Community Input Sought for School and Cluster Boundary Analysis

Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Board of Education adopted a resolution asking the superintendent to utilize external consultants to conduct an in-depth review and analysis of how existing school and cluster boundaries support or hinder the effective use of school facilities in MCPS. To help gather input from the community regarding the scope of work for the consultants, the framework for the assessment of the district’s school and cluster boundaries, and how the consultants will focus their efforts and analysis, MCPS is hosting four regional community conversations.

These conversations will be held from 7–9 p.m. on the following dates and locations:

• April 4: Quince Orchard High School 15800 Quince Orchard Road, Gaithersburg
• April 10: John F. Kennedy High School 1901 Randolph Road, Silver Spring
• April 11: Earle B. Wood 14615 Bauer Dr., Rockville
• April 23: Walter Johnson High School 6400 Rock Spring Dr., Bethesda

(Please note: No specific boundary recommendations are under consideration. The purpose of the conversations is to obtain feedback to inform the work of the consultants.)

To help us prepare for the event, please RSVP at the following link.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to offer feedback, you can provide input online here.

Special Education Summit Set for April 27

MCPS parents, staff and community members are invited to the sixth annual Special Education Summit, Leading the Way Today, Partnering for a Better Tomorrow. The summit will take place from 8:15 a.m.–1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at Quince Orchard High School, 15800 Quince Orchard Road in Gaithersburg.

The keynote speaker is Lisa Dieker, Ph.D., Pegasus Professor and Lockheed Martin Eminent Scholar Chair, University of Central Florida, College of Community Innovation and Education. Dieker holds a Ph.D. in special education and curriculum and instruction from the University of Illinois. Her research focuses on collaboration between general and special education with a specific interest in the opportunities that exist for students with disabilities in STEM areas. She also has a passion for how technology and simulators can be used to impact teacher preparation and student learning.

The event is free and open to parents/guardians, educators and community partners. Childcare, a light breakfast and interpretation services are provided.
More information

Register to attend

Provide Input at Upcoming County Council Operating Budget Hearings

MCPS parents, staff and community members are invited to share their ideas and views on the importance of fully funding the MCPS operating budget with the Montgomery County Council through emails, letters and testimonials.

The Council will hold five public hearings on April 8, 9 and 10 on Montgomery County’s Fiscal Year 2020 Operating Budget.

County Executive Marc Elrich presented his recommended operating budget to the Council on March 15. The recommendation includes $2.6 billion for Montgomery County Public Schools. The county executive’s recommendation includes a $2.5 million increase above Maintenance of Effort, however, the recommendation is $14.5 million less than the Board of Education’s request. Over the next two months, the Council and its six committees will analyze these recommendations and will adopt the FY20 County budget in late May. The budget will take effect on July 1.

The Council’s public hearings on the operating budget will be held on Monday, April 8 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m.; and on Wednesday, April 10 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. All hearings will be held in the third floor hearing room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave.

The number of speakers for public hearings is limited. Those interested in testifying can sign up online at http://tinyurl.com/hl3mpdx or by calling 240-777-7803.

For residents who speak a language other than English, special arrangements for interpretation services can be made for either those testifying or those attending. Arrangements must be made 72 hours in advance by calling 240-777-7926.

Comments and suggestions are welcome online at http://tinyurl.com/zrbwh5v; via email at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov; by sending regular mail to County Council, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville, MD 20850; or by calling the Council’s budget hotline at 240-777-7802. Also, use the hashtag #MoCoBudget2020 on social media.

Information on the budget can be found at http://tinyurl.com/y9eero5q or by going to the Council’s web page at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council and clicking on “Operating and CIP Budgets.”

Learn more about the Board of Education’s Budget request.

Help Build the Future of MCPS High School Programs

What high school programs should Montgomery County Public Schools offer in the future to best support college and career readiness? Be a part of the future! MCPS wants to hear from you about what type of programs you want made available at your local school and throughout the district. The district will hold the third in a series of community conversations for parents to discuss high school programs. The event will be held on April 8, 2019 at Richard Montgomery High School from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

MCPS to Host Parent Information Nights About Middle School Math and English Language Arts Curriculum

MCPS is beginning the implementation of a three year rollout of new curriculum for elementary and middle English Language Arts (ELA) and Math to support high levels of teaching and learning for all students. Come learn more from MCPS staff and the new curriculum vendors about what will be implemented in our schools. There will be a presentation of both the Math and ELA middle school curriculum and an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

The information nights will take place on the following dates:

• Tuesday, April 9, 2019
  Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  Location: Montgomery Blair High School
• Wednesday, April 10, 2019
  Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  Location: Richard Montgomery High School
• Thursday, April 11, 2019
  Time: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
  Location: Hallie Wells Middle School

For more information and to RSVP, visit this website.  Elementary-level curriculum materials will be presented at three meetings in May.

