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Steering Committee - Mission & Action

Mission Statement

The Middle School Reform Steering Committee provides leadership for the Middle School Reform Initiative by formulating a comprehensive plan that increases and sustains student achievement. This plan will produce a rigorous and challenging middle school education program that improves teaching and learning, promotes continuous improvement in all middle schools, and ensures that all students are prepared for rigorous high school standards. There will be a specific focus on addressing the achievement gap of African American and Hispanic students, English language learners, students with disabilities, and students impacted by poverty.

Action Plan

The Steering Committee will establish seven project teams, confirm the teams’ membership, provide direction and feedback to the teams, monitor their work, and make decisions regarding the teams’ recommendations. Also, the Steering Committee will prepare a draft comprehensive plan for middle school reform that will include strategies and initiatives that effectively meet the diverse needs of middle school students and prepare them for the advanced study of high school, post-secondary education, and the world of work. It also will include a communication framework designed to facilitate both internal and external communication and to solicit stakeholder input and feedback. Decisions will be reached through consensus. Although every effort will be made to reach consensus, if an impasse is reached, the members will defer to the judgment of the three deputies. The proposed middle school reform plan will be presented to the superintendent of schools for recommendation to the Board of Education. The seven project teams are organized under the following research-based reform elements:

  1. Leadership and Professional Development
  2. Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
  3. Extended Learning Opportunities
  4. Technology
  5. Organizational Structure
  6. Human Resources
  7. Parent and Community Engagement/Communication

The development of the plan requires extensive collaboration among all administrative offices, school-based representatives, and parent and community stakeholders. Consequently, the Steering Committee is chaired by the three deputies and composed of the following members: the deputy superintendent of schools, the chief operating officer, the deputy superintendent for information and organizational systems, the chief school performance officer, the chief of staff, the director of the department of communications, and the associate superintendents. In addition to the above-listed executive staff members, the presidents of the Montgomery County Education Association, the Service Employees International Union-SEIU Local 500, and the Montgomery County Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel; the acting director of middle school instruction and achievement; a supporting services staff member; a middle school principal; a teacher; Montgomery County Council of Parent Teacher Association parent representatives; and students also are members of the Steering Committee.

Updated February 27, 2006 | Maintained by Webmaster