Board of Education Update:
May 1, 2026

At its April 30 meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved updates to the 2026–2027 school year calendar, adopted the new Amplify Desmos math curriculum, and advanced several curriculum development initiatives to strengthen instruction across grade levels. The Board also voted on the Superintendent’s recommendation to revoke the charter of the M.E.C.C.A. Business Learning Institute (MBLI), adopted stronger background screening requirements for employees, and postponed a decision on student meal price changes. Celebrations included National Volunteer Week and National Student Leadership Week, recognition of state champion teams from Walt Whitman, Quince Orchard, and James Hubert Blake high schools, and updates on the election of the next Student Member of the Board.

2026-2027 Calendar | Policy GCC | Math Curriculum | MBLI Charter | Meal Prices | SMOB 49 | Celebrations

2026–2027 School Year Calendar Amendments

The Board has approved amendments to the 2026–2027 School Year Calendar to align with updated state requirements and support student learning milestones. While the school year will still begin on August 25 (with Transition Day on August 24),several previously scheduled closures have been adjusted to instructional days or early-release days. These updates help preserve summer break while ensuring the school year concludes by June 11, 2027.

These thoughtful changes reflect a continued commitment to academic success and responsiveness to community feedback. Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we plan for a successful year ahead!

View the updated 2026–2027 School Year Calendar here.

Stricter Background Screening (Policy GCC)

The Board voted to adopt Policy GCC, strengthening background screening requirements for all employees, contractors, and volunteers. This policy ensures a more rigorous vetting process to maximize student safety.

Read the final text of Policy GCC.

New Math Curriculum: Amplify Desmos Approved

The Board has officially approved Amplify Desmos as the new districtwide math curriculum for PreK through Integrated Algebra 2. This selection follows an extensive review process involving 164 community and staff representatives. The new curriculum is designed to meet updated MSDE standards by emphasizing conceptual thinking and computational fluency.

The Implementation Timeline:

• 2026–2027: New PreK–Algebra 1 curriculum launches.

• 2027–2028: Transition to the new Integrated Algebra 1 course.

• 2028–2029: Transition to Integrated Algebra 2.

To support this shift, MCPS will provide a "Caregiver Hub" featuring daily video summaries and practice problems to help families support learning at home.

Read the Math Curriculum Approval Presentation.

M.E.C.C.A. Business Learning Institute (MBLI) Charter

The Board of Education has voted on the Superintendent’s recommendation to revoke the charter of the M.E.C.C.A. Business Learning Institute (MBLI), effective June 30, 2026. The vote passed with six members in favor and two opposed.

The majority of the Board cited concerns regarding special education non-compliance and administrative benchmarks that remained unmet despite previous corrective action periods. Following the action to revoke the charter, the Board adopted the Superintendent’s recommended proposed dissolution plan. MCPS leadership will now begin to support the transition of students back to their local neighborhood schools or other alternative programs for the 2026–2027 school year.

As part of this process, the Superintendent will provide regular status updates on the dissolution plan through June 30, 2026.

Watch the Board's final deliberation and vote.

Postponed Student Meal Prices for 2026–2027

No final decision was made regarding the proposed $0.30 increase for student meals. The Board discussed the proposal but determined that it would be best to delay action until there is a clearer understanding of the school system’s overall fiscal landscape and budget outlook.

Next Steps: The Board will revisit the proposal once more complete financial information is available and consider a potential vote at the May business meeting.

Leul Dawit Elected as Next Student Member of the Board

Leul Dawit, a 10th grade student at Northwood High School, has been elected as the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2026-2027 school year. Dawit’s term begins July 1, 2026. Dawit will succeed Anuva Maloo, a senior at Montgomery Blair High School, who will graduate in June. He will be the 49th Student Member of the Board. Read more.

EdTalk: Women Leaders in Education

Catch the newest episode of EdTalk: Women Leaders in Education! In this engaging and honest discussion, Board of Education President Grace Rivera-Oven sits down with Dr. DeRionne Pollard, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, and Karla Silvestre, At-Large Member of the Montgomery County Board of Education. They dive into the influence of women in education leadership, reflect on the obstacles they’ve faced, and highlight why supporting and mentoring future leaders matters more than ever. Watch the episode.

Celebrations and Recognitions

National Volunteer Week

Board Member Julie Yang recognized National Volunteer Week (April 19–25, 2026), honoring the impact of volunteers across the district. Empowering the Ages, led by Leah Bradley, was recognized for supporting students in multiple schools. Honorees included Principal Daniel Walder and Yelica Barrera-Laverde (Diamond Elementary School), Kasey Merrey (Kensington Parkwood Elementary School), Sally Cameron (Northwood High School) and Winona Lennon (Flower Valley Elementary School).

National Student Leadership Week

Student Board Member Anuva Maloo recognized National Student Leadership Week (April 24–30), celebrating student leaders who uplift their school communities. Honorees included Hali Duong, Tracy Espinoza, Thandi Labor and Krish Putta, with special recognition to Ms. Shella Cherry for her leadership of student programs. 

MCPS State Champions

The Board celebrated state champion athletic teams for their outstanding achievements, including the Walt Whitman High School coed wrestling and girls’ basketball teams, the Quince Orchard High School girls’ wrestling team and the James Hubert Blake High School’s boys’ basketball team, recognizing their excellence, teamwork and success. 

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, May 7, Board Work Session (12:00 p.m.)

Thursday, May 14, Board Advisory Committee on Communications and Community Engagement (6:30 p.m)

Tuesday, May 19, Committee on Special Populations (9:00 a.m.)
Fiscal Management Committee (5:30 p.m.)

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