Dr. Weast's FY 2011 Budget Proposal Ends MCPS's Reign as a World Class School System

December may bring thoughts of holidays and snow, but here in Montgomery County Maryland, it's time again for the annual budget attack on the "special programs" in the public schools.

In the Superintendent's newly released FY 2011 Operating Budget Proposal, Dr. Weast once again sends his spear to the heart of the special programs. Dr. Weast's FY 2011 Operating Budget puts the Blair Blazers back on the cutting block, cuts the ignition for RM's Rockets, and clips the wings off the Poolesville Falcons.

Yes, the school system's special programs are in jeopardy again.

Included in Dr. Weast's recommended cuts are the following:

• 20 percent cut in teacing positions for in the immersion, IB, signature and other special program teachers
• Elimination of transportation outside "normal" attendance zones for all special programs, including magnet, immersion, IB, high school consortia
• Elimination of additional staffing to middle school consortia special course offerings at Loiederman, Argyle, and Parkland 
• Elimination of extracurricular activities including athletics through a reduction in staff stipends.
  

What's left?  Not much, and certainly not a "world class" school system.  

Read about the budget on the school system's website and plan to participate. 

Budget Calendar

Dec. 23, 2009	Sign-up begins for BOE Operating Budget hearings
Jan. 13, 2010 7 p.m.	BOE Operating Budget hearing
Jan. 20, 2010 7 p.m.	BOE Operating Budget hearing
Jan. 27 & 28 2010 6 p.m.	BOE Operating Budget work sessions
Feb. 9, 2010	BOE Operating Budget action/adoption
March 1, 2010	Presentation to the Montgomery County Executive and County Council
April 2010	County Council budget hearings (exact dates to be determined)
May 20, 2010	County Council approves Operating Budget
June 8, 2010	Final BOE action on the FY 2011 Operating Budget

Get ready for liftoff.  

 

 

MCPS Board of Education Reverses Position on Foreign Language

 

In a surprising about face at yesterday's (11/10) meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved the following new countywide courses for the next school year:

AP Chinese Language and Culture
AP Japanese Language and Culture
AP Russian Language and Culture A/B

Arabic and Italian will also be offered at BCC High as part of its International Baccalaureate Program.

This represents a 180 degree about face from its meeting on April 14, 2009, when Dr. Weast announced that only French, Spanish, and Chinese will be offered in MCPS schools.

Japanese and Russian? What made MCPS switch?

A world class school system needs to offer world class offerings. Its nice to see the Board of Education take a stand on behalf of our kids who will be competing with their global counterparts - many of whom are already fluent in multiple languages.

Wow. Wouldn't it be wonderful if this represents the first in a series of actions by MoCo's Board of Education admitting that some program cuts just don't make sense?

MCPS and the Limited Language Offerings Excuse to Cut Educational Programs

At the April 14, 2009 MCPS Board of Education meeting where Dr. Weast introduced his concept of IB for all MCPS students to make them college ready, he announced that MCPS would be transitioning from offering 11 languages to 3, because only three were offered by the IBO program.

Not true, Dr. Weast.

As an International Program, IBO offers a variety of language. The IBO offers its programs in 45 "first" languages. From the website, the IBO states:

Group 1: language A1
It is a requirement of the programme that students study at least one subject from group 1. Language A1 is the study of literature in a student’s first language, including the study of selections of world literature. Forty five languages are regularly available at either higher level or standard level.

And for a second requirement, IBO requires that students in the diploma program acquire an indepth understanding of a second language - and offers a variety of modern languages PLUS classical Greek and
Latin.

Again, from the website:

Group 2: second language
The main emphasis of the modern language courses is on language acquisition and use in a range of contexts and for different purposes. Three options are available to accommodate students with different backgrounds.

Language ab initio courses are for beginners, ie students who have no previous experience of learning the language they have chosen. These courses are only available at standard level.

Language B courses are intended for students who have had some previous experience of learning the language. They may be studied at either higher level or standard level.

Language A2 courses are designed for students who have a high level of competence in the language they have chosen. They include the study of both language and literature, and are available at higher level and standard level.

So - why is MCPS cutting back on its language offerings if we are embracing the IB model for our students?

Maybe Dr. Weast should do some research and find out what the IB program really involves academically, before he commits our resources to its implementation. Its more than geographic proximity to the US IB office that is needed before this highly rated program will work within the confines of Montgomery County Schools and its limited course offerings.