Things to Know

Stay Connected to Your Student’s Learning

As we approach the end of the marking period, a critical part of student success is two-way communication between school and home.

There are several ways to receive communication on student performance:

• Report cards, issued at the end of each marking period.

• Interim reports, issued between the fourth and sixth weeks of the marking period.

• Teacher phone calls and emails.

• Parent/Caregiver–Teacher conferences.

The best way to stay informed on grades, assignments and teacher feedback is through ParentVUE.  

To ensure there are no surprises regarding your student's performance, parents can expect:

• Direct Outreach: If your student’s performance drops after the interim report, teachers will reach out by phone, email or text.

• Timely Documentation: Teachers will reach out if there are missing assignments.

Summer School: More Opportunities, More Access, More Support

Changes are coming to this year’s summer school programs. MCPS will implement a four-day week (8 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Monday–Thursday) to provide consistency for families, maximize instructional time and allow Friday for planning, professional learning, curriculum setup and transportation adjustments. Read more.

Now You Know: End of Second Quarter — Check Your Progress

The second marking period wraps up on Friday, Jan. 23, so now is a great time for students to check in on their progress. It’s important that students complete their work on time; late work will not be accepted during the final week of the marking period. Read more. 

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Board of Education Requests Public Comments on Three Policies

The Board of Education is seeking comments on proposed amendments to Policy IGS, Emerging Technologies in Education, to update guiding principles for integrating emerging technologies, such as generative artificial intelligence, into MCPS operations and instruction. The policy has been available for comment since Oct. 27, 2025; comments are due by Monday, Jan. 26. 

The Board is also seeking comments on Policy BFA, Policysetting, to update and clarify how policies and regulations are developed and made available to the public, and Policy GCC, Background Screening of MCPS Employees, Candidates for MCPS Employment, Contractors, and Volunteers, to consolidate into an umbrella document the requirements for fingerprint-based checks of national and state crime information databases and additional safety measures. Policies BFA and GCC have been available for comment since Jan. 10, and comments are due by Saturday, Jan. 31.

Review the draft policy language and submit comments.

SMOB Candidate Filing Period Now Open

Students interested in running for Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) can file nominations through 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29. To run for SMOB, students must be enrolled in an MCPS high school, a current Grade 10 or Grade 11 student, and a resident of Montgomery County.

Nomination forms can be found on pages 41-43 of the SMOB Election Protocols.Completed forms should be scanned and emailed to Shella Cherry, director of Student Leadership and Activities.

SMOB Election webpage

Reminder: Nominations Open for Service to Education

The Board of Education is accepting nominations for its 2026 Awards for Distinguished Service to Public Education. Awards will be presented for:

• Business Partner

• Community Partner

• School Service Volunteer

• Student Service Award

Nominations will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Monday, March 9. Nominations may be submitted in English or Spanish.

MLK Celebration to Feature Free Concert

Make plans to join Montgomery County’s 31st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance and Birthday Celebration starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18. The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. The event is free; reserve tickets. 

More information

History Day Competition Looking for Judges

Calling community members and would-be historians: middle and high school students need your help! The 2026 Montgomery County History Day competition is coming up on Saturday, March 7.

If you are at least 18 years old, consider volunteering as a judge to evaluate student work. Students will present research in one of five categories: exhibits, performances, documentaries, websites or papers. Judges evaluate entries based on historical quality and effectiveness of presentation. Judges are trained on a Zoom session before the event. Prior experience is not necessary.

The event is from 8 a.m.–2 p.m. on March 7 at Sligo Middle School, 1401 Dennis Avenue in Silver Spring.

For questions, email Kelli Champagne and Abbie Lamb.

NAACP Awarding Scholarships to Graduating Seniors

The Montgomery County branch of the NAACP is awarding $1,000 scholarships to MCPS graduating seniors. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 6. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or above, participate in extracurricular activities, participate in faith-based, religious-based or volunteer activities, and submit a 300-word essay addressing the theme, “Unfinished Business: Reclaiming Our Rights Restoring Our Power.”

More information
Apply.

Scholarships will be presented during the annual Freedom Fund Dinner on Sunday, May 17.

Honoring Holocaust Remembrance Day With a Survivor’s Story

In commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, MCPS is hosting a Zoom webinar from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 29. The speaker will be Holocaust survivor Peter Feigl. Students can earn 1 Student Service Learning hour for attending. Register.

