The Montgomery County Board of Education has released a statement condemning the recent online harrassment of Student Member of the Board, Hana O’Looney.
Below you’ll see the full statement:
“The Board of Education is aware of and is appalled by the recent insulting and inappropriate language directed at Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Hana O’Looney.
Recent postings on Twitter and other social media have chosen to use vile language and personal insults to attack Ms. O’Looney and are clearly harmful attempts at cyberbullying. This behavior is reprehensible, particularly when adults are targeting a student. We are committed to respectful discourse about the important issues affecting Montgomery County Public Schools.
The board applauds the engagement of our community sharing ideas, perspectives and opinions; the board condemns the actions of anyone who does so in a manner harmful to any individual.”
13 educators who completed the National Board Certification process and became National Board Certified Teachers in December 2021, were recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Education in this morning’s meeting.Through its National Board Certification Program, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certifies highly accomplished educators who meet rigorous standards through intensive study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, and peer review.
NBPTS seeks to identify and recognize teachers who effectively enhance student learning and demonstrate the high level of knowledge, skills, abilities, and commitments reflected in the Five Core Propositions that define what National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) should know and be able to do.
Since the program’s inception in 1987, more than 128,000 educators nationwide and 3,473 educators in Maryland have achieved National Board Certification. Maryland ranks eleventh in the nation for the total number of educators who have achieved certification.
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) continues to lead the state in the number of educators who earned this prestigious recognition of their proficiency, with 13 new NBCTs this year and 67 renewals. The 13 new NBCTs are among the 72 Maryland educators who achieved certification from the NBPTS in 2021. This brings the total number of educators who have earned National Board Certification while working for MCPS to 998.
MCPS Educators Who Earned Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2021:
Samantha M. Ager – Sherwood High School
Jaime L. Bohannon – Rock Creek Valley Elementary School
Treasure O. Brown – Clopper Mill Elementary School
Nicole A. Hider – Northwest High School
Diana Jenab – Winston Churchill High School
Katherine A. Lin – Richard Montgomery High School
Gabriela Mendez – Rosemont Elementary School
Lauren E. Monje – Rolling Terrace Elementary School
Sarah Parrish – Argyle Middle School
Bonnie H. Peyer – Richard Montgomery High School
Susan H. Pickell – Montgomery Village Middle School
Caitlin M. Wise – Rockville High School
Chuiyuen Yung – Newport Mill Middle School
The next superintendent of Montgomery County Public Schools is scheduled to be conditionally appointed at this Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting (February 8th, 2022), according to the meeting agenda.
Back in October, the Montgomery County Board of Education announced a national search for the next superintendent of schools for Montgomery County Public Schools, who will begin serving on July 1, 2022.
The Board of Education then invited residents to participate in a series of virtual town halls to share thoughts on what characteristics are essential for the next superintendent.
Per the announcement of the national, the Board of Education worked in partnership with the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA), to “hire the best person to lead our school system as we prepare students for success in college and career.”
“The search will be guided by the Board’s core values, strategic priorities, and desired characteristics gathered this year from input by stakeholders in Montgomery County. The Board will be gathering input from the community on the critical characteristics of the next superintendent in a number of ways. There is a survey, virtual town halls, interviews, and focus groups with a broad spectrum of community leaders. All of the information gathered will inform the selection of the next superintendent.”
Last month, former Montgomery County Board of Education members and MCPS principals Michael Durso and Jeanette Dixon wrote a letter in support of MCPS hiring current interim Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight as Superintendent for the next four years, effective immediately.
The decision will be the first item discussed on Tuesday’s meeting following the opening of the meeting at 9am.
Former Montgomery County Board of Education members and MCPS principals Michael Durso and Jeanette Dixon wrote a letter in support of MCPS hiring current interim Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight as Superintendent for the next four years, effective immediately.
The full letter of support can be seen below.
“Dear Members of the Board of Education:
We write to you on this historic day as former
high school principals and members of the Board of
Education with 57 years of service in Montgomery
County, and while we are no longer employed by
MCPS, we both closely follow the work of the Board
of Education and MCPS.
