MCPS: Five Things to Know Going Into Spring Break

MCPS sent a community letter containing five things know for Thursday Mar. 30 and an update on the progress we are making to address the findings of the Antiracist System Audit. Get information on the work being done across the system since the report and findings, the mid-year Evidence of Learning framework, upcoming events, COVID 19 testing recommendations after spring break and more. The full letter, courtesy of MCPS, can be seen below:

1. Mid-Year Evidence of Learning Framework Demonstrates Gains in Student Performance, Continued Areas for Improvement: At its March 28 Board of Education meeting, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders presented mid-year Evidence of Learning (EOL) data  focused on grade-level proficiency using multiple measures to determine the success of students, schools and the district.

At least half of students in grades K, 3, 6 and 9 obtained EOL in mathematics, with the highest percentage of this year’s kindergarteners (70.8%) demonstrating EOL attainment and the lowest percentage of sixth graders doing so (48.9%).

Read more.

2. Spring Break and COVID-19 Testing 

As with prior breaks, return testing will not be mandatory for staff and students after spring break. We ask staff and students to consider active symptoms and personal exposure risk, and to test and report positive results before returning to school. The shelf life for test kits has been extended; please check the new expiration dates for iHealth or InteliSwab home test kits. For more information about COVID-19 testing or school procedures, see the MCPS COVID-19 School Dashboard.

3. Save the Dates for These April Events 

• Annual MCPS College Fair

  Representatives from more than 300 colleges and universities will be on hand at the annual Montgomery County National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) National College Fair on Tuesday, April 18 and Wednesday, April 19 at the Maryland Soccerplex18031 Central Park Circle in Boyds.

• Read more.

  Register to attend.

• Youth Climate Summit

  Montgomery County Public Schools is hosting the 2nd Annual Youth Climate Summit at Tilden Middle School on Saturday, April 22. The student-led event will educate MCPS students about climate change and equip them with tools to create climate action projects to bring back to their communities.

  Visit: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/YouthClimateSummit/.

  Register as a participant.

  Tilden Middle School is located at 6300 Tilden Lane in Rockville.

• Special Education Parent Community Resource Fair

  The first Special Education Parent Community Resource Fair will be on Saturday, April 29 at Gaithersburg High School. The resource fair will be held from 9 a.m.–noon, and will include a guest speaker, valuable community resources and vendors, and fun children’s activities, including a moon bounce, crafts and face painting.

  Read more.

  Gaithersburg High School is located at 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg.

4. Register as a Summer RISE Host Today!

MCPS is seeking hosts for the Summer RISE 2023 program in all career fields, particularly in arts and entertainment, architecture, bioscience, business management, cybersecurity, engineering, healthcare, information technology, law and veterinary services. Summer RISE is an MCPS initiative to help students learn about career opportunities. If you are interested in offering an in-person, virtual or hybrid experience at your workplace between June 26 and July 28, sign up today. Registration will close Friday, April 14. For more information, visit www.MCPS-SummerRISE.org.

5. Bright Spots This Week