Montgomery County Councilmembers Will Jawando and Kristin Mink sent a letter to MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor requesting additional information on recent disciplinary trends, student input in the Code of Conduct revisions, and security staff training.
The letter also seeks clarification on reports of routine student searches at alternative education programs and raises concerns about community inquiries being directed to the MPIA process instead of receiving direct responses.
Superintendent Taylor,
We are writing to follow up on several key topics from the Council’s Education and Culture (E&C) Committee session on September 25, 2025, which focused on the revised 2025–2026 Student Code of Conduct and Restorative Justice implementation. In particular, we are seeking further information regarding issues related to disciplinary policy, transparency, and due process.
Student Code of Conduct Changes and Recent Suspension Data
As you know, we were deeply concerned to learn of new disciplinary data for this school year, and we are seeking additional information regarding MCPS’s incorporation of student input into the Code of Conduct revision process, as well as information about the training provided to security personnel. Specifically, during the first five weeks of classes, the district recorded a 29 percent increase in out-of-school suspensions and an 80 percent increase for in-school suspensions. At the aforementioned Committee session, we relayed community advocate concerns that the changes to the 25–26 Code of Conduct could facilitate the increased use of suspensions, despite their limited effectiveness and negative impact on student engagement. Accordingly, we encouraged MCPS to formalize student input in its revision process and increase communication of changes with students and families. We are hopeful that MCPS will implement these changes to the process and will continue to closely monitor this data. We would appreciate an update regarding your progress in that regard.
These concerns about the Code of Conduct are part of why the Committee planned to discuss the training provided to school security staff during our session on September 25. We believe successful and equitable implementation of the approved Code relies on proper security team training. We regretted the unexpected absence of Chief Safety Officer Marcus Jones, as the Committee was prepared to discuss this matter with him directly. We ask that you make available to the public and the Council a full accounting of this training, including the specific curriculum used, the dates of training, and confirmation of the completion rate for all relevant security staff.
Reports of Mandatory Student Searches at Alternative Education Programs
We are also writing to follow up on reports of MCPS conducting routine, daily searches of students at alternative education programs. When the Committee asked about the accuracy of these reports in September, MCPS was unable to confirm or deny them. Please share with the Committee information about whether this practice is indeed happening; who is conducting such searches; the nature of any policy related to such searches, including the length of time it has been in place, the specific legal rationale MCPS relies upon to justify such searches; the nature of training provided to any staff empowered to conduct such searches; and copies of communications to students and parents regarding this practice.
Referral of Community Inquiries to Maryland Public Information Act Process
We have learned that advocates from the Black Coalition for Excellence in Education have inquired about reports of such searches and requested information on security staff training on the Student Code of Conduct changes, but were told to file Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests. The MPIA process is a vital tool, but it should not be a substitute for proactive and transparent communication on matters of broad public concern. While we understand that a formal MPIA request is useful for preparing comprehensive documentation, building community trust requires that we treat inquiries of this nature as opportunities for engagement. We believe our community partners deserve clear, timely answers from MCPS.
Thank you for your attention to these important matters. We look forward to your response and to continuing our collaborative work to ensure all MCPS students have access to a quality education.
Sincerely,
Will Jawando
Council Vice PresidentKristin Mink
Councilmember – District 5