Given the unprecedented challenges the school system has faced in the last two years of educating our students during a worldwide pandemic, we believe it is imperative that the Board of Education appoint Dr. Monifa McKnight as Superintendent of MCPS for the next four years effective immediately.
It has not been lost on us that both the Interim
Superintendent and the Board of Education have
come under excessive scrutiny and criticism recently
related to Covid-19 and protocols. Indeed, just within
the last few days, both the MCEA and MCAAP have posted strongly worded letters related to the handling of the virus and its impact on students, staff, and families. We understand the frustration all are facinG with these ongoing challenges.
Dr. McKnight knows and loves MCPS. Despite being buffeted by events beyond her control, she has worked tirelessly to ensure our students get the best education possible. We believe all education stakeholders should be grateful for her courage in taking on the position of Interim Superintendent. She has had a year to hone her skills as a superintendent and learned valuable leadership lessons. She has learned about the need for MCPS and the Board to improve communication, something that has been an ongoing issue in MCPS even before Dr. McKnight’s service as Interim Superintendent began. She is fully able to assess the inner workings of the school system and those who serve it.
We believe it would be unwise to appoint someone from outside of the system because it would take this person two years to learn all there is to know about MCPS. In Dr. McKnight we already have someone who is competent to provide both the continuity and change needed by MCPS. Based on her performance as Interim Superintendent, Dr. McKnight has earned the opportunity to continue to lead MCPS.
Naturally you are aware of what Dr. McKnight has done, but we wish to highlight why we believe she is the right choice for the next four years. As Deputy Superintendent she administered the school systemn from the time Dr. Smith announced he was retiring in February 2021, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic that necessitated a paradigm shift in the way educators teach and students learn. During this time, she was able to get the 2021-2022 budget passed and ensure a smooth close of the school year, including celebrating and attending graduations for the Class of 2021.
In addition:
• Dr. McKnight implemented initiatives
focusing on an anti-racist audit, reorganization of the system for greater accountability, and professional development for all staff.
• Dr. McKnight has established excellent relations with elected officials at the county and state levels, state education officials and other Maryland school superintendents. She has completed the Leadership Montgomery program.
• Dr. McKnight is a good listener, presenter and public speaker with the ability to inspire others. She has demonstrated flexibility, and she has been responsive to the education stakeholders of Montgomery County.
• Dr. McKnight is professional, and she is respectful of the Board. She works well with the Board’s officers. She has gone out of her way to get to know the Board as a group and individually.
• Dr. McKnight is responsive, and she is not afraid to change her position or correct that which is not working. She is adept at analyzing data and using technology.
• Dr. McKnight has worked assiduously with all education stakeholders including those who have undermined her efforts and not given her the time and unquestioned support they gave to past male
Superintendents.
In conclusion, Dr. McKnight has earned the opportunity to continue to lead MCPS. She is a person of integrity who is an outstanding role model for all of our students. They can look at her and know that anything is possible when an African-American girl raised by a single parent in Orangeburg, South Carolina can rise to lead the fourteenth largest school system in the United States. She is the right person for this time. We urge you to make this historic appointment.
Sincerely,
MichaelA. Durso
Former MCPS Principal
1996 – 2009
Former Member of the Board of Education, District 5
2009 – 2018
Jeanette E. Dixon
Former MCPS Principal
1997-2013
Former Member of the Board of Education, At-Large
2016-2020”
Kate Ryan of WTOP first reported the two former BOE members support of Dr. Monifa McKnight in a tweet this morning.
Dr. Monifa McKnight, @mcps Interim Superintendent, gets support from two former board members who say "She is the right person for this time" and say she should be hired to the spot for the next four years "effective immediately"
— Kate Ryan (@KateRyanWTOP) January 17, 2022
At its Dec. 2 business meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved a modified school calendar for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year.
MCPS recognizes that teacher planning time is critical for the preparation of meaningful and engaging lessons for students each day. To support this, three early release days have been added to this school year’s calendar to allow for important work time for staff. Wednesday, Jan. 12; Thursday, March 24; and Wednesday, May 18, 2022 are now early release days for both traditional and innovative calendar schools. MCPS is piloting a variety of out-of-school time opportunities with community partners to provide engaging activities for students during the afternoons on early release days.
