Quick recap
This was the NAACP Montgomery County Branch Parents Council meeting, where representatives discussed various educational topics and concerns. The meeting covered several key areas including the Supreme Court case involving MCPS admissions policy, upcoming school closures and consolidations, the November 3rd election, and Remembrance and Reconciliation Month programming. Jeannie provided updates on secondary regional and countywide programs, including middle school magnet consortium applications and high school center program admissions, while reporting that only 898 out of 12,000 grade 8 families had completed high school possibility process forms. Stephanie Brandt and Nikki Porter presented on the new Amplify Desmos Math curriculum implementation, addressing parent concerns about homework inconsistency, lack of feedback, and equity gaps between schools. Parents raised significant issues about the new math curriculum, including insufficient homework resources, unclear guidance for supporting neurodiverse students, and inconsistent implementation across schools. The meeting also covered third grade retention policies and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), with Nikki explaining that MSDE is moving forward with literacy requirements and that early diagnosis through DIBELS assessments is critical for identifying students who may need retention consideration. The session concluded with a discussion about bullying and safety concerns, particularly regarding African American students at Julius West Middle School based on Maryland School Survey data.
Action Items/Next Steps
Byron
- Send out the slide deck, including the video, slides, and chat information, to all attendees by tonight or tomorrow.
- Follow up with Jeryl regarding the Maryland School Survey data on bullying and physical safety for African American and Asian students at Julius West Middle School and coordinate with the Chief of Schools Office to pull similar data for other middle schools.
- Share the link to the district-wide MAP data (OSA report) in the chat/notes for parents.
Jeannie
- Share the Zoom link for the middle school rep meeting on Monday (7:00–8:00 PM) with Byron to be included in the notes.
- Follow up with the academic coordinator for the animation program regarding whether students at a specific school can access the program without applying to the center.
Libby
- Resend the field trip administrative guideline/communication (dated September 24th) to any principals who claim they did not receive it.
Niki Porter
- Work with the team to develop a more consistent, district-wide approach to homework and provide hard-copy resources for students.
- Ensure the “good cause exemption” language from the state retention policy is embedded into MCPS policy and shared with the Parents Council.
Stephanie Brant
- Follow up with parents (including Takita) regarding the use of MCLASS math data for personalized learning plans.
- Provide more information/updates on the math evening webinar scheduled for November 9th.
Tracy
- Put the link to the social studies curriculum webpage in the chat.
Follow up with the transportation office to determine if MCPS buses can be used for field trips on Saturdays.
Middle School PC Reps
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Let’s chat: Questions about the High School possibility process and Center programs…join me!
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Monday 10/26 by Zoom, 7-8 pm ET
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Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 825 3433 2183
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Passcode: 535159
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Summary
NAACP Education Policy Updates Meeting
Byron led a meeting of the NAACP Montgomery County Branch Parents Council, discussing several key topics including the Supreme Court case involving MCPS’s magnet Middle School admissions policy, upcoming school closures and consolidations, and the November 3rd election. Tracy Oliver-Gary, the Pre-K-12 Social Studies Supervisor, provided updates on Remembrance and Reconciliation Month lessons focusing on urban renewal’s impact on historic African American communities, with three community webinars planned for November. Jeannie Franklin presented information about secondary regional and countywide programs, including updates on middle school magnet consortium applications and high school possibility process completion rates, with 898 out of 12,000 expected families having submitted their plans so far.
Immersion Programs and New Initiatives
Jeannie explained that immersion programs will continue with no plans to discontinue them, and students in Center for Enriched Studies programs will undergo a reassessment of data for lottery placement. She clarified that there are six visual art criteria programs, one in each region, and no interest-based visual art programs available. The team discussed plans for a new science, math, and computer science program at Springbrook HS in the Eastern Region, following a similar blueprint to the Blair program, with academic coordinators and program metrics to ensure quality across regions.
