Education Archives - Page 196 of 295

MCPS Student Leaders Meet with Legislators to Make Their Voices Heard in Annapolis

Published February 28, 2023 at 8:15PM | Updated February 28, 2023 at 8:51PM

On Thursday, February 23, 2023 fifty-one student leaders from the Montgomery County Regional Student Government (MCR) and the Montgomery County Junior Council (MCJC), the countywide high school and middle school student government associations, traveled to Annapolis to meet with legislators that represent Montgomery County. The students researched upcoming legislation in the general assembly, wrote a one-pager on their advocacy centered around the legislation, and scheduled meetings with the legislators to advocate for these bills and share the student experiences and youth impact related to them. The topics of legislation they supported were:

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller also met with the student leaders to hear their advocacy on these bills.

Public Testimony For Boundary Study Scope For Reopening of Woodward HS and Relocation of Burtonsville ES to Northeast Consortium ES #17 Site Sought by MCPS

By MCS Staff

Published February 28, 2023 at 9:49AM

Public testimony for the Superintendent’s Recommendation to Relocate Burtonsville Elementary School to the Northeast Consortium Elementary School #17 Site and the Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Boundary Study Scope for the Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School.

The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold a public hearing on March 9, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., to hear testimony regarding the Superintendent’s Recommendation to Relocate Burtonsville Elementary School to the Northeast Consortium Elementary School #17 Site and the Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Boundary Study Scope for the Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School. Video, audio and in-person testimony will be accepted and will be made available to the public on BoardDocs. Individuals who wish to provide public comments will register using the online registration form.

Board of Education Discusses Human Resources and Development Key Practices for a Diverse Workforce; Discusses Wellness and Restorative Practices; Takes Final Action and Adopts Updated Policy ABA, Community Engagement; Takes Tentative Action on Board of Education Policy ABC, Parent and Family Involvement and Policy BBB, Ethics; Makes Administrative Appointments

By MCS Staff

Published February 28, 2023 at 8:11AM

The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. During the meeting, the Board discussed Human Resources and Development Key Practices for a Diverse Workforce; discussed Wellness and Restorative Practices; took final action and adopted updated Policy ABA, Community Engagement; took tentative action on Board of Education Policy ABC, Parent and Family Involvement and Policy BBB, Ethics; and made four administrative appointments. The agenda for the meeting, with related links, can be viewed on the Board website. Watch the meeting recording.

Human Resources and Development Key Practices for a Diverse Workforce: MCPS staff presented teacher hiring data for fiscal year 2023, shared data-driven approaches to recruitment and highlighted increased efforts for the current year. Staff also outlined the Grow Your Own program for both current staff and students, and shared higher education partnerships for employees and community members, and various other supports, trainings, and professional development opportunities for staff. Read the memorandum to the Board. View the PowerPoint Presentation

MCPS: Student Restroom Monitoring Plan

By MCS Staff

Published February 28, 2023 at 7:44AM

MCPS addressed safety concerns regarding student restrooms in a recent update sent out to the community, titled MCPS Commitment to Safety, Security and Well-Being in All Schools. The portion on student restrooms can be seen below:

Our restrooms must be safe places for students and cannot be places for activities that violate our code of conduct, such as drug and tobacco use. Staff are increasing the frequency of their visual monitoring and checks inside restrooms throughout the school day, between class periods and during lunch periods.

Over 100 Students Participated in “Taste of MCPS”, Sampling New Menu Items

By MCS Staff

Published February 27, 2023 at 6:42AM

More than 100 middle and high school students from eight schools participated in a taste testing for new menu items last week. During the Taste of MCPS, students and staff evaluated innovative concepts and sampled new flavors. Their feedback will be incorporated in the menu development process for the next school year. New menu items tested included:

MCPS: Our Commitment to Safety, Security and Well-Being in MCPS, An Update

By MCS Staff

Published February 25, 2023 at 8:28PM

Below is a letter sent to the community by MCPS with an update on safety, security, and well-being:

“Dear MCPS Community,

Helicopter Makes Precautionary Landing in Back Field of North Bethesda Middle School; No Injuries

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 4:22PM

A television news crew in a spare helicopter landed in the back field of North Bethesda Middle School in Bethesda (not near the building or any people) after an issue in flight. A Prince George’s County Police Chopper stopped by to make sure everything was fine after the precautionary landing. Both choppers successfully took off minutes later, when it was safe to do so.

