Virtual Summer Adventures Now Open to Students

Throughout the summer, MCPS elementary, middle and high schools are offering a variety of virtual program experiences. The district has added Summer Adventures On Your Own, self-paced activities and enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students. These activities cover STEM, field trips, physical education and mindfulness. They can be accessed via myMCPS classroom. Through the end of summer, students can work on these fun activities whenever they want, wherever they are, for as long as they want!

The courses are available here.

Student Leaders Offering Free Tutoring to High Schoolers

Do you know a high school student needing help with science, English, social studies or a foreign language this summer?

Beginning Monday, August 3, Youth Creating Change (YCC) and the Minority Scholars Program (MSP) are teaming up to offer a free virtual summer tutoring program for students who need help in these subjects. The tutors are student leaders in MCPS who are hosting weekly recurring Zoom meetings. Students and staff can access the Zoom meetings here.

Update on Athletics and Extracurricular Activities for the Fall and Winter

On July 21, after careful review and consultation with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, MCPS announced the cancellation of in-person fall and winter sports and extracurricular activities for the first semester of the 2020¬–2021 school year. These programs provide valuable and enriching experiences for our students and we know that this announcement was very disappointing for many of our families, students and staff. After further review, we are providing an update on the status of these activities, including fine arts, for the upcoming school year.  

MCPS Athletics, Fine Arts, Student Leadership and Extracurricular Activities will be conducting engaging virtual programs for students throughout the first semester. During the second semester, pending approval and guidance from  state and County health officials, our hope is to be able to offer in-person activities and programs for Athletics, Fine Arts, and Extracurricular Activities. Details regarding all extracurricular program offerings, including plans for reenvisioned sports’ seasons, are being finalized and will be included with the MCPS Recovery Plan and shared at the next Montgomery County Board of Education meeting on August 6, 2020.  

Visit the Athletics webpage for the most up-to-date information. 

Anti-Racist e-Books and Audiobooks Available for MCPS Students/Staff to Borrow Without Wait Time

As part of its ongoing commitment to equity and excellence, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) students and staff can access anti-racist e-books and audiobooks through the Sora app, MCPS’ digital eBook and audiobook platform from OverDrive, without any wait time until September.  

The following titles are available without hold time:

• “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram X. Kendi (Elementary)
• “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry (Elementary)
• “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson (Elementary)
• “The Lions of Little Rock” by Kristin Levine (Elementary/Middle)
• “A Good Kind of Trouble” by Lisa Moore Ramée (Elementary/Middle)
• “Clean Getaway” by Nic Stone (Elementary/Middle)
• “We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices” edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson (Middle)
• “I Can’t Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street” by Matt Taibbi (High)
• “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone (High)
• “I’m Not Dying with You Tonight” by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal (High)

MCPS is working to interrupt bias and expand learning opportunities so that all students feel valued and learn at their full potential. As part of those efforts, an anti-racist system audit will focus on evaluating the current climate at MCPS, identifying the needs and recommending actions required to combat racism.

Provide School Supplies for Students in Need

More than 61,000 MCPS students receive free & reduced-price meals and many families struggle to afford basic necessities like school supplies. Now more than ever, more students are going to need help accessing school supplies.

Students are having to adjust to a remote learning environment and it is critical to offer the resources and materials that provide ALL students with the opportunity to thrive academically.

The annual Give BACKpacks campaign is pivoting this year to respond to the needs of our students. For just $10, you can provide a student in need with supplies for virtual learning, which could include, paper, crayons, pencils/pens, white boards, dry erase markers, and more.

Not all students have the materials needed to learn at home.  Your donation will help provide students with the necessary supplies to engage successfully in their lessons.

Read the Frequently Asked Questions about MCPS Give Backpacks.

August 29 SAT Administration Canceled

Based on the current guidance and in coordination with surrounding peer districts, the August 29 SAT administration was cancelled in MCPS facilities.  Moving forward, we are working closely with the College Board and local health officials to provide opportunities for fall 2020 test administrations, if/when conditions allow.  This will includes potential opportunities for school day testing in September/October; potential SAT Saturday administrations on September 26, October 3, November 7, and December 5; and fall ACT administrations. Please note that these test administrations will depend on decisions by local health officials as it relates to COVID-19 and school operations, and availability of staff. We will continue to work on these plans and will publish information for the community before registration deadlines for the testing dates noted above.

To help students during the summer and into the fall, College Board and Khan Academy®® will continue to provide free resources online, including full-length practice tests and personalized learning tools.

Comment Period for Policy JEE Extended to September 1

The Montgomery County Board of Education is proposing amendments to Board Policy JEE, Student Transfers, and is seeking public comment on the amendments. While the Board’s current focus is primarily on the challenge of reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year, and the Board knows that reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year is also among the highest level of concern for students and parents, it is important that work impacting future school years continue to move forward as well. Therefore, the Board is extending the public comment period for Policy JEE until September 1, 2020, in preparation for the Board taking final action on Policy JEE in the fall. This will enable MCPS to implement the policy for the 2021-2022 school year.

After the public comment period that occurred from November 12, 2019 through December 19, 2019, revisions were made to the draft policy (highlighted in the Policy Draft for Public Comment dated February 18, 2020) to address comments received by the Board during that public comment period; and, the public was invited to review the policy again. The draft was released for public comment a second time subsequent to the February 18, 2020, Policy Management Committee meeting and that opportunity to comment has remained open while schools have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights of the Board’s amendments include the following topics:  

•       unique hardships that may qualify students for transfers based on family circumstances; 
•       extenuating circumstances related to the medical, emotional or social well-being of a student; 
•       child care needs may be considered a unique hardship for a transfer, but the circumstances related must be extremely significant for students beyond the elementary level; 
•       clarification of the provision for receiving a transfer based on a sibling’s school of attendance, and definition of siblings; 
•       clarification of transfers for family moves within the school year are granted for the remainder of the school year; 
•       conditions for approving transfers of eligible children of staff members; 
•       academic transfers for high school students; 
•       consideration of school underutilization in granting a COSA; and
•       adjustments to make reapplication procedures more consistent for students on approved transfers transitioning from elementary-to-middle school or middle-to-high school.

Board Policy JEE is now available for public comment.

Latest Waymaking Episode Highlights Summer Recreational Activities

The latest episode of “MCPS Waymaking” features a discussion on summer recreational activities. The video series, available to staff, students and the community, is hosted by Dr. Christina Conolly, director of psychological services for MCPS.

This episode features a discussion with Dr. Cara Grant, supervisor of Prekindergarten–Grade 12 health and physical education for MCPS, and Robin Riley, director of the Montgomery County Recreation Department. Dr. Conolly and her guests discuss summertime opportunities for youth, the importance of physical activity, and ways to stay resilient.

 Watch it here.

All “Waymaking” episodes can be found here.