The district is also adding systemwide closures during winter break on Dec. 23 and Dec. 27 through Dec. 30, 2021, as well as during spring break on April 13 and April 14, 2022. MCPS facilities will be available for public use, such as childcare and other scheduled events, through the Montgomery County Office of Community Use of Public Facilities (CUPF).
In alignment with the federal and state holiday recognizing Juneteenth, MCPS will also add a systemwide closure on Monday, June 20, 2022.
These changes maintain 181 days of instruction and keep the last day of school on June 15, 2022. It is important to note that MCPS will still exceed the minimum number of hours of instruction required by the state. At the elementary school level, MCPS will exceed the minimum number of required hours by more than 60 hours. At the middle school level, MCPS will exceed the minimum number of required hours by more than 120 hours. At the high school level, MCPS will still exceed the minimum number of required hours by more than 30 hours.
The Board of Education invites you to participate in a virtual town hall to share your thoughts on what characteristics are essential for the next superintendent.
Focus Questions
- What are the strengths of the district and the greater community that will attract new leaders?
- What are the challenges the next leader will face?
- What are the personal and professional characteristics you would like to see in the district’s next superintendent?
- Is there anyone you know who possesses the desired characteristics needed to be the next superintendent?
Connection Information:
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://mcpstv-org.zoom.us/j/89265741902
Or iPhone one-tap : 3017158592,,89265741902#
Or Telephone: 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 892 6574 1902
Interpretation available for: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and American Sign Language
More information here.
Working in partnership with the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA), the Board is committed to hiring the best person to lead our school system as we prepare students for success in college and career.
The search will be guided by the Board’s core values, strategic priorities, and desired characteristics gathered this year from input by stakeholders in Montgomery County.
hey The Board will be gathering input from the community on the critical characteristics of the next superintendent in a number of ways. There is a survey, virtual town halls, interviews, and focus groups with a broad spectrum of community leaders. All of the information gathered will inform the selection of the next superintendent.
The Montgomery County Board of Education invites you to participate in a virtual town hall to share your thoughts on what characteristics are essential for the next superintendent.
The first virtual town hall will take place on Saturday, October 30th at 10am. Two more virtual town halls will take place on Thursday, November 4th and Wednesday, November 10th (both at 7pm).
Zoom information for all meetings available at the end of this article.
Focus Questions
- What are the strengths of the district and the greater community that will attract new leaders?
- What are the challenges the next leader will face?
- What are the personal and professional characteristics you would like to see in the district’s next superintendent?
- Is there anyone you know who possesses the desired characteristics needed to be the next superintendent?
MCPS recently announced a “national search for the next superintendent of schools.” Below is their announcement:
“The Montgomery County Board of Education is pleased to announce the national search for the next superintendent of schools for Montgomery County Public Schools, who will begin serving on July 1, 2022.
Working in partnership with the search firm of Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates (HYA), the Board is committed to hiring the best person to lead our school system as we prepare students for success in college and career.
The search will be guided by the Board’s core values, strategic priorities, and desired characteristics gathered this year from input by stakeholders in Montgomery County.
The Board will be gathering input from the community on the critical characteristics of the next superintendent in a number of ways. There is a survey, virtual town halls, interviews, and focus groups with a broad spectrum of community leaders. All of the information gathered will inform the selection of the next superintendent.”
The job listing can be seen here.
Saturday, October 30, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Connection Information: Zoom link
Meeting ID: 869 5853 3882
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,86958533882#
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592
Interpretation available for: Spanish, Portuguese, and Amharic
Thursday, November 4, 2021, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Connection Information: Zoom link
Meeting ID: 869 5853 3882
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,86958533882#
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592
Interpretation available for: Spanish, Mandarin, French, and American Sign Language
Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Connection Information: Zoom link
Meeting ID: 869 5853 3882
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,86958533882#
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592
Interpretation available for: Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, and American Sign Language
The Board of Education will hold its business meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021. Closed session will begin at 12:00 p.m. Public agenda items will begin at 2:30 p.m.