MCPS Seeking Summer RISE Hosts

Would you like to teach rising MCPS juniors and seniors about your workplace and career field for three weeks this summer as part of the Summer RISE program? MCPS is still seeking hosts in all career fields, but have a particular need for those in health care, engineering, bioscience, law, and information technology.

Summer RISE provides rising MCPS juniors and seniors with career-based learning experiences and helps employers to cultivate a talent pipeline. Summer RISE provides educational learning opportunities and introduces students to career options.

For more information about Summer RISE, April information sessions and how to register as a host, visit the website.

Summer RISE Flyer

Meetings Set to Explain How MCPS Monitors, Reports Student Achievement

Members of the community are invited to join staff from the MCPS Office of School Support and Improvement during a series of community meetings to learn about the MCPS Equity Accountability Model and other strategies the district is using to monitor and report student achievement. The meetings will take place on:

Monday, April 8
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Col. Zadok Magruder High School
Sherwood High School
Damascus High School

Wednesday, April 24
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Paint Branch High School
Watkins Mill High School
Montgomery Blair High School

Monday, May 13
7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Rockville High School
Quince Orchard High School
Springbrook High School

For more information and to RSVP, visit this website.

2019 Special Education Parent Involvement Survey

Parents or guardians of children receiving special education and related services are asked to complete the 2017 Maryland Special Education Parent Involvement Survey over the next few weeks. The information you provide will help guide the state’s efforts in improving special education and related services in public schools. The survey is anonymous and can be completed online. The deadline to complete the survey is May 17.

Special Education Parent Survey

Choose Respect Conference to Examine Teen Dating Violence

The 10th Annual Choose Respect Montgomery Conference will be held on Sunday, April 7, at Richard Montgomery High School. The event, which examines issues surrounding teen dating violence, will include a resource fair from 12:30–1:30 p.m. The conference will also include interactive workshops for students, parents, educators and youth service providers from 1:30–5 p.m.

This conference will examine the issues around dating abuse. One in three teens in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner; this number far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.

Register here.

Discussion to Focus on Building Children’s Mindset … and a Future Workforce

The KID Museum is hosting a community conversation on Future-Proofing the Next Generation. This discussion will bring together industry experts, thought leaders and top educators to discuss the skills, aptitudes and mindset our children will need to succeed in a rapidly changing economy—and how we can build a strong, diverse future workforce.

This event will be held from 7–9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at the KID Museum, 6400 Democracy Blvd. in Bethesda.
Daniel H. Pink is the event moderator. Pink is the author of six books, including New York Times bestsellers, Drive; A Whole New Mind; To Sell is Human; and his newest, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing.

The panelists’ discussion will run from 7–8 p.m. They will take audience questions from 8–8:30 p.m., and further conversation and networking will be held from 8:30–9 p.m.

The panelists will include:

• Jack Smith, MCPS Superintendent, as well as a former classroom teacher, principal, curriculum director and chief academic officer for the Maryland State Department of Education
• Kevin Beverly,President and CEO of Social & Scientific Systems, member of the Universities at Shady Grove Board of Advisors, and on the boards of the Professional Services Council, Montgomery County Community Foundation, Passion for Learning, and Boys and Girls Club of Montgomery County
• Paul Roehrig, Head of Strategy for Cognizant’s Digital Business, former founder and Global Managing Director of Cognizant’s Center for the Future of Work, and co-author of the book, What To Do When Machines Do Everything
• Jean Wallace, Vice President, Workforce Solutions & Intelligence at Lockheed Martin, responsible for strategic workforce planning and HR systems and technology; talent management and professional development; employee experience and engagement; and talent acquisition

RSVP here.

MCPS Youth Invited to Audition for MoCo’s Got Talent Show

Calling all talented youth! Do you know a child who likes to dance, sing or recite poetry?

All MCPS middle and high school students are invited to audition for the sixth annual MoCo’s Got Talent show which will be held on Sunday, June 9, at The Fillmore, 8656 Colesville Road in Silver Spring.

Participants are asked to register to audition in advance at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org, using one of the activity numbers listed below. Drop-ins are also welcome. Auditions are being held at various locations throughout the county on the dates listed below.

• April 5, North Potomac Recreation Center, 5-9 p.m., 65742
• April 12, East County Recreation Center, 5-9 p.m., 65744
• April 19, Upper County Recreation Center, 5-9 p.m., 65745
• April 26, Longwood Recreation Center, 5-9 p.m., 65746
• April 27, Gaithersburg Olde Towne Youth Center, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 65852
• May 3, Lawton Recreation Center, 5-9 p.m., 65854

There are four talent categories: Musicians (which includes bands or those who play musical instruments), Vocalists (which includes singers, theater performances or poetry recitations), Dance and Visual Arts. Students may register as individuals or in groups. All members must meet the eligibility requirements.

MoCo’s Got Talent serves as a platform for creative expression, inspiring young people to share their passions and reach high. The competition aims to promote the importance of the arts in the lives of youth with the hope of keeping the arts thriving across Montgomery County.

For more information, call 240-777-8080.