Open enrollment policy raises controversy

Since 1999, MCPS has encouraged open enrollment for any students willing to take advanced-level courses even though the county's prerequisite policy is still in effect. The open-enrollment policy, however, has recently drawn criticism from teachers who claim the guidelines diminish the quality of education.

Marcy Versel, MCPS Instructional Specialist for the Gifted and Talented Team, said MCPS established the open-enrollment policy in order to increase the participation of underrepresented students.

Some teachers, however, claim that the policy pushes too many unqualified students into advanced-level classes, which can affect both teachers and the pace of the class. "It is difficult to teach if there is a huge disparity between the different levels of comprehension," said math teacher Paul Grossman.

The percentage of high school students completing at least one Honors or AP course rose from 56 percent in 1999 to 67 percent last year, according to an Oct 14 report by the Office of Accountability. Minority participation has also increased—the percentage of black students who take at least one advanced-level class has increased from 32 percent to 47 percent and Latino enrollment increased from 32 percent to 42 percent.

Social Studies Resource Teacher Cherie McGinn said that the boost in diversity offers more opportunities for important lessons. "Society is best served by having all kinds of people mixed together and learn from each other," said McGinn.

Although diversity has increased, the percentage of Blair students with a C or higher grade in honors classes has decreased from 94.2 percent in 1999 to 88.1 percent in 2003. Failing grades for blacks and Latinos increased from 14.1 percent to 22.1 percent.

However, Assistant Principal Patricia Hurley said that, in general, being in an accelerated course lowers the probability of a student receiving a failing grade. "If you are in an honors class, you have a better chance to get an A or B," she said.

Currently Blair is offering study and workshop sessions to help students in the Communications Arts Program. The Study Skills Workshop, which is taught by social studies teachers George Vlasits and James Mogge during 5A and 5B, teaches students how to study and succeed in accelerated programs. A summer course for first-time honor students at Blair is in the works, according to Hurley. The Instructional Related Activities were also reinstated this year as another support system for struggling students.

Students who are not recommended for enrollment but who still wish to take an honors class can override their teachers' recommendations with parental consent.