The meeting will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 34, Verizon Channel 36, and RCN channel 89. The meeting can also be viewed on the MCPS website at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org
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).
AGENDA
1. Closed Session Approval – 12:00 p.m.
1.1 Acknowledgement of a Quorum
1.2 REVISED Resolution for Today’s Closed Session
2. Opening of Meeting – 2:30 p.m.
2.1 Approval of the Agenda
3. Human Resources and Development – 2:31 p.m.
3.1 Recommended Appointments
4. Recognitions – 2:40 p.m.
4.1 National School Bus Safety Week
4.2 National Native American Heritage Month and Day
4.3 National School Psychology Week
5. Public Comments – 2:50 p.m.
5.1 Katie Yuan, InnovateX
5.2 Rodney Peele, Montgomery County Council of PTAs
5.3 Deborah Berger, Luxmanor Citizens Association
5.4 Angelina Xu
5.5 Kara McNulty
5.6 Kelly Speck
5.7 Dawn Iannaco-Hahn
5.8 David Zhou
5.9 Julie Saxon
5.10 Philip German
5.11 Roby Fields
5.12 Hana Frank
5.13 Matthew Casertano, Jet Wu, Arya Palan, Konchok Shonu, and Emmanuel Odim, Blair Financial Literacy Club
5.14 Noah Pinson, Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association
5.15 Ruhama Endishaw
5.16 Nareen Othman
5.17 Camila Shiva
5.18 Vaishnavi Banda
5.19 Mohammad Shazeb
5.20 Laura Vaughan
6. Items of Discussion/Action – 3:50 p.m.
6.1 Recommendation to Approve Cost-of-Living Adjustment, Step and Longevity Increases, and Recruitment and Retention Incentives for Montgomery County Public Schools Bargaining Unit Employees
6.2 General Wage Adjustment for Positions Not on Salary Schedule
7. Item of Discussion – 4:05 p.m.
7.1 Regulation KLA-RA, Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public
8. Facilities and Boundaries Work Session – 4:35 p.m.
8.1 Supplemental A—Interim Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Gaithersburg Cluster Elementary School #8 Boundary Study (oral discussion)
8.2 Supplemental B—Interim Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Bethesda, Somerset, and Westbrook Elementary Schools Boundary Study (oral discussion)
9. Recess – 5:35 p.m.
10. Item of Discussion – 6:15 p.m.
10.1 Mitigating Learning Disruption
11. Item of Discussion – 7:15 p.m.
11.1 2022–2023 School Year Calendar
12. Consent Items – 8:15 p.m.
12.1 Procurement Contracts of $25,000 or More
12.2 Contract Approval for RFP 9145.1, Fresh Produce—Extension
12.3 Utilization of the Fiscal Year 2022 Provision for Future Supported Projects
12.4 Appointment to Defined Contribution Investment Committee—403(b)/457(b) Retirement Savings Plan
13. Board of Education Items – 8:25 p.m.
13.1 Future Closed Session Resolution
13.2 Report of Previous Closed Session
13.3 Minutes for the October 18, 2021, Meeting REVISED
13.4 Previous New Business
13.5 New Business
14. Informational Summary – 8:27 p.m.
14.1 Informational Summary for the October 5, 2021, Meeting
15. Adjournment – 8:30 p.m.
The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on October 5, 2021.
Per MCPS:
During the meeting, the Board received an update on reopening schools; took action on the 2021 Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated Strategic Plan; received an update regarding Board of Education Strategic Plan; took action regarding options for Board election districts; amended COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate resolution; approved preliminary construction plans; made an administrative appointment; and took action on new business items.
The agenda for the meeting, as well as links to related materials and the meeting recording, can be viewed on the Board website.
Reopening Schools Update
The Board received an update on the reopening of schools that included information about plans for instruction when students must quarantine, contingency planning to mitigate learning disruption should the state of Maryland require virtual or hybrid learning, and how the pandemic has impacted enrollment of international students.
Elementary Regional QuaranTEAMs will allow students in quarantine access to live instruction in math and literacy on a daily basis in a regional model. This model was launched on October 1, 2021, and will continue to be revised as Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) develops a model for secondary students.