The involved aircraft was a 2010 Robinson R44 Helicopter, per our public safety reporter Cordell Pugh.

Board of Education Tentatively Adopts $3.2 Billion Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 8:31AM

The Montgomery County Board of Education, by unanimous vote, approved a $3.2 billion Operating Budget recommendation for FY 2024. The request includes a $296 million increase – 10%– over the current budget and $272 million above the minimum amount required by the maintenance of effort law.

The budget reflects amendments based on BOE feedback to provide focused investments to improve literacy and math across the district. This includes the addition of supervisors, instructional staff and coaches to increase math and literacy support, oversight and progress monitoring for schools, and increased professional development opportunities for staff. The budget also prioritizes salary increases to support recruitment and retention and the addition of security assistants to promote a safe and inclusive school climate.

Beyond MoCo: Howard County Adjusts School Start Times for the 2023-2024 School Year

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 8:21AM

At its meeting on Feb. 23, 2023, the Howard County Board of Education adjusted the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) school start times for the 2023-2024 year, shifting high schools to begin at 8:00 a.m., among other changes. The exact start time for each school will be determined later this spring and shared with the community as transportation routes are finalized. There is no impact to the current school year. The new start times will take effect beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, slated to begin for students on Aug. 28, 2023.

The process of evaluating adjustments to school start times began on April 15, 2021, when the Board of Education directed the Superintendent to review and evaluate the current school start times. The HCPSS Office of Student Transportation worked with Decision Support Group to analyze current start times, bell schedules and transportation routes, and develop a plan that could adjust school opening times. Two options were provided for Board and stakeholder consideration.

MCPS: Five Things To Know (2/24/23)

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 7:50AM

1. Come Out This Saturday for a Family Forum on Fentanyl & Life-Saving Narcan Training In partnership with Montgomery Goes Purple, MCPS invites families to come out Saturday, Feb. 25 for an event and discussion on fentanyl. Panelists will share important information on the dangers and prevalence of illegally made fentanyl, prevention tools and protective factors for students, and resources for treatment when needed. The event will be from 9:30–11:30 a.m. in the Northwood High School auditorium, 919 University Blvd. West in Silver Spring. Breakout discussions for students and parents/caregivers and students, resource fair, COVID-19 vaccinations and refreshments will be available. Panel and breakout sessions will be in English and Spanish. RSVP. Fentanyl Resources

2. Finalists Selected for Student Member of the Board of Education: Sami Saeed, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School, and Yoseph Zerihun, a junior at Springbrook High School, are the finalists for the 46th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). Mr. Saeed and Mr. Zerihun were chosen from a pool of 12 students by more than 400 voting middle and high school delegates at this year’s SMOB Nominating Convention. Elections will be held on April 19. Read more about the candidates.

Hundreds Participated in This Year’s HBCU Fair; Many Students Were Accepted Into Schools On-Site

By MCS Staff

Published February 24, 2023 at 7:41AM

Hundreds of students, educators, administrators, community members, caregivers and HBCU representatives with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) participated in this year’s HBCU Fair on Friday, February 17.

The free in-person event at The Universities at Shady Grove provided students in Grades 8–12 an opportunity to meet representatives from more than 50 HBCUs. Representatives shared information and answered questions from students and parents about admissions, financial aid, testing, majors and much more. The event also featured a college preparation workshop for middle school students and parents, a discussion on college life, FAFSA completion assistance, scholarship information and more.