Board of Education Elects New Officers

Members of the Montgomery County Board of Education elected Julie Yang to serve as president today, Dec. 5. Grace Rivera-Oven was elected vice president. Both officers will serve a one-year term. The election of officers occurs each year during the first business meeting of December.

New Board Members Sworn In Earlier This Week

Three new Board members were sworn in by Montgomery County Clerk of Court Karen Bushell. Laura Stewart, District 4, Natalie Zimmerman, District 2, and Rita Montoya, At-Large, were sworn in on Dec. 2. All three were elected in November.

Dr. Taylor's Vision for MCPS Progress 

Superintendent Dr. Thomas W. Taylor outlined a strategic roadmap for progress before the Board of Education on Dec. 5, after nearly six months of stakeholder engagement as part of his Entry Plan as the new superintendent.

Why it matters: The Entry Plan Report, built on Engagement, Evaluation and Empowerment, acknowledges key concerns from the community across the district, such as safety, morale, equity and instructional challenges, and identifies action-needed priorities, such as literacy and math improvement, special education support, emerging multilingual support, and safety and security.

The big picture: These insights will help inform the district's new strategic plan, which is in development, and the superintendent’s upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 Recommended Operating Budget, which includes a focus on fundamentals and a school support framework that emphasizes equity and excellence.

What’s next: Dr. Taylor notes that advancing strategic priorities will have to be done in a constrained fiscal environment. The budget will focus on reallocating resources, reducing bureaucracy and investing in infrastructure to directly support schools as the engine for student academic success.

Tune in Live Dec. 18 to the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget Presentation 

Dr. Taylor will present his recommended Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. The public is invited to watch the presentation live on the MCPS website or on the MCPS-TV YouTube channel.

Board Approves 2025-2026 School Calendar

The Board of Education has approved the traditional and innovative school year calendars for the 2025-2026 school year.

Key Highlights

• Student Transition Day Introduced: Scheduled for Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, this new non-instructional full day is designed to support students transitioning to new school levels or schools by fostering a sense of belonging and preparedness.

• Traditional Calendar Overview:

• First day of school: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025.

• Last day of school: Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

• Includes 181 instructional days, with six contingency days built in.

• Key holidays and breaks align with state requirements, including Labor Day, Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks, and other observances.

• Innovative Calendar for Arcola Elementary:

• Features 206 instructional days, beginning July 8, 2025, with an extended break in August.

• Aligns with the traditional calendar for holidays and closures, while incorporating additional instructional days and unique scheduling features.

See the calendars.

2023-2024 Annual Report Now Available

The Annual Report to the Community for the 2023–2024 school year is now available.

The report provides the community with information about the district—student performance data, operational performance data, and steps the district has taken to fulfill the vision and mission of MCPS.

Included in the annual report are:

• Highlights from the 2023-2024 school year.

• An at-a-glance look at MCPS demographics.

• Data on student performance, graduation, programs and workforce.

• Progress on the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and areas of focus for the Strategic Plan.

• Information on MCPS’ operating and capital budgets.

The annual report is available here.

Annual Used Car, Computer Sale Coming Dec. 14

Students in the Montgomery County Students Automotive Trades Foundation (ATF) and Information Technology Foundation (ITF) will sell used cars and computers they have refurbished from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, at Gaithersburg High School. The school is located at 101 Education Blvd. in Gaithersburg (Use the Summit Avenue entrance; sales will occur in the auto shops).

The cars and computers are reconditioned by the students as part of their classroom and lab studies. The sales provide students with the opportunity to practice their sales skills, earn Student Service Learning hours and develop a deeper appreciation for community involvement.

The ATF is still seeking car donations, which will help high school students learn how to evaluate, repair and restore used cars. The ATF generally accepts donations by appointment year-round, between 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday through Friday at Damascus, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley high schools and at Thomas Edison High School of Technology. Donations are tax deductible. Email Mike Snyder or call 240-740-2050 for more information.

Automotive Trades Foundation
Information Technology Foundation

County Hosting Free Community Resource Fair
on Dec. 8

Montgomery County is hosting a free community resource fair from 1–4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Executive Office Building in Rockville. The United in Service and Support Community Resource Fair will provide residents with a range of information about public health and wellness, including reproductive rights, job skills training and contracting, and available resources for residents to understand their rights. In anticipation of changes coming at the federal level, Montgomery County is committed to ensuring that all residents have access to information about essential community services.

If you are a resource provider or community partner in Montgomery County interested in joining the fair, email Lucia Jimenez.

The resource fair will be held in the Executive Office Building cafeteria, 101 Monroe Street in Rockville. The building is accessible by bus and Metro service. The Rockville Station on Metro’s Red Line is the nearest stop. 

Educational Foundation Offering Scholarships to High School Seniors

High school seniors who plan to pursue higher education are encouraged to apply for student scholarships and awards given by the MCPS Educational Foundation.

The primary goal for the foundation’s scholarships and awards is to fund students who are passionate about pursuing educational goals, but face opportunity gaps in achieving those goals.

Visit the website to learn more about the opportunities and eligibility. Applications are open now through Friday, Jan. 24, 2025.

For questions, send an email here or call 240-740-3216.

Apply for Financial Aid with FAFSA and MHEC One-App

High school seniors: if you’re planning to attend college, don’t miss out on financial aid opportunities! Apply for both federal and state aid by June 20, 2025.

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal grants, loans and work-study programs at studentaid.gov. For Maryland state scholarships, grants and loan repayment programs offered through the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), including support for undocumented students, families can create a profile on MDCAPS and submit the MHEC One-App.

For more details, visit Federal Student Aid,  MHEC Financial Aid Descriptions and MHEC One-App.

SSL Hours Due Jan. 3, 2025

Students who have completed Student Service Learning (SSL) hours since June 1, 2024, should submit the required SSL Activity Verification Form to their school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of Jan. 3, 2025, but no later than the final required deadline of May 30, 2025.

All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. Winter break is a wonderful time for students to participate in SSL opportunities. To learn more, click here. Translated versions can be found here.

Students may also access their SSL record, forms, guidelines and other resources at the MCPS SSL Hub for Students/Families.

Helping to Keep Children with Autism Safe

Pathfinders For Autism is offering a Safety Kit with resources and safety measures for families and caregivers who have children with autism spectrum disorders. The Safety Kits can be found here. This website is packed with tips on topics such as what to do if your child wanders away from home or school, is resistant to first responder calls for help and guidance for calling 911.

Pathfinders for Autism, Safety Kits
MD Autism Coalition, call 911
MD Autism Coalition, call 911, Spanish
MD Autism Coalition, call 911, Mandarin Chinese
MD Autism Coalition, call 911, Korean
MD Autism Coalition, call 911, Amharic

Celebrating Latin Dance

Supported by MCPS, the 24th Annual After School Dance Fund Baila4Life Latin Dance Competition was a spectacular display of talent and passion as hundreds of Montgomery County high school students gathered at The Music Center at Strathmore for a day filled with rhythm, energy and dance. Read more and check out the photo gallery.