NMAAHC Field Trips Program Updates
The meeting focused on the National Museum of African American History and Culture field trips program. Libby presented updates on the new improved Google form process for schools to apply, noting that 15 schools are currently approved and that schools must secure their own transportation and tickets. Tracy shared a new curriculum connection spreadsheet she created to help schools identify where African American history is taught across different grade levels, with 4th and 5th grades being particularly appropriate for museum visits. The discussion revealed that various grade levels from elementary through middle school have participated in past trips, with some schools choosing specific grades like 3rd and 4th grade for progressive learning experiences.
Field Trip Planning and Logistics
The meeting focused on field trip planning and logistics using a new grant. Libby explained that schools need to coordinate with testing schedules when planning trips, as field trips cannot occur during testing periods. The group discussed transportation options, with Libby clarifying that MCPS transportation is preferred over charter buses due to cost considerations and grant funding constraints. Byron emphasized that principals received detailed communication about the field trip program in September, and Libby confirmed that schools can work with their cafeterias to prepare bagged lunches for trips.
Math/ELA Curricular Products and Implementation Updates
Stephanie Brant presented an overview of the new curricular products being implemented, including Amplify Desmos Math for Pre-K through Algebra 1 and CKLA curriculum for elementary and secondary students. She explained the MCLAS Math assessment, which is new for elementary students and provides ongoing data tied directly to the curriculum, and introduced Math and ELA Boost as a computerized program for personalized learning. Takita shared specific challenges as a parent of neurodiverse children, expressing frustration with the lack of guidance in the caregiver hub and the difficulty in using MCLASS results to create personalized plans. Stephanie announced a math webinar for families on November 9th – details to follow.
Homework Implementation Strategy Discussion
Elma raised concerns about inconsistent implementation of homework policies across schools and highlighted an equity gap in the rollout of resources, emphasizing the need for immediate support and interventions for schools with limited resources.
Stephanie Brant and Niki Porter addressed parent concerns about homework implementation, explaining that they are working to systematize resources and create a consistent district-wide approach starting in the second marking period. and committed to developing a more immediate solution for homework resources. Niki confirmed she had discussed the issue with Dr. Taylor and would provide updates soon.
MCPS Classroom Implementation Updates
Stephanie Brant reported that MCPS has been observing classroom implementation of cluster grouping and talking with teachers, with some schools finding success while others need support. The team discussed plans to implement an anonymous teacher feedback mechanism and shared that M-Class Math results will be included in a new quarterly student profile to be uploaded to ParentVUE at the end of the first marking period. Parents raised concerns about inconsistent homework practices across classrooms, the need for timely communication of results, and the importance of having test data accessible in ParentVUE rather than requiring requests to counselors.
Homework Feedback System Challenges
The meeting focused on challenges with homework and assessment feedback in the school system. Parents raised concerns about the lack of timely feedback on assignments, with some noting that students receive scores but no explanation of what needs improvement. Stephanie Brant acknowledged these issues and committed to discussing them with the Office of Shared Accountability and technology team. The discussion also covered peer review practices in classrooms and the need for more consistent assessment methods, particularly for students with learning disabilities. Parents expressed frustration about receiving ungraded homework and the difficulty of understanding what needs reinforcement at home.
Math and ELA Implementation Concerns
The meeting focused on concerns about math and ELA implementation, particularly regarding peer-to-peer work and curriculum alignment. Marie Harvey raised issues about seventh-grade students not having access to M-Class Math due to limited Boost availability, while Stephanie Brant clarified that seventh graders currently use IXL instead. Marie Owens expressed concerns about peer grading and social dynamics in group work, while Chasya noted that group work sometimes creates unconventional math approaches without proper scaffolding. Dorothea shared her experience as a confused parent and questioned the data collection methods for teacher feedback, which Stephanie Brant addressed by explaining their multi-faceted approach including walkthrough tools, implementation tools, and student achievement data.
Third Grade Retention Policy Updates
Niki provided an update on third grade retention policies, explaining that MSDE is implementing a literacy policy focusing on early diagnosis of reading skills through DIBELS assessments and multi-tiered systems of support. The district will communicate with families about student progress and potential retention considerations by mid-year, with state assessments determining final decisions.
Other
Jeryl raised concerns about bullying and physical safety issues affecting African-American students at Julius West Middle School based on Maryland School Survey data, which Byron agreed to follow up on with the Chief of Schools Office.