Administration also shared contingency instructional plans, should they be needed. A shift to a systemwide contingency instructional model only would occur if the school system is ordered to do so by state government officials. Contingency instructional models may vary based on school level and grade level; select student groups will be prioritized for full-time in-person instruction, irrespective of a move to contingency instruction.
The Board also received an update on the work in the International Admissions and Enrollment office. Staff shared the historical work of this office and discussed how and why the work has increased and changed the past two years, as well as how applications will be processed in a timely fashion.
View the PowerPoint Presentation.
2021 Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated Strategic Plan
This year, the Maryland State Department of Education is returning to full submissions of local school system consolidated strategic plans and requiring school systems to use an equity lens to identify disparities and the response to those disparities. As a result of the lack of state assessment data during the pandemic, local school systems were asked to develop a plan based on their local assessment data in the 2020-2021 school year. The Local ESSA Consolidated Strategic Plan includes an Annual Update, Executive Summary, Summarizes progress MCPS is making in accelerating student performance and eliminating the achievement gap, section on areas of focus, a needs assessment (describes processes used to determine areas of focus through an equity lens); and updates on the federal programs. The Board approved MCPS’ final submission of the 2021 Every Student Succeeds Act Consolidated Strategic Plan.
Read the memorandum to the Board.
View the PowerPoint presentation.
Board of Education Strategic Plan
The Board received an update on the development of the Fiscal Year 2022–2025 Board of Education Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan represents MCPS’ continued commitment to its core values: Learning, Relationships, Respect, Excellence, and Equity. In addition to the continuation of the six strategic priorities identified for the Fiscal Year 2018–2021 Strategic Plan, it was decided to add a seventh priority of students’ social emotional needs. This priority was added in direct response to the complexities that have impacted our students and families as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read the memorandum to the Board.
View the PowerPoint presentation.
Board Election Districts
The boundaries of the five Board districts in Montgomery County must be redrawn after each decennial census to bring the districts into conformance with the requirement that each district shall be “substantially equal in population,” in accordance with Section 3-901(a)(2) of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. During the upcoming legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly must redraw the districts so that they are in place for the June 2022 primary election and the November 2022 general election.
The Board recommended Option B, which is a slight modification from the current map. This option uses the pre-existing Board election district lines with some modifications to bring the district populations closer to the target population. The modifications consist of District 2 annexing portions of District 3, and District 5 annexing portions of District 4. The Board voted that Option B be submitted as its preferred redistricting plan to the county’s state legislative delegation for incorporation into a local bill to be introduced in the next session of the Maryland General Assembly.
Read the memorandum to the Board.
View the PowerPoint presentation.
Preliminary Plans Presentation—Silver Spring International Middle School Addition Project
The Board approved the preliminary plans report for the Silver Spring International Middle School Addition project, developed by RRMM Architects, P.C. Plans were developed based on the educational specifications prepared by MCPS. Through a series of public work sessions, several design options were developed and evaluated. The proposed plans presented were reviewed and subsequently modified in accordance with recommendations and suggestions received during the schematic design work sessions.
Read the memorandum to the Board.
New Business Items
The Board amended its resolution on staff mandates so that the deadlines for all MCPS staff to provide COVID-19 vaccination verification were extended. Verification that the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination has been received must be submitted by October 15, 2021, and verification of the second dose must be submitted no later than November 15, 2021 (as applicable), unless staff request an exemption based on a medical reason documented by a medical doctor. If a medical exemption is granted, the employee must submit to regular COVID-19 testing as required by MCPS.
The Board also brought forward a resolution to direct the interim superintendent to explore the possibility of identifying and offering a .5 credit financial literacy course, that will be required for all students beginning with students entering Grade 9 for the 2023-2024 school year (class of 2028) and that the interim superintendent provide a report to the Board about the feasibility of this requirement no later than January 2022. This will be revisited at the next meeting.
Appointment
The Board of Education approved the appointment of Ryvell D. Fitzpatrick, currently assistant ombudsman for public education, Office of the Ombudsman for Public Education, District of Columbia State Board of Education, as ombudsperson, Office of the Board of Education.
