Board of Education Meeting: March 11, 2008

Watch Meeting by Agenda Item

• Click on agenda item
• Click on Watch Now button to view video of that item
• Summary will appear if available
• To hide summary, click agenda item again

Full Agenda (PDF)

Approval of the Agenda

Public Comments

Recommended Positions on Education Legislation

Board/Superintendent Comments

Tentative Approval of Policy EEA, Student Transportation

The Board tentatively approved revised Policy EEA, Student Transportation, which establishes the operational standards of student transportation services, including eligibility criteria. The policy was reviewed with input from principals, parents, the MCCPTA, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Changes eliminate regulatory language, clarify the appeals process, and update language to reflect changes in federal laws that affect transportation options for students.

Recognition of Educators Who Earned Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in 2007

The Board recognized 74 MCPS educators who are among 229 National Board Certificated Teachers (NBCTs) in Maryland meeting the rigorous certification requirements this year. With a total of 363 NBCTs, MCPS ranks among the top 20 school districts in the nation for the number of NBCTs employed. MCPS provides a number of supports to NBCT candidates with the goal of substantially increasing the number of nationally certified teachers in schools throughout MCPS, particularly in schools highly impacted by poverty.

Final Action on Policy HDD

The Board took final action on Policy HDD, Designation of the Montgomery County Association of Administrative and Supervisory Personnel as Exclusive Representative of Noncertificated Supervisory Employees. The policy was approved following an opportunity for public comment.

Consent Items

Human Resources

Monthly Financial Report

Preliminary Plans Presentations

The Board approved preliminary plans for the modernization of Cresthaven Elementary School and for additions to Takoma Park and East Silver Spring elementary schools.

FY 2009 Fees for Summer School and Evening High School Programs

The Board approved the increase of full fees for the revenue-based summer school courses by $10 and by $5 for the reduced fee amount. Fees remain the same for summer school minimal fee-based courses and regional evening high school programs.

Programs to Support Student Achievement

The Board discussed three outstanding and innovative programs that support student achievement.

Rock View Elementary School’s Closing the Gap Initiative, with flexible groupings for reading and math, is helping close the gap between African American and Hispanic students, when compared with their white and Asian peers. In addition to closely monitoring every student, all students are placed in temporary and flexible groups according to reading and math ability. Students are moved to a group with more challenging coursework as soon as possible and are never moved to a lower- level group.

Rolling Terrace Elementary School is giving extra math support to limited English proficiency (LEP) students. Through the STAR Catchers Program, LEP students get additional support in test-taking strategies and math vocabulary as they relate to the Maryland School Assessment. Students communicate with each other to expand math vocabulary and understanding. They use data notebooks to monitor their own progress on key data points, including goals, daily facts, brief constructed responses, unit quizzes and student attitudes in math as measured by verbal communication.

Robert Frost Middle School is providing individual help to students from every subgroup who need improvement in reading and/or math. Through the MSA One-to-One Advisory Program, teachers, counselors, administrators and parent volunteers meet individually with a student to discuss academic interventions, provide suggestions for improvement, celebrate victories and conduct ongoing discussions.

Universal Preschool Education

The Board reviewed an update on the work of the state task force on Universal Preschool Education, which recommends a voluntary, free universal preschool program by Fiscal Year 2014 to provide a standards-based high quality early care and education to all 4-year-olds in Maryland whose parents request those services. The Board resolved to commit to collaborations with Montgomery County early childhood stakeholders to develop a countywide universal preschool implementation plan.

Kennedy Cluster Project

The Board discussed an update on the current status of the John F. Kennedy High School Cluster Disparities and Performance Project, designed to accelerate progress already under way to significantly improve the academic achievement of African American students. Project teams are collecting and analyzing data to better understand all related issues, identify changes and services that may be needed within schools, and make recommendations to the county government regarding needed coordinated services from county departments and agencies.

Board of Education Items

Items of Information

• Board Meetings & Calendar
• Board Members
• Public Participation