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Board of Education → Committees → Strategic Planning Committee

Board of Education

Strategic Planning Committee

Members

 

Meeting Information

 

Planning for Tomorrow: Developing the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan

The strategic plan is a detailed guide for our school system. It explains the district’s vision, mission, goals, and the steps needed to reach them. For MCPS, this plan is essential for making decisions, deciding how to use resources, and creating policies. It helps everyone involved stay on the same page and gives clear direction for improving education, engaging the community, and tackling new challenges. The strategic plan is not fixed; it changes as the district’s needs change, showing both what is happening now and what the district hopes to achieve in the future.

Every five years, the Montgomery County Board of Education re-examines the district’s strategic plan that guides the work of Montgomery County Public Schools. The current MCPS Strategic Plan is in its fourth and final year. This means, work is underway to develop a Strategic Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-2030.

The 2026-2030 Strategic Plan webpage will launch in late October. 

Board of Education’s Role 

The Board is charged with providing leadership and oversight for the district - which makes strategic planning a foundational component of the Board’s work. 

The Strategic Planning Committee works closely with the superintendent to provide initial recommendations on the strategic direction and priorities for MCPS. The Committee’s role in the strategic planning process includes:

  • Long-Range Visioning: Analyzing the district's environment to identify opportunities and challenges, allowing them to pinpoint important strategic issues that need to be addressed.
  • Performance Monitoring: Reviewing objectives and goals to track progress on the strategic plan. 
  • Communication and Outreach: Managing communication efforts to engage with the community and stakeholders throughout the strategic planning process.

2026-2030 Strategic Planning - Phase 1 (Complete)

What happened during Phase 1 of the strategic planning process?

In Phase 1, a diverse group of people who care about the school system and student success were brought together to give input on six important questions. This phase was key to creating a strong and inclusive planning process.

Who was involved in Phase 1?

In addition to their governance role, the Board of Education offered their input on system needs and priorities and their vision for future success.

  • Representatives from the three unions provided valuable perspectives on workforce needs, professional development, and contractual considerations.
  • Leaders from offices and departments shared their knowledge about operational challenges, resource management, and departmental goals.
  • Community advocacy groups shared their views on community needs, equity issues, and areas for potential policy improvement.
  • The voices of student leaders were crucial in understanding how district policies and practices directly affect their educational experiences and results. 
  • County government representatives shared their thoughts on regional priorities, funding opportunities, and partnership projects that could help the district reach its goals.
  • Leaders from institutions of higher learning offered views on college readiness, partnerships for advanced coursework, and pathways for continuing education.
  • Local business leaders gave their thoughts on workforce development, career readiness programs, and ways for the community to work together to better connect the district's educational outcomes with local economic needs.

What did we learn in Phase 1?

We’ll find out at the October 22 Board of Education business meeting. Join us in person, or watch live!

 

Committee Description

On July 16, 2013, the Board of Education adopted Resolution No. 397-13, which revised the charge of the Strategic Planning Committee to the following:

a. Working closely with the superintendent, the committee provides initial recommendations regarding the strategic direction and priorities of MCPS (long-range visioning). The committee will be responsible for undertaking a forward-looking analysis for the direction of the system, i.e., complete active and ongoing review of MCPS' environment for opportunities and challenges so that the committee can identify emergent strategic issues that are not currently addressed and recommend these to the full Board.

b. Review objectives and goals to measure progress toward achieving the goals outlined in the strategic plan (performance monitoring). While it would remain the responsibility of the full Board to review student outcomes on the indicators included in the strategic plan, the committee would undertake greater in-depth study at the full board's direction in drilling down areas identified for further study. (It was suggested that a monitoring calendar be developed for interim reports to the full Board with in-depth indicators.)

c. Develop and recommend legislative strategies to the Board.

d. Strategic communication and outreach. 

Resolution 152-08

On September 8, 1994, the Board of Education established a Subcommittee on Long-Range Planning.  On September 12, 1995, the Board of Education changed the name to the Subcommittee on Long-Range and Strategic Planning.  On November 9, 2004, the Board changed the name to the Strategic Planning Committee during final action of Policy AEB – Long Range Planning.  

