No, this is the relevant resolution approved by the board on March 26:

"Resolved, That students who are assigned through the Northeast Consortium or Downcounty Consortium school assignment processes prior to the 2027–2028 school year, or who enroll in a centrally-managed regional or countywide program through the existing admissions process, may continue in their assigned or selected program through graduation"

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DSJUB77B3708/$file/08.03%20ADOPTED%20as%20AMENDED%20Apprv%20Rec%20Establish%20Secondary%20Regional%20Programs%20260326.pdf

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the cart before the horse. Yes, a kid’s home HS assignment might be changing, but they can’t actually start any of the programs at that newly assigned schooo until 2027. What if the program you want is at a different HS? What if you don’t get in to the program you want at your newly assigned home HS? Those electives you were hoping for go away for you

This isn't about the regional programs, just changing your home school one year sooner than it would be changing anyway.

Seems like the cart before the horse. Yes, a kid’s home HS assignment might be changing, but they can’t actually start any of the programs at that newly assigned schooo until 2027. What if the program you want is at a different HS? What if you don’t get in to the program you want at your newly assigned home HS? Those electives you were hoping for go away for you

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s like they’re trying to throw us a bone…meanwhile it complicates things further because it’s spitting the kids again and completely not an equitable practice by not providing transportation (meanwhile transportation is provided for the “lottery-based” magnets where students will be able to attend for all three years of middle school).

Mcps is just constant changes…really shows that they don’t know what they’re doing…

Yeah, it works well for kids who are in the walk zone to the new middle or high school, but otherwise it's pretty inequitable for kids who would need bus transportation to be shut out of this opportunity in favor of kids whose parents can drive them.

Why not just drop off at the closest bus stop ?

Most buses don't have many, if any, empty seats. My kids report there are often 3 to a row to get everyone in. One person might be able to get away with this, but they will definitely notice 15 or 20 extra kids trying to board the bus.

My DCC kid is one of only 5 kids on their bus. There are 4 Hs busses that come through our neighborhood plus 3 MS busses and the CES bus.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sucks for kids zoned for Woodward. I know several DCC 8th graders heading to Wheaton or Blair this fall that have to move to Woodward in 10th grade.

Didn't they promise that all 8th graders entering the DCC, NEC, and/or countywide programs next year get to stay until graduation?

No. They promised DCC kids in regional or countywide programs could stay. That’s only things like the VAC at Einstein. I have screenshots from multiple meetings with MCPS CO staff confirming that DCC kids will have to move. Otherwise, Woodward opens with a full 9th grade, but only 10th graders from Farmland, Luxmanor and KP.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What schools could this possibly apply to? For example, isn't Woodward hosting Northwood students in 26-27 and, thus, not available for jump start.

The Wootton cluster schools got this message for sure - both current and future. Not clear what happens if they run into lopsided uptake that creates capacity issues in specific schools.

It also seems late to adjust teacher allocations. Who will handle the course registration of this influx of new students? Will they be allowed to go back if it’s not a good fit or they don’t get the courses they want? Will their first schooo have to cut certain courses due to low enrollment after these last minute transfers? There are no guarantees for students or teachers in this half baked plan

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sucks for kids zoned for Woodward. I know several DCC 8th graders heading to Wheaton or Blair this fall that have to move to Woodward in 10th grade.

Yeah, what a horrible scenario. To move to a brand new school that will have similar class offerings as WJ, and almost certainly be better academically than either Wheaton or Blair (not counting their magnet).

WJ will have less in 2027 because of reduced enrollment. There will be more teachers at Woodward eventually, but no guarantee about which classes will be offered. 8th graders heading to Northwood have something like 43 arts electives to choose from in addition to middle college. Terrible to get pulled from that to a school with less. They would be in a new building either way.

Who wants to attend a half empty school?!?