Future Meetings
The Board is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. The Board will meet in person. The agenda is subject to change. Please check the Board of Education website and meeting calendar for further information.
Individuals who live in Board of Education District 3 in Montgomery County are invited to apply for the vacancy created by the passing of Mrs. Patricia O’Neill in September.
Per MCPS:
The appointment of an individual to complete the remaining year of the current term will be made by the Board of Education. The appointment process includes a review of submitted applications, personal interviews, voter registration verification, and confirmation of district residency. The Board intends to interview selected candidates on or about November 30, 2021, and complete the appointment process shortly thereafter.
By law, the individual chosen must be a registered voter of Montgomery County and reside within Board of Education District 3, which encompasses parts of Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Kensington, and Potomac. The specific precincts that comprise the district can be found in Section 3-901(f)(3)(vii) of the Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The boundaries of the district also can be identified by calling the Board of Elections at 240-770-8500. An individual who is subject to the authority of the Board of Education, such as an employee of the school system, may not serve as a member of the Board.
Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on November 5, 2021. For additional information about the position, please call Ms. Lori-Christina Webb, the Board of Education’s chief of staff, at 240-740-3030. Individuals are requested to mail, hand deliver or e-mail the documents to the Board of Education. The mailing address is 850 Hungerford Drive, Room 123, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications submitted via email may be sent to [email protected]. The names and correspondence of all applicants will be available for public review.
Individuals wishing to be considered for appointment must submit the following:
- A signed letter expressing the applicant’s desire and willingness to serve on the Board of Education as the District 3 representative with a term ending in November 2022, and a statement regarding the applicant’s understanding of the substantial workload and time commitment;
- A brief record of the applicant’s personal history and relevant civic, professional, and other experience (a resume will suffice);
- A statement certifying that the applicant is a registered voter of Montgomery County and resides in District 3; and
- Contact information including e-mail addresses and telephone numbers where the applicant can be reached.
The Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) held a business meeting on September 21, 2021. During the meeting, the Board shared remembrances of Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, Board member since 1998, who passed away on September 14, 2021; approved several recognitions; and discussed the Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) Equity Accountability Model and the Evidence of Learning Framework.
Per MCPS:
The agenda for the meeting, with links to related materials, can be viewed on the Board of Education website. Watch the meeting recording.
Remembrances of Mrs. Patricia O’Neill
Board members and MCPS staff paid tribute to Mrs. O’Neill and shared fond memories of her time on the Board of Education. Many recognized the depth and breadth of institutional knowledge that Mrs. O’Neill brought to her work with the Board in her commitment to the students and staff of MCPS. An official declaration was presented to the O’Neill family and a video remembrance was shared. The video can be viewed here.
MCPS’ Equity Accountability Model and the Evidence of Learning Framework
MCPS staff shared the 2020–2021 Evidence of Learning (EOL) end-of-year performance data for students in Grades 2, 5, 8, and 11. These 2020–2021 data represent the first full-year view of academic performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Evidence of Learning Framework employs a multiple measures approach designed to help us answer the questions: Are our children learning and are they learning enough? The staff report included the following:
- A review of Evidence of Learning data from 2018–2019 and 2020–2021 revealing the effect of virtual and hybrid learning in key areas of literacy and mathematics.
- Information concerning the college and career readiness of students from the 2020–2021 school year, including the overall success of students by student demographics.
- The school improvement planning process.
- A focus on literacy and mathematics.
- The use of assessments to inform changes in instructional practices.
- The acceleration of learning that focuses on the mastery of grade-level content.
- Providing tutoring resources and student instructional interventions.
- Providing necessary professional development for staff.
This work represents key strategies and tactics necessary to support students returning to in-person learning in a continuing COVID-19 environment.
Read the memorandum to the Board.
View the PowerPoint presentation.
Recognitions
The Board approved resolutions in recognition of the following:
- Walk to School Day
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Maryland Family Engagement Month
- National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Future Meetings
The Board is scheduled to hold its next business meeting on Tuesday, October 5, 2021. The Board will meet in person. The agenda is subject to change. Please check the Board of Education website and meeting calendar for further information.
