A press conference will be held on Monday, September 25, at 2:00 p.m. to review and discuss the details of three new studies that found student underachievement in the Montgomery County Public Schools is more closely related to the absence of a consistently implemented curriculum and the impact of ineffective teaching and instructional leadership than previously realized.

The studies bolster systemwide efforts to pursue a more rigorous mathematics program. The press conference will feature the superintendent of schools, the lead investigator of an independent external audit, and other researchers and staff involved in the studies. Details about plans for implementing improvements in the curriculum and classroom instructional practices will also be discussed.

In addition, the Board of Education will be reviewing the same studies at a meeting that evening beginning at 8:00 p.m. in the Board meeting room. Both events are open to the public.

What: Press Conference

When: Monday, September 25, 2000 at 2:00 p.m.

Where: Carver Educational Services Center Auditorium, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville

Materials: The studies and the superintendent's report will be available in paper form beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 25, 2000, in the CESC auditorium. The entire set of documents are available now as PDF files through the MCPS website at the web link listed below.