Thanks to all who participated in yesterday’s meeting. Here are the notes–135 people registered.

We are especially grateful to our guest speakers Katrina Feldkamp, Michaele Turnage Young, Dr Margaret Cage, Sheila Berlinger, Jen Loznak, Carla Britt, Kelly Bean, Dr Nina Ashford, Niki Hazel, and Jennifer Strouble.

The video and the presentations are available using the links below.

Also, the CHAT and follow-up summary are below .

• AGENDA with Presentations (click here or image below)
• Video of the meeting (click here or image below)
• CHAT (click here)
•  The Parents’ Council/MCPS took over 2100 students on Field Trips to the National Museum of African American History and Culture for Black History Month.  Huge THANK YOU! to all that participated and helped expand access to more students!
• MCPS & Statewide Math Performance is Poor – Policies and Practices are slated to change. Improving Literacy and Math are Our Top Priorities – Parents must get involved!
• Update on Measles and Youth Substance Abuse from our County Chief Public Health Services- Free Vaccines are available!
• MCPS is undergoing a Mega-Boundary Study ( potentially impacting attendance at 50 of 68 Middle & High schools) and a districtwide Programs Review. Public Information meetings begin in April.
• Updates on 2025 Summer School Programs
  Application Deadlines for Regional/Countywide Programs are approaching
  K-12 Regional/Countywide Program Key Dates:

• • Rising Grades K-5
    • Elementary Language  Immersion Admission Process is open online.  Due date to appy is April 11.
    • Central Review for current Grade 3 students
    • This is an identification process for enriched literacy in Grade 4
    • Results in the mail and ParentVUE on or about 3/26/2025
  • Rising Grade 6
    • Middle School Magnet Consortium Lottery results
    • Round 2 results recently mailed and as vacancies open up, families may receive an email for a seat in an MSMC school
    • Regional Magnets (Humanities and Communication; Math, Science and Computer Science)
    • Level 2 appeal deadline just occurred
    • Invitations to vacant seats will happen by email. This will occur until all seats are filled and up to the week of school starting.
  • High School- Rising Grade 9-12
    • Full and part time programs
    • Level 2 appeal deadline just occurred for criteria-based programs
    • Invitations to vacant seats will happen by email. This will occur until all seats are filled and up to the week of school starting.

1. Parents interested in the Education Law Center’s efforts to address Department of Education dismantling to respond to Byron’s poll for follow-up.
2. Anyone in MoCo impacted by Federal EO & actions can check out Council’s informational resource series
3. MoCo K-12 students seeking Homework Help can attend program 8a-12p, Saturday 22March at Rockville Memorial Library
4. Dr. Margaret Cage to work with Chief of Staff on budget meeting and staffing plans for special education.
5. Sheila Berlinger and math team to host next Math curriculum night at Watkins Mill High School on Wednesday 26March at 6:30 PM.
6.  Public comments to MSDE’s Draft Math Policy version 2 can be provided before the next State Board of Education meeting on Tuesday 25 March.
7. Parents’ Council and MCPS to have a local screening of the documentary ‘Counted Out!’ in April
8. Parents to check Maryland MyIR Mobile for vaccination status of themselves and their children.
9. Niki Hazel to collect names of parents interested in joining the program analysis committee, especially from East County.
10. Parents are invited to attend virtual and in-person boundary study informational meetings 6-8pm April 2nd, 7th, 8th, or 9^th
11. High school students/parents to communicate with school counselors about summer school registration for original credit courses.
12. Parents to use the help form on the MCPS Summer School website for questions about summer programming.
13. Contact Byron Johns if you have corporate sponsors for the Parents’ Council to attend the May 18th, Branch Freedom Fund Gala
14. The next Parents’ Council virtual meeting is with the MCPS Board of Education 6:30pm, Wednesday 30 April2025 (note: the date has changed). Here is the link to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0qdeGoqD4pE9aLT2sFRTAFIwGguj02g0q1

The presentations and video should be shared with your school communities!

Cheers!