Montgomery County Public Schools

The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold an all-day business meeting on Tues., Jan. 9. Due to weather conditions, the meeting will now begin at 12 p.m., with public agenda items starting at 1:15 p.m. The meeting will be broadcast live on Comcast Channel 34, Verizon Channel 36, RCN Channel 88, and online.

Montgomery County Public Schools continues to lead the state in the number of educators awarded certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. A total of 478 MCPS educators have achieved National Board Certification while teaching in MCPS. To earn certification, candidates undergo a rigorous assessment of their teaching portfolios, student work samples, and videotapes of classroom teaching.

An exhibition of Montgomery Blair senior Julie Zhu’s oil paintings, including a self-portrait and a portrait of her father, was held recently at the Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery at Glen Echo Park. Zhu is Montgomery County’s only Presidential Scholars candidate in the arts and the only candidate in the state named in both the academic and arts components of the program. There are 15 MCPS candidates for the prestigious award.

The MCPS Districtwide Boundary Analysis is an initiative designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of Montgomery County Public School boundaries. As part of this assessment, a series of regional public meetings will be held in six locations around the county in December and January. All residents of Montgomery County are invited to attend to learn more about the Boundary Analysis process. The dates and locations of upcoming meetings are as follows: January 14 at Northwest High School and January 23 at Walter Johnson High School.



Each meeting will have the same format and content and participants will have an opportunity to share feedback during roundtable discussions.

Board of Education president Shebra Evans and Superintendent Jack Smith have sent a letter to the community to clarify misconceptions related to the MCPS Districtwide Boundary Analysis currently underway.  The goal of the districtwide boundary analysis is to help MCPS better understand the impact existing boundaries have on school overcrowding, student diversity and proximity to school. MCPS did not request and will not accept any recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignment. The Board and MCPS will use the data and research in the report to inform future boundary studies.

Superintendent Jack Smith is recommending a $2.8 billion operating budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 that will allow the district to manage significant growth and ensure that students have the access and opportunity they need to meet their full potential. The recommended operating budget for FY 2021 is a $121 million (4.5 percent) increase over FY 2020.

The Montgomery County Board of Education will hold a closed session meeting today Dec. 16. Due to emergency weather conditions the meeting time has changed to 10:15 a.m.

The Board of Education has adopted the school year for the 2020-2021 school year. The school year will begin on Monday, August 31, 2020, and the last day is scheduled for Wednesday, June 16, 2021. The calendar includes 182 days of instruction; a 10-day spring break; closures for planning and professional development; one operational closure in September; and two additional professional days in the second semester.