On Friday Afternoon, MCPS sent an e-mail to teachers offering a $5,000 incentive for dual-certified teachers to transfer from their current assignment into an identified special education program. The e-mail states that the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) agreed to the incentive, “Through a collaborative negotiation with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA), MCPS has agreed to provide a one-time $5,000 incentive to any dual-certificated teacher who volunteers to transfer from their current assignment into an identified special education program.  The incentive will be paid in two equal installments, in October and in February, to any teacher selected by MCPS to transfer.”

On Friday evening at 7:30pm, the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) sent a message to members in response to the e-mail offering the incentive. In the message, MCEA states that they have “been engaged in negotiations with MCPS throughout the summer over special education staffing concerns”, but that “when MCPS disseminated their communication MCEA had not ratified or signed any agreement related to incentives for current employees who are dual-certified educators.” The MCEA Board of Directors (BOD) held an emergency meeting on Friday afternoon, following the MCPS email, and voted to reject the tentative agreement because it lacks a binding commitment from MCPS for equitable treatment for current special educators. The BOD has instructed the MCEA negotiation team to go back to the bargaining table to achieve a tentative agreement that includes a complete package that honors the commitment of all special educators.