Montgomery County Public Schools

COVID-19 pool testing is beginning across the district on a rolling basis. We must all do our part to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus in our schools. This includes participating in school-provided COVID-19 testing to identify cases where the student or staff member may not be showing symptoms.

High school students can still make adjustments to their schedules or elect to take a course pass/fail until April 23, 2021.

Choose Respect Montgomery’s annual event, RespectFest, is going virtual this year. Students and parents are invited to learn about dating violence and prevention, win prizes, take a yoga class, and earn up to five Student Service Learning (SSL) hours. The festival, which runs from April 18-23, is free.

There will be workshops and activities for middle and high school students, parents and youth-service providers. The kickoff event for this year’s RespectFest will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 18.

MCPS is expanding the number of mobile (school bus) distribution and non-MCPS Grab & Go meal sites. Starting Monday, April 12, meals will be distributed at the Upcounty Early Childhood Center at Emory Grove from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Please visit the meals webpage frequently for the most up-to-date list of sites.

The Board of Education’s Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Committee will meet at 10 a.m. April 15. On the agenda: a discussion about community partnerships and how they support student success, and a discussion about plans for a virtual academy. Watch at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org, youtube.com/MCPSTV or Comcast Channel 34, Verizon FIOS Channel 36 and RCN Channel 89.

The next installment of Let’s Talk Careers is scheduled for 10–11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 28, and will feature speakers from the world of healthcare and community health.

Confirmed guests who will take questions from students include: Travis Gayles, Montgomery County Health Officer and Chief, Public Health Services; Anna Maria Izquierdo-Porrera, executive director and co-founder, Care for Your Health, Inc.; and Ruth Williams-Brinkley, regional president, Mid-Atlantic States, Kaiser Permanente.

Here are five important things you need to know about the March 23 Board of Education discussion on MCPS’ reopening plan and what’s ahead:



1. The Board voted to speed up the current timeline for the return of student groups.

2. Stay safe over spring break and take a COVID-19 test.

3. COVID-19 pool testing for students and staff participating in in-person learning will begin after spring break.

4. MCPS is planning a range of summer programs for elementary, middle and high school students.

5. The MCPS COVID-19 dashboard will help the community keep track of key health metrics and positive cases in our school communities.

The Board of Education has approved a 2021-2022 traditional school year calendar. The school year will begin on Aug. 30, 2021 and end on June 15, 2022 (scenario 1). The Board also voted to approve the Innovative School Year Calendar for Arcola and Roscoe Nix elementary schools.