Reminder: Board of Education Seeking Comment on Two Policies

The Board of Education is seeking comment on two policies—IQD, Academic Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities, and a new draft policy, JPH, School Food and Nutrition Programs. Public comment for both policies is open until Friday, Feb. 12, 2021.

The Board is proposing amendments to Board Policy IQD, Academic Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities. As a district committed to nondiscrimination, equity and cultural responsiveness, the Board seeks to balance the state and collegiate expectations with its interest in making extracurricular activities, including interscholastic sports, accessible to as many students as possible. The proposed amendments seek to help more students remain engaged in school activities and consequently enhance their social and academic development. The presentation reviewed by the Board on Nov. 10, 2020, is available here.

Academic eligibility standards for participation in athletic activities are necessary to prepare students for participation in athletic competitions at the statewide level and to prepare them to meet the academic eligibility standards requirements at the collegiate level, should they desire to pursue sports beyond high school.

Academic eligibility requirements for middle school students participating in interscholastic sports are unchanged, and require a 2.0 grade point average with no more than one failing grade in the previous marking period, beginning in the second marking period of middle school.

The Board is also proposing a new draft policy, Board Policy JPH,  School Food and Nutrition Services Programs. The presentation reviewed by the Board on Dec. 3, 2020, is available here.

The new draft policy sets forth guidance regarding the ways in which MCPS is a partner in efforts to address childhood hunger in Montgomery County in order to support students’ ability to learn, grow and maintain health.

The new draft policy establishes principles and strategies to guide efforts to encourage and assist all qualified students to apply for federally-funded Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) while eliminating any stigma attached to, or preventing public identification of, students who qualify for FARMs.

Further, the new draft policy establishes expectations for providing school meals in a cost-effective and efficient manner that includes minimizing the accumulation of unpaid meal charges on students’ school cafeteria accounts, and respectfully yet effectively collecting unpaid school cafeteria charges from the parents/guardians of students.

Public comments may be submitted here.

Policies for Public Comment webpage