Community Message from Dr. Smith
(Evidence of Learning Framework)

Dear MCPS Community:

All means all.

I’ve talked often about uniting our students with the common thread of literacy, writing and mathematics skills that will give them the opportunity to succeed and options to pursue any path they choose in life. We know, and countless research supports, that these core skills form the foundation of success in all other subject areas and advanced-level work.

To ensure this strong foundation, we must measure student progress; assess school impact based on achievement and progress in student learning; and have a strategic plan to improve outcomes for every student in every schools.

On Monday evening, I presented the Board of Education with an update on student progress through our Evidence of Learning (EOL) Framework—one of the core elements of a multi-faceted strategy MCPS is using to measure, monitor and improve student and school performance. The EOL Framework, which is aligned with rigorous Maryland Common Core State Standards, examines classroom, district and external measures to gauge students’ progress toward being college and career ready. The EOL Framework has been developed and put in place during the last two years and is a first critical piece of the multi-faceted strategy.

These data provide the basis for the essential discussions necessary to improve teaching and learning, and expand access and opportunity for all students.

Additionally, I presented the first MCPS Equity Accountability Model for elementary, middle and high schools. The model provides a baseline for the school system’s achievement and a way to look at the impact of a school specific to the achievement of all students, with an added focus on students receiving Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS) and African American/Black and Hispanic/Latino non-FARMS. Additional components of the Equity Accountability Model will continue to be refined during the coming months and years.

Watch the presentation to the Board of Education

In the coming months, MCPS will communicate more about these efforts and publish the data online. Using the Evidence of Learning Framework, principals, teachers and staff are working closely together to advance innovative learning approaches and monitor the progress of ALL students—from those who need more acceleration to those who are struggling to meet their potential.

At MCPS, we have an unwavering commitment to support each and every student and to move them towards the best possible educational outcomes. This requires the courage to engage in difficult conversations and scrutinize data in new ways, peeling back any layers that might otherwise mask achievement gaps. We must also be prepared to act with meaningful solutions. As superintendent, I intend to use the resources at my disposal to address the challenge head on, and will rely on the efforts of many dedicated educators, an engaged student body and a vested community to get us there. Together, we can make this happen.

Sincerely,

Jack R. Smith, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools