Education

Per MCPS: Today, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland issued a decision declining the plaintiff’s motion for a preliminary injunction that would have required Montgomery County Public Schools to allow families to opt out of engagement with LGBTQ+ inclusive texts during English Language Arts instruction. The judge also denied the request for an injunction pending appeal.

The ruling states, “Public schools are not obliged to shield individual students from ideas which potentially are religiously offensive, particularly when the school imposes no requirement that the student violate his or her faith during classroom instruction.” (page 46) The decision comes after plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction in June and following a hearing on August 9 before District Judge Deborah L. Boardman.

Nearly 162,000 students will head back to school on Monday, Aug. 28 for the start of the 2023–2024 school year. About 920 teachers and nearly 280 supporting services employees have been hired, and there are 33 new principals, principals new to their schools and acting principals who can’t wait to get to know their new students and families. These leaders were asked to share a fun or interesting fact with us that they would like their school community to know. Read about them below, courtesy of MCPS:

Elementary Schools

The Board of Education will hold its business meeting on Thursday, August. 24, 2023. Closed session will begin at 9:00 a.m. Public agenda items will begin at 1:00 p.m.  The meeting will be cablecast live on Comcast Channel 34 (HD 1071), Verizon Channel 36, RCN Channel 89 and the MCPS website.

The agenda, with related materials attached, can be found on the Board of Education’s BoardDocs site (please visit this link for the most up-to-date agenda)

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) announces the launch of its innovative Attendance Action Plan, “ALL TOGETHER Now: In School Together, Learning Together, Achieving Together.” This multifaceted initiative is designed to address the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism and promote consistent attendance among students across the district. By implementing data-driven strategies and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, MCPS aims to reduce barriers to school attendance and empower students and families.

The Attendance Action Plan is built on a Theory of Action, which states that through a collaborative and data-driven approach, MCPS can effectively tackle chronic absenteeism and create an inclusive learning environment for all students. Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student attendance, MCPS is also addressing culture and climate issues identified in the MCPS Antiracist System Audit, further emphasizing its commitment to equity and inclusion.

At MCPS, our primary goal is to equip students with the necessary tools, skills and knowledge to thrive in their future college, career and community endeavors. We are excited for the opportunities this new school year presents for all students. As a system, we have identified priorities and key investments to fully support our educators, our schools and most importantly, our students. Our focus on student academic achievement and social-emotional and physical safety supports are foundational to an inspiring learning environment.

Supporting each student’s educational journey is the focus of our MCPS staff, no matter their role in this great district.

MCPS must fulfill its duty to protect its employees through a truly independent investigator, one with extensive experience in victim-focused sexual misconduct investigations and one that does not have a pre-existing relationship with the district. We encourage the public to join us in calling for a truly independent investigation, and for MCPS to work with us on reforming their policies so that this never happens again.

Given the scale and scope of allegations employees provided to MCPS, an investigation needs to focus on why MCPS management failed to protect staff and instead promoted the principal. MCPS has now chosen to conduct a second investigation of their complaints using a firm that specializes in protecting management from sexual harassment claims, not in ensuring safe working conditions for employees.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will be hosting a press conference to introduce a comprehensive Attendance Action Plan titled “ALL TOGETHER Now: In School Together, Learn Together, Achieve Together / Attendance Action Plan” This multifaceted initiative aims to address a significant problem faced by school systems across the country – student attendance in school.

During the press conference, MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight and MCPS Staff will unveil the Attendance Action Plan, which encompasses various strategies and interventions to promote consistent attendance and enhance student learning outcomes. The plan focuses on fostering a collaborative effort among students, parents, educators, and the wider community to ensure all students have equal opportunities to succeed academically. Chronic Absenteeism is defined as 18 or more days absent in a school year without permission (10%).