More than 160 student journalists and educators representing 25 Montgomery County public schools sent an open letter to Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) last Friday seeking answers about a March memorandum that outlines administrative review procedures for student publications.
The letter, signed by nearly 150 student journalists from all 25 MCPS high schools along with additional supporters and journalism educators, questions whether the district’s guidance is consistent with Maryland’s student press protections under the New Voices Act. A separate letter was also submitted by a coalition of journalism teachers.
At the center of the dispute is a March 19 memorandum distributed by MCPS Chief of Schools Dr. Peter Moran. According to the student coalition, the memo requires schools to designate an administrator to review student publications and other school-related printed materials before publication.
In their letter, students argue that the memo appears to expand administrative oversight beyond what is permitted under Maryland law and existing MCPS regulations governing student expression. “The March memo raises serious legal concerns because, as written, it appears to impose broad prior review without clear standards, timelines, appeal rights, or safeguards required to protect student journalists under Maryland law,” the students wrote.
Student journalists are asking MCPS to return to what they describe as the district’s previous Board-approved regulation governing student press, which they say limited prior restraint to circumstances specifically outlined in Maryland’s New Voices law.
The coalition also raised concerns about language included in the memo regarding content that administrators may restrict. According to the students, examples listed in the guidance include content involving ridicule, embarrassing or private moments, and sarcasm or teasing that could be interpreted as bullying.
Students argue that some of those categories are broader and more subjective than the categories of speech that may be restricted under Maryland law. “A student using his opinion column to harass and spread unfounded gossip about the class president is very different from a student writing a sharp critique of a speech given by a Board of Education member — yet both could be considered ‘ridicule of individuals or groups,’” the letter states.
The student coalition’s concerns have also drawn attention from organizations that advocate for free expression and student journalism, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the Student Press Law Center, which have questioned whether the policy could conflict with protections established under Maryland’s New Voices Act.
MCPS, however, disputes the characterization of the memo as a censorship policy. In a statement provided in response to the open letter, the district said the memorandum was intended to remind administrators of their responsibility to supervise student publications in accordance with existing student rights and responsibilities policies.
“Nothing in the memorandum interferes with student journalism or imposes prior restraint,” MCPS said. “We remain so proud of our student journalists.” The district emphasized that it remains committed to the protections established under Maryland’s New Voices Act and stated that student journalists retain the right to determine editorial content except in limited circumstances allowed by law.
MCPS said administrative review is intended to identify content that may be libelous, constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy, violate federal or state law, or create a clear and present danger or substantial disruption to school operations.
The district cited past situations involving school publications where inappropriate content led to disruption and community concerns, arguing that review procedures can help prevent similar issues.
“As responsible adults and educational leaders, we have the duty to guide the work of our students as they are developing their skills in a school setting during a school-directed activity,” MCPS said.
The students’ letter requests additional clarification from the district regarding how the memo will be implemented and how it aligns with existing state law and MCPS regulations. As of this writing, the issue remains under discussion between student journalists, educators, and district leadership.
