Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not an MCPS requirement - maybe it's a requirement at your particular school? My child's school does not have any tech classes as electives.

See my 17:53 post- it said MSDE requirement.

Still, it is not an MSDE requirement. It is an element of what MSDE uses to rate schools. If schools are to achieve the highest possible ratings, then this needs to be included within their curriculum. As opposed to the high school tech requirement, meaning a student must have one tech credit in order to graduate high school.

Do you think they are playing around with the word "requires" vs "requirement"? (Not asking in a snarky way)

DP

Seems that way to me.

I specifically asked it it was a ‘requirement’ to pass MS and got no answer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not an MCPS requirement - maybe it's a requirement at your particular school? My child's school does not have any tech classes as electives.

See my 17:53 post- it said MSDE requirement.

Still, it is not an MSDE requirement. It is an element of what MSDE uses to rate schools. If schools are to achieve the highest possible ratings, then this needs to be included within their curriculum. As opposed to the high school tech requirement, meaning a student must have one tech credit in order to graduate high school.

Do you think they are playing around with the word "requires" vs "requirement"? (Not asking in a snarky way)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Language courses can easily be started in 7th grade as opposed to 6th. And it would still give students 2yrs of a language prior to high school. Additionally, those students wanting to take both band and a language can do so in 7th and 8th grade.

But starting a language younger has its benefits. It’s bad enough that we don’t have language offered in Elementary School, like many other districts. Pushing language later doesn’t benefit our kids.

Taking the tech class in HS is perfectly fine.

The benefit of learning an additional language younger is linked to brain development and how language is acquired in the early ages. Specifically the intonation and articulation patterns. At about age 10/11 this early age benefit wears off and one enters the next stage that spans from 11-13. So essentially the one year between starting a language at 6th or 7th would be negligible for most unless they are going into immersion.

The benefits of taking the Tech class in 6th is that students will be able to utilize the skills throughout the remainder of middle school and into high school for a range of courses. Also, it would provide students the opportunity to determine if the have an interest in pursuing other course around Technology both for middle and high school. It also gets it out of the way, allowing for more focused elective study in high school. And it provides the additional benefit for the middle schools state report card.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not an MCPS requirement - maybe it's a requirement at your particular school? My child's school does not have any tech classes as electives.

See my 17:53 post- it said MSDE requirement.

Still, it is not an MSDE requirement. It is an element of what MSDE uses to rate schools. If schools are to achieve the highest possible ratings, then this needs to be included within their curriculum. As opposed to the high school tech requirement, meaning a student must have one tech credit in order to graduate high school.

And the MDSE says that the curriculum needs to be available, not that everyone has to take it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is not an MCPS requirement - maybe it's a requirement at your particular school? My child's school does not have any tech classes as electives.

See my 17:53 post- it said MSDE requirement.

Still, it is not an MSDE requirement. It is an element of what MSDE uses to rate schools. If schools are to achieve the highest possible ratings, then this needs to be included within their curriculum. As opposed to the high school tech requirement, meaning a student must have one tech credit in order to graduate high school.

Anonymous wrote:This is not an MCPS requirement - maybe it's a requirement at your particular school? My child's school does not have any tech classes as electives.

See my 17:53 post- it said MSDE requirement.

My serious music student is taking the tech requirement his senior year in high school! I wish he took it earlier but there was only time when he was able to drop other things. Music wasn't a choice for him.

Anonymous wrote:Language courses can easily be started in 7th grade as opposed to 6th. And it would still give students 2yrs of a language prior to high school. Additionally, those students wanting to take both band and a language can do so in 7th and 8th grade.

But starting a language younger has its benefits. It’s bad enough that we don’t have language offered in Elementary School, like many other districts. Pushing language later doesn’t benefit our kids.

Taking the tech class in HS is perfectly fine.

Anonymous wrote:Language courses can easily be started in 7th grade as opposed to 6th. And it would still give students 2yrs of a language prior to high school. Additionally, those students wanting to take both band and a language can do so in 7th and 8th grade.

Maybe it’s just an issue for the rising 7th graders.

Someone with a rising 6th grader can chime in if they are requiring it for 6th graders?

This is not an MCPS requirement - maybe it's a requirement at your particular school? My child's school does not have any tech classes as electives.

Language courses can easily be started in 7th grade as opposed to 6th. And it would still give students 2yrs of a language prior to high school. Additionally, those students wanting to take both band and a language can do so in 7th and 8th grade.

Anonymous wrote:I’m not sure why they are making this difficult. Incorporate it for rising 6th graders into Digital Literacy. It now becomes Digital Literacy & Skills(which I think it should include anyway). Everyone else tell to take it in High School. The Arts requirement Can be include music, film, or art.

Many 6th graders take a language instead of digital literacy. I am thinking it would have to be the first quarter of band and chorus.

I’m not sure why they are making this difficult. Incorporate it for rising 6th graders into Digital Literacy. It now becomes Digital Literacy & Skills(which I think it should include anyway). Everyone else tell to take it in High School. The Arts requirement Can be include music, film, or art.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought they had to "have access" to a well-rounded curriculum. I did not understand this to mean that children would have to drop band/language to do it. Music counts as arts, yes?

Your child would need to drop band/language if your child is taking them both as electives. The tech class is currently an elective. And, our MS doesn't allow the kids to take 3 electives (there is no room in the schedule).

How can a kid take band + language + tech class as electives if there are only 2 elective spots in the schedule? Kid has to drop one - either language or band.

Unless they're at a middle school with 8 periods.

Anonymous wrote:I thought they had to "have access" to a well-rounded curriculum. I did not understand this to mean that children would have to drop band/language to do it. Music counts as arts, yes?

Your child would need to drop band/language if your child is taking them both as electives. The tech class is currently an elective. And, our MS doesn't allow the kids to take 3 electives (there is no room in the schedule).

How can a kid take band + language + tech class as electives if there are only 2 elective spots in the schedule? Kid has to drop one - either language or band.