Choice Update: High School Programs

Montgomery County Board of Education

September 10, 2019

Paradigm Shift

Scarcity Abundance2

Striking a Balance

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Prioritizing strong local schools Providing unique programs

Multiyear, Phased In Strategic Plan

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2019–2020

2020–2021

2021–2022

And beyond . . . to 2025 and later

Regional and countywide programs = Centrally managed

High School Strategic Plan

Regional Opportunities

Foundation: Strong Local Schools

Building on a Strong Foundation

• Strong local schools

• Expanding access, increasing regional opportunities

• Streamlining marketing and applications for consistency and equity

• PHASE ONE 2020–2021: ○ Regional College and Career

High Schools○ Expansion of IB Diploma

Programme

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Today’s Discussion

• Stakeholder Engagement• Context Setting • Implementation Plan• Outreach and Marketing• Timeline and Next Steps

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Stakeholder Engagement

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• Principals and School Leaders• Counselors, Teachers• Associations• MCCPTA• School Communities• Back to School Fair• September/October Preview Nights and

Open Houses• Ongoing

The Path to Success is No Longer Bifurcated

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Seneca Valley High School and Wheaton/Edison Partnership

● Four-year comprehensive

programs

● Local student access

● Regional student access:

○ 100–125 seats per grade

via application

● Centralized, interest-based

application and assignment

processes for regional seats

● On-ramps, access in

Grades 10–11, current model

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Seneca Valley High School and Wheaton/Edison Partnership

2020–2021 Application Programs

(100–125 Grade 9 Students):

• Construction Management and Architecture

• Healthcare Professions

• Hospitality and Tourism Management

• Information Technology and Cybersecurity

• Project Lead the Way

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Seneca Valley High School● All current programs, projected

growth

● International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (and Middle Years Programme)

● Montgomery College Institute

● Advanced Placement (AP)

● High-demand career pathways

▪ Project Lead the Way,

Healthcare, IT, NJROTC

● Expansion of popular electives,

arts, theater, music, extra-curriculars

● Implications with boundaries,

overlapping timeline

● Communications

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Other College and Career Programs

• Career Readiness Education Academy (CREA)

• Early and Middle College, including Early College at all

three campuses of Montgomery College

• Regional career readiness programs such as Aviation,

Fire Science and Rescue, P-Tech, Network Operations,

Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences and

Engineering, and the IB Career-Related Programme

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Admissions Process Overview

• Grade 8 students and their parents/guardians will receive in myMCPS Parent and Student Portal a regional/countywide application program report.

• Students can apply on a regional/countywide common application link.

• Deadline for application is November 1.

• Criteria-based programs will administer an assessment.

• Notification to parents/guardians and Grade 8 students will occur February 2020.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

• External validation of curriculum and sites

• Externally assessed exams, internationally benchmarked

• Standardized professional development

• High student demand

• Courses and full diploma

• Local access at all schools

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Required Courses:1 – Language & Literature2 – Language Acquisition3 – Individuals & Societies4 – Sciences5 – Mathematics 6 – The Arts

● Theory of Knowledge Course ● Senior Year Extended Essay● Creativity, Action, and Service

Requirements

Context Setting: The IB Diploma

IB Diploma Recognized Worldwide15

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Philosophy of IB, Access and Opportunity• Eliminate barriers to access for low-income students and

students of color

• Expanded access so that students have an education that develops well-rounded, multilingual and open-minded global citizens to help make a better world

• Rigor

• International mindset

• $172 registration fee eliminated, effective in 2019–2020

o Financial assistance is available

Access and Opportunity

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AP/IB Exams Districtwide Per Graduating Class

43724412

707

863747

846 260

293

432437

494652

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IB Exams Only, Per Graduating Class Districtwide

501540

112

147

105

132

45

58

70

101

72

111

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IB Exams Only, Per Graduating Class Districtwide Performance

456475

77

10689

106

35

43

41

59

48

80

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Context Setting: Countywide IB Diploma ProgramDEMAND

*100 students enrolled reflects out of area students only.

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2018 Snapshot: Top 5 Out of Area IB Invitations

● Thomas S. Wootton

● Northwest

● Winston Churchill

● Clarksburg

● Walter Johnson

*Data does not include Richard Montgomery invited students.

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2020–2021 International Baccalaureate

Regional● John F. Kennedy● Springbrook● Watkins Mill

Countywide● Richard Montgomery

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Each IB Regional Program Will Offer:● Academic cohort in Grade 9 and 10● Middle Years Programme (MYP)● Identical admissions process

Each IB Regional Programme Will Continue to Offer:

● IB-trained teachers, counselors and administrators

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93

144169

63

94

117

94

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About 1 in 3 students graduated with 4 or higher on at least one IBexam.

At all four schools….

● John F. Kennedy● Richard Montgomery● Springbrook● Watkins Mill

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IB Admission Process Overview

• Students that apply to the IB program will automatically be considered for their regional program, and can elect to apply to the countywide program.

• Students who applied to both the regional and countywide IB program will be reviewed for each program separately.

• If accepted into both the regional and countywide program, or other high school programs, the decision to accept will be made by the family.

Objectives For IB Regional Programs

• Strong, rigorous Grade 9–10 academic programs in preparation for the IB Diploma Programme.

• Effective structures and supports for retention and achievement of all students.

• Professional development to ensure an accelerated and enriched instructional environment with high expectations and appropriate support.

• Increase the number of students who earn the full IB Diploma at all schools.

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2019–2020 Focus Areas

• Consistent Application/Selection Processes

• Equitable resources including Middle Years Programmes at all IB Regional Schools

• Grade 9 Cohort, Teaching and Learning

• Instructional program reviews

• Network of IB schools

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Metrics of Readiness and Success for Regional IB Programs

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● Instructional program review of the Grades 9 and 10 courses○ Enriched and accelerated practices across all

IB schools● Interest, demand, enrollment● Equitable resources in place● Participation and performance in academic courses● Professional learning, staff readiness● Participation and performance on IB exams● Diplomas earned

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Stakeholder Engagement • Online feedback through MCPS website

• Meetings with principals, school leaders, school counselors, teachers, employee associations, and leadership of MCCPTA and other community organizations

• Back-to-School Fair

• Upcoming High School Preview Nights & Open Houses

• Fall 2019 meetings in local school communities with Phase One programs

• Other communications tactics

Timeline

Communications Summer 2019 and Ongoing

Marketing / Applications

Fall 2019

Registration Spring 2020

First Programs Begin Fall 2020

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Discussion