MCPS

Five Things You Need to Know From the October 26 Board of Education Meeting

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPS:

Oct. 27, 2021

Dear MCPS Community:

Here are five things you need to know from the Oct. 26, 2021, Board of Education meeting, including three scenarios for the proposed 2022-2023 school year calendar, a report on mitigation of learning loss for students and changes made to the policy governing receiving of inquiries and complaints from the public.

  1. Proposed School Year Calendar for 2022-2023: The Board reviewed three calendar scenarios for the 2022-2023 school year. They reflect different start and end dates; additionally, one scenario (Scenario C) shows spring break at a different time than the other two (Scenarios A and B). View the three draft calendar scenarios and learn more about what was shared during the October 26 meeting. All draft scenarios include:

  • A minimum of 180 instructional days
  • Full spring break
  • Contingency days
  • Early release days on Sept. 14, Dec. 7 and March 15 for professional development

The Board is seeking feedback on the calendar options. Please share your feedback on the 2022-2023 calendar options here. The Board is scheduled to adopt a final school calendar on Dec. 2, 2021.

  1. Mitigation of Learning Loss for Students: The Board received information about the 2021 summer school program, as well as a report of fall academic performance data. As part of our learning recovery efforts following the 2020–2021 school year, MCPS implemented a summer program for more than 50,000 students, nearly tripling the participation from traditional pre-pandemic summer programs. Both in-person and virtual programs were offered at no cost to all students and in all schools/clusters.  As a school system, our instructional response to these data includes school improvement planning, focusing on literacy and math instruction, and professional learning for teachers to tailor instruction to meet the needs of all learners. Learn more here

  2. Regulation KLA-RA, Receiving Inquiries and Complaints from the Public: The Board received a workgroup report with recommendation to improve the ways the district receives and processes inquiries and complaints from the public. Learn more here

  3. Recommendation to Approve Cost-of-Living Adjustment, Step and Longevity Increases, and Recruitment and Retention Incentives for Montgomery County Public Schools Employees: The Board approved a 1.5 percent cost of living increase for all MCPS employees, as well as step increases and longevity increases for eligible employees. Learn more here

  4. Recommendation from the Interim Superintendent Following the Boundary Studies for Gaithersburg Cluster Elementary School #8 and for Bethesda, Somerset, and Westbrook Elementary Schools: The Board heard a report on the boundary recommendations for these school clusters that preserved walking areas, articulation patterns, and reflect significant family and stakeholder input.