Watkins Mill Cluster Job Fair Invites Local Organizations to Participate

Watkins Mill Elementary School is hosting a Community Schools Job Fair for families, caregivers and community members in the Watkins Mill cluster from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 25. This event will connect families with local employers, job training programs and workforce resources. The fair is seeking organizations, employers and programs who wish to participate. 

Interest Form
Watkins Mill Cluster Job Fair

PEP Offering Free Virtual Classes for Parents and Caregivers

The Parent Encouragement Program (PEP) is offering free support to parents and caregivers this winter. The online eight-week PEP Family Resiliency Program helps families strengthen connections, support children’s mental health and promote school success. Participants who attend at least five sessions and complete the evaluation earn a $50 gift card. Sessions begin the first week in February and are offered in English, Spanish and Amharic. Register.

For questions or trouble accessing the form, call 301-929-8824 or send an email.

Councilmember to Hold Listening Sessions on MCPS Operating Budget

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando will hold listening sessions on the MCPS operating budget. Jawando is chair of the council’s Education and Culture Committee.

Save the dates: Tuesday, Feb. 3 (on Zoom); Wednesday, March 4 and Wednesday, March 11. 

More information, including times and locations, will be announced soon. 

Summer RISE Student Registration Now Open

Student registration for Summer RISE 2026 is open until Tuesday, Feb. 17. 

Summer RISE offers a hands-on, career-based learning experience with businesses, government agencies, higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations. The program is open to high school sophomores and juniors, who will be matched with career hosts based on their industry preferences for a minimum of 50 hours of in-person, virtual or hybrid opportunities from June 22–July 24.

To learn more, join a Student & Parent/Guardian Information Session or visit the Summer RISE webpage. Host registration is also open until Friday, March 13.

Be sure to check out these other student opportunities: 

• HBCU Fair: Register for this event, 6-8:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13 at The Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. If MCPS has an early release or closure due to inclement weather, this event will be moved to a virtual format. More information coming soon.

• C-SPAN StudentCam Competition: Students in 6th through 12th grades are invited to create a video documentary on a topic that relates to the competition theme, “Exploring the American Story through the Declaration of Independence.” Top prize is $5,000. Deadline: Tuesday, Jan. 20.

• Arts and Humanities Awards: Student awards are available for visual artists and for writers. Open to high school juniors. Winners receive a cash prize, a mentorship and a chance to showcase their work. Deadline: Friday, Jan. 23.

• Black History Oratory Contest: This essay contest is open to 9th–12th grade students. Twenty finalists will be invited to read their essays in front of a live audience for prize money. Deadline: Sunday Jan. 25.

• Next Generation Leadership Day: This event is a day of workshops for 4th and 5th graders. Seeking secondary students to create workshops and to be presenters/mentors at the event on Saturday, April 11. Apply to create a workshop by Friday, Feb. 13. Apply to present a workshop by Monday, March 9.

• Choose Respect Video Contest: Open to middle and high school students, this contest challenges teens to create an original video promoting awareness of dating violence/abuse among teens. Videos can be in English or Spanish. Top prize is $1,000. Deadline: Sunday, Feb. 15.

• Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest: This year’s theme is “What Is Humanity?” Students must be in high school to participate. Deadline: Friday, Feb. 20.

• Montgomery County Science Fair: From 11:45 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturday, March 22 at FDA Building 75, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring. 

• Keeping It Safe Video Contest: Open to middle and high school students, the contest invites students to create a 30-second video on the risks and dangers of under 21 alcohol use. Deadline: Tuesday, March 31.

• Sustainability Poster Contest: All students and staff can participate in this annual contest to increase awareness of energy conservation, waste reduction and responsible recycling. Check out the new digital art category! Deadline: Friday, April 3.

MoCo Summer Camp Registration Opens Jan. 20

Montgomery County registration for summer camps kicks off at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20. Check out the offerings in the Summer Camp Guide. Applications are now being accepted for 2026 Rec Assist, which will offer eligible county residents the opportunity to receive a scholarship.

The Latest from the News Page

• Shine Bright!: On Jan.9, Diamond Elementary School marked its 2025-2026 Maryland Blue Ribbon Award with a school celebration. 

• Mentorship for Life: At Benjamin Banneker MS, programs like Goal Setting Girls and Boys 2 Men help students build confidence, relationships and real-life skills that go beyond the classroom.