Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

This. What a joke. The magnet programs were created to fill a NEED. Robbing the students who need those programs is outrageous!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

I want the bolded, certainly. IQ and cognitive test scores form a bell curve, there's a lot of variability in the lower and upper 1%. They really should give those seats to the top scorers, because these kids are often miserable in regular classes. The test cannot be "practiced" like knowledge test such as the SAT, it's a cognitive function test, which is very different.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe mcps sports teams should be lottery-based like the magnet programs are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

The magnets have long been DEI for privileged kids.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should get rid of the magnets completely and stop pulling the smart kids out of their local schools, especially for elem age.

+1
They should meet needs at local schools through a class there. If there are not enough kids to make a gifted class, then offer a cosa to a school that can meet their needs.

I agree with this 100%. Taking the smartest kids out of their local schools and concentrating them in just a few places has really hurt a lot of neighborhood schools. Instead of moving the kids, let’s bring the resources to them. Supporting gifted students where they already are not only helps them succeed, but it also makes the whole school stronger—more challenging classes, better teacher development, and a more well-rounded environment for everyone. They should do this from elementary school through high school.

Theoretically, could this dissolve the DCC? (as a high school DCC teacher, I think a lot of benefits would come from going back to neighborhood schools)

I definitely see value in offering a few unique specialty programs at some high schools like they do today. For example, one or two high schools might focus on medical, another on engineering, and another on something entirely different. That way, students can explore their interests and follow their goals. But the test-in magnet programs? Those should be phased out—they create unnecessary barriers and inequities.

What do you mean? What barriers and in what way are they creating inequities?

It creates an uneven system where some schools get more resources, advanced classes, and peer motivation, while others (especially the non-Ws and high FARMs schools) are left with fewer opportunities. It also tends to separate students by achievement level—and often by race and income—which can make schools less diverse and inclusive. When strong students and involved families leave, for some schools, it really weakens the sense of community and support.

Well, even if you do not physically separate the kids into a separate magnet program, the smart kids identify each other and hang out with each other. And the parents are only advocating for programs (magnets, electives etc.) that only benefit their kids. Not a lot of parents with kids who are in the higher achievement spectrum are advocating for the remedial programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should get rid of the magnets completely and stop pulling the smart kids out of their local schools, especially for elem age.

+1
They should meet needs at local schools through a class there. If there are not enough kids to make a gifted class, then offer a cosa to a school that can meet their needs.

I agree with this 100%. Taking the smartest kids out of their local schools and concentrating them in just a few places has really hurt a lot of neighborhood schools. Instead of moving the kids, let’s bring the resources to them. Supporting gifted students where they already are not only helps them succeed, but it also makes the whole school stronger—more challenging classes, better teacher development, and a more well-rounded environment for everyone. They should do this from elementary school through high school.

Theoretically, could this dissolve the DCC? (as a high school DCC teacher, I think a lot of benefits would come from going back to neighborhood schools)

I definitely see value in offering a few unique specialty programs at some high schools like they do today. For example, one or two high schools might focus on medical, another on engineering, and another on something entirely different. That way, students can explore their interests and follow their goals. But the test-in magnet programs? Those should be phased out—they create unnecessary barriers and inequities.

What do you mean? What barriers and in what way are they creating inequities?

It creates an uneven system where some schools get more resources, advanced classes, and peer motivation, while others (especially the non-Ws and high FARMs schools) are left with fewer opportunities. It also tends to separate students by achievement level—and often by race and income—which can make schools less diverse and inclusive. When strong students and involved families leave, for some schools, it really weakens the sense of community and support.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

The magnets have long been DEI for privileged kids.

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

The lottery is exactly what protects them drom accusations of DEI. It is random. They will double down on it now.

The randomness was removed by the lottery AFTER MCPS expanded the inclusion of students who would not have made it to the Magnet programs if only academic or standardized tests were the criteria. And they did this only to increase Diversity in the magnet class. If this is not DEI, then what is it?

The randomness of the lottery is what protects them. Whatever the reasons for moving to it. They absolutely will not get rid of it now because it gets them as close to the outcomes they want in a manner they can defend. They are not hand selecting students.

You would do better to advocate to change the criteria for who will be entered into the lottery than to advocate for an end of the lottery.

So you’re good with a racist lottery?

DP. The lottery is race-blind.

+1

It might be race blind, but locally norm, putting kids who scored 85 percentile in the pool with kids scored 99 percentile did open the pool to more race. And 85 percentile is picked over 99 percentile through lottery.. such a joke!

Exactly, the lottery, if held, should only be between all the 99 percenters.

Why?

Why? For example, you and a bunch of coworkers are competing for a promotion. You scored 99 points on all the interview questions, they scored 85 points. And you were told you all make it to the final list, and they picked 85 because it’s random lottery. That happens in MCPS at elementary level.

This is the kind of comment that makes me think you are a troll posting from outside of MCPS (or even Maryland). Elementary magnet programs are cohorted by geography. That means the kids most likely to be dealing with trauma, generational poverty, parents who don't speak English, etc. are all in a lottery together, and that lottery is entirely separate from the children of the MC/UMC folks who make up most of this board.

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is excellent. MCPS should get rid of its DEI programs. Removing the lottery for magnet programs would be a wonderful start.

The lottery is exactly what protects them drom accusations of DEI. It is random. They will double down on it now.

The randomness was removed by the lottery AFTER MCPS expanded the inclusion of students who would not have made it to the Magnet programs if only academic or standardized tests were the criteria. And they did this only to increase Diversity in the magnet class. If this is not DEI, then what is it?

The randomness of the lottery is what protects them. Whatever the reasons for moving to it. They absolutely will not get rid of it now because it gets them as close to the outcomes they want in a manner they can defend. They are not hand selecting students.

You would do better to advocate to change the criteria for who will be entered into the lottery than to advocate for an end of the lottery.

So you’re good with a racist lottery?

DP. The lottery is race-blind.

+1

It might be race blind, but locally norm, putting kids who scored 85 percentile in the pool with kids scored 99 percentile did open the pool to more race. And 85 percentile is picked over 99 percentile through lottery.. such a joke!

Exactly, the lottery, if held, should only be between all the 99 percenters.

Why?

Why? For example, you and a bunch of coworkers are competing for a promotion. You scored 99 points on all the interview questions, they scored 85 points. And you were told you all make it to the final list, and they picked 85 because it’s random lottery. That happens in MCPS at elementary level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is DEI?

Where have you been??? LOL

Why does Trump hate America? Even our founders were DEIsts!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny how quickly ya’ll turn into Trumpers when it affects your snowflakes!

Yep. Thank God, DCUM is not a reflection of MoCo parents and residents.

Anonymous wrote:Funny how quickly ya’ll turn into Trumpers when it affects your snowflakes!