(Adopted at General Assembly, March 19, 2008-- MCR formally reviews and adopts its platform every two years.)

(PDF version 3.19.08)

I. Student Member of the Board of Education
MCR supports the position of the Student Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education (SMOB), and believes that the SMOB should have full voting rights on the Board of Education. In addition, MCR understands that the SMOB is not a representative of MCR but of the students and residents of Montgomery County.

II. Weighted Grading
MCR supports weighted grading for advanced level courses and calls for the formalized use of weighted grading (i.e. on report cards, for eligibility). In addition, MCR believes grade weighting should reflect a course’s level of difficulty. MCR believes Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and all other advanced level courses should receive a higher weighting than honors courses that should be weighted higher than regular classes.

III. Advanced Level Courses
MCR supports advanced level courses. We feel that every student should have the opportunity to take advanced level courses. MCR believes the decision to register for such classes should be made by the student with his or her parents and not by a teacher, counselor, or administrator. Additionally, MCR strongly supports a student’s right to decide whether to take or not take Advanced Placement (AP) exams and other optional exams, and opposes administrative pressure on a student to do so. We support financial assistance for students taking AP tests based on the number of exams taken and/or financial need

IV. Alternative Education
MCR supports MCPS providing students with a means for alternative education, including vocational, night, and online courses.

V. Attendance Policy
MCR opposes any policy which links class attendance to grades or course credits.

VI. Extra-Curricular Activities
MCR supports the maintaining of after school and extracurricular activities, and believes that school administrations should be open to working with students in creating new clubs and organizations to better the student body and the relationship with local communities.

VII. Environmental Issues
MCR supports the use of environmentally friendly technology in schools and other county owned properties. MCR support recycling programs within Montgomery County as well as additional funding for the improvement of such programs. MCR encourages the establishment of environmental clubs within schools to raise student awareness. We oppose the use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals on school property. MCR also supports the construction of Green Schools.

VIII. Pledge of Allegiance
In accordance with MCPS Regulation JFA-RA: Student Rights and Responsibility (Section concerning the daily pledge of allegiance, MCR recognizes that students should have the right to not participate in the pledge of allegiance (this includes being able to sit during the pledge, however students are encouraged to stand), as long as this right does not infringe upon another student’s right to recite the pledge.

IX. Diversity
MCR opposes all forms of discrimination against any persons or groups based on their race, gender, socio-economic status, creed, physical or mental condition, culture, religion, sexual orientation or any other basis of discrimination. MCR supports character education programs in every school for both students and faculty. MCR also supports the integration of diversity into course curriculum. Students should have the opportunity to discuss (through the use of study circles or other similar programs) issues of race, ethnicity, culture, and other relevant issues.

X. In–School Discipline
MCR feels that no student or group of students should be punished in school for behavior occurring outside school jurisdiction, regardless of the activities in which the student or group of students may be involved. (This freedom should be extended to the Internet)

XI. Open Lunch
MCR supports the establishment of open lunch in those schools that fit the criteria outlined in MCPS Regulation JEF-RA: Open Lunch in Senior High Schools. MCR also supports the process for which open lunch is granted.

XII. Drivers’ Education
MCR supports the reinstatement of drivers’ education as a semester-long elective into the MCPS curriculum.

XIII. Funding for Students with Special Needs
MCR believes that lawmakers should recognize the need for additional resources for students who have limited English proficiency, or who have disabilities, or economic disadvantages.

XIV. Mental Health
MCR recognizes the need for mental health resources in Montgomery County schools and supports ensuring adequate and accessible mental health professionals for all schools.

XV. Shared Accountability
MCR supports the concept of shared accountability for learning between students, teachers, and administrators. MCR supports the institution of a system for evaluating school performance.

XVI. Students’ Rights
MCR supports all efforts to inform students of their rights and responsibilities in the school system. MCR endorses every student’s right to advocate, and supports their efforts to do so.

XVII. Honor Codes
MCR opposes any Honor Code or other similar document that forces a student to enter into a binding contract without a parent signature. In compliance with MCPS Policy IKA: Grading and Reporting, MCR opposes any such document that is collected for a grade.

XVIII. Student Service Learning
MCR applauds the county’s efforts in teaching students the importance of community service through student service learning (SSL) requirements. However, MCR believes that SSL hours should be granted only if it has met the requirements of Student Service Learning and not simply because hours of community service have been logged.

XIX. Student Representation
MCR supports the inclusion of MCPS students in all municipal, county, and state committees that review policies and regulations regarding student’s rights and responsibilities and all policies and regulations that pertain to the improvement of MCPS.

XX. Healthy Lifestyle
MCR opposes the use of harmful controlled substances by students. We applaud all efforts to educate students about potential dangers of drinking and driving, smoking, and illegal drug use. We support current County and State regulations forbidding illicit drug use and smoking on school grounds, and recommend stronger enforcement of these laws.

XXI. MCR Busing
In order to ensure the diversity and continued existence and success of MCR, we strongly support the continued use of bus transportation to and from MCR General Assembly meetings.

XXII. Differentiating Absences
MCR opposed combining excused and unexcused absences on a student’s transcripts.

Adopted 3/19/08

Updated March 25, 2008| Maintained by Karen Crawford