First IB Primary Years Programme in Maryland at College Gardens Elementary School Provides Global Approach to Learning

Press Conference Also Highlights Record-Setting Kindergarten Reading Scores

A news conference at College Gardens Elementary School on Tuesday, January 29, at 10:30 a.m. will spotlight the global approach to learning under way at the school, home to the first International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme in the state of Maryland and a Chinese language partial immersion program. Once again, kindergarten students have set new reading records and the achievement gap has been virtually eliminated at the Kindergarten level across Montgomery County Public Schools. College Gardens students and staff returned this month to their newly modernized school building after spending two years at the North Lake Center holding facility during the construction process.

Highlights of the news conference, which will be attended by Board of Education President Nancy Navarro and Superintendent Jerry D. Weast, include:

- Announcement of record-setting reading scores in Kindergarten and continued improvement in benchmark reading skills in all racial/ethnic groups.

- Opportunity to see the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in action.

- Opportunity to see the elementary Chinese language partial immersion program in action.

- Opportunity to tour the new $22 million College Gardens Elementary School facility and see young students using the new interactive Promethean boards.