MCPS: Mid-Year Roundup from Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight

New School Year 

We started the 2022-23 school year with nearly 160,000 students. We opened our 210th School – Harriet Tubman Elementary. And, in the face of significant hiring challenges across the country, MCPS began the school year 99% staffed! Read More

Focus on Safety & Security

A few incidents at Fall athletic events led to MCPS, parents, and law enforcement developing an Athletics Safety Plan so games could go forward safely. Dr. Patricia Kapunan, our new Chief Medical Officer, reminded us about the triple-threat of COVID-19, the flu, and RSV. We joined with our Montgomery County partners to sound the alarm about increases in overdoses and deaths – most often due to opioids laced with Fentanyl. We continue to educate and coordinate resources to reverse this trend (find details about upcoming family forum here), as well as eliminate an unsettling increase in acts of antisemitism.Read more

Equitable Teaching & Learning

Findings from our Antiracist Audit were presented to the public and the Board of Education in the Fall, launching MCPS toward development of a comprehensive action plan. And, while reversing the “learning loss” effects from COVID-19 remain challenging, we are now seeing areas of growth and improvement.  Read More

FY 2024 Operating Budget

The Superintendent’s budget was presented to the Board of Education in December, with a focus on strengthening Academic Excellence. Key investments in Early Childhood and Dual Language learning, reacting to the rising costs of goods and services, and providing competitive salaries for staff to support recruitment and retention were among the important supports recommended for FY 2024.  Read More

Supporting Student Well-Being

Working with our Montgomery County partners, Bridge to Wellness centers have opened in 19 MCPS high schools, and the free, newly released “Stronger Student” mobile app was developed by students to provide mental health and wellness information.  Read More

Operations and Technology Upgrades

From deployment of the largest electric school bus fleet in the country, to the new color-coded operational status messages, to an app that could tell parents the location of a school bus, efforts are underway at MCPS to achieve operational excellence at every level. We are also exploring innovative two-way communicationsystems for schools and families to improve the experience for the entire MCPS community, the recent Teacher Device Showcase gave teachers the opportunity to test and provide feedback on more than 50 devices under consideration for future technology acquisition. Read More

Communication / Community Engagement

We’re bringing you more of the good news you want, and more of the information you need, utilizing a smarter mix of social and traditional media channels. Plus Parent Academy Sessions, frequent events, meetings and interactions with community stakeholders, budget forums, and Superintendent McKnight’s 48 visits to MCPS schools! Read More

Good News

The Fairland Elementary teacher receives the Milken Educator Award. A Kennedy High School teacher honored by the National Association of Music Education. This year’s 13 Posse Foundation scholarship recipients, MCPS’s 147 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, 3 named as finalists in Regeneron Science Competition, 14 receive scholarships from QuestBridge. A $10 million gift from the Rales Foundation for student scholarships. Read More

And, for the future…

In September, I issued a challenge to students and our community and it remains true now. “Embrace the fantastic opportunities offered to you at school. To everyone in our community, my challenge is this: Be a partner in this work. Together, we can ensure that tomorrow’s promise is brighter.” For the remainder of this school year, the opportunities continue. Now is the time.

Sincerely,

Dr. Monifa B. McKnight,
Superintendent of Schools”