The Strategic Planning Committee is comprised of three members of the Board, appointed in December of each year. It develops effective approaches to long-range planning for the school system's instructional and support functions. According to its mission statement, it "shall be an advocate for and play a leadership role in long-range planning and shall promote a long-term commitment to keeping all school system stakeholders involved and informed." 

It was established by Board of Education Resolution No. 838-94 

Text of Resolution No. 838-94 

On recommendation of the superintendent and on motion of Mr. Ewing seconded by Ms. Gutierrez, the following resolution was adopted unanimously:

WHEREAS, On September 8, 1994, the Board of Education established the Subcommittee on Long-range Planning and formed a temporary subcommittee to develop a draft statement of the charter and mission of the Subcommittee; and WHEREAS, On November 21, 1994, the temporary subcommittee submitted a draft statement of the composition, mission, and charge as an item of information and requested that this be scheduled for future Board action; now therefore be it

Resolved, That the following statement of the composition, mission, and charge of the Subcommittee on Long-range Planning be adopted: 

COMPOSITION

The Subcommittee on Long-range Planning shall be comprised of three members of the Board, appointed in December of each year. One member shall be appointed for a one-year term, one for a two-year term, and one for a three-year term, by majority vote of the Board.   

The Board shall annually name the chairperson of the Subcommittee. The chairperson shaII have the responsibility for establishing meeting dates as appropriate, and for developing agendas for meetings after consultation with other members of the committee.The Subcommittee shall report to the Board of Education at least twice a year on its pro proposed recommendations.The superintendent or his designee shall attend all meetings of the Subcommittee.The Subcommittee's meetings shall be open to the public and conducted in accord with the laws and regulations governing public meetings. 

MISSION

The Subcommittee on Long-range Planning shall have as its mission the development of effective approaches to long-range planning for the school system's instructional and support functions. It shall be an advocate for and play a leadership role in long-range planning and shall promote a long-term commitment to keeping all school system stakeholders involved and informed.    

CHARGE
The Subcommittee shall have as its responsibilities:
  • To provide a forum for considering the direction of the school system as a whole institution and for developing system 
  • To review and evaluate approaches to long-range planning and related management improvement and organization development practices in both public and private sector organizations. To recommend ways to implement appropriate planning and management innovations, to include necessary steps to build leadership, management, and staff commitment and skills.
  • To make recommendations to the Board concerning strategic planning and the development and updating of a strategic plan for MCPS including recommendations as to definitions, process, format, content, and timelines.
  • To review MCPS policies, existing and proposed, to assess their impact on strategic planning efforts.
  • To solicit ideas and suggestions for long-range planning initiatives from sources external to Montgomery County as well as sources within the county, including the general public, business and community groups and organizations, parents, PTAs, employee organizations, staff, and elected officials.
  • To review and analyze, with the help of the superintendent and school system staff, reports and recommendations for long-range planning initiatives from sources both external to and within the county.
  • To review proposed policies and actions recommended by the superintendent or proposed changes to existing policies, to further long-range planning.
  • To recommend a process by which the Board can provide ongoing leadership and advocacy for long-range planning, including methods for involving all those with a stake in the future of the school system.
  • To recommend a process for informing and educating the public, elected officials, and MCPS staff on long-range planning, including strategic planning, and it goals.

2024-25 Annual Work Plan

September 23, 2024 
  • FY24 Academic Excellence Data
  • Early Alert System Follow-Up
  • FY26-30 Strategic Planning Development Overview
December 10, 2024
  • K-3 Literacy Project: Student Support and Family Engagement
  • FY26-30 Strategic Planning Update
February 13, 2025 
  • FY26-30 Strategic Planning Update - Phase 3 Progress Update
April 29, 2025 
  • FY26-30 Strategic Plannign Update - Phase 3 and 4 Progress Update

View the complete annual plan (pdf).