Board of Education Update:
August 21, 2026

At its August 20 meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education adopted its 2027 Legislative Platform, outlining priorities for school funding, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, school construction, educator recruitment and retention, and safe learning environments. The Board also approved the calendar for the 50th Student Member of the Board election, presented by the current SMOB. In preparation for the first day of school, the Board received an update on MCPS facilities and maintenance, highlighting the district’s 211 active educational facilities, $3 billion deferred maintenance backlog, and efforts to strengthen preventive and data-driven maintenance.

Important milestones were celebrated for both the Class of 2026 summer graduates as well as incoming kindergarteners and their families, as they prepare to start their MCPS journey this fall.

Legislative Platform | SMOB Election Calendar | MCPS Facilities and Maintenance | Celebrations | Important Dates |

2027 Legislative Priorities

The Board adopted its 2027 Legislative Platform, establishing its priorities and goals for the upcoming Maryland legislative session and reaffirming its role in advocating for Montgomery County Public Schools.

The platform focuses on adequate and equitable school funding, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, school construction and capital funding, preserving local decision-making, educator recruitment and retention, and safe and supportive learning environments. The Board also identified specific legislative changes related to special education funding, Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) exam costs, local workforce development board collaboration requirements, pre-K paraprofessional credentials, and collaborative time funding.

Finally, the platform calls for renewed state investment in school construction through a potential Built to Learn 2.0 program and additional funding to preserve historic school buildings.

Watch the Presentation of the 2027 Legislative Platform

Calendar Set for the 50th SMOB Election

Student voice remains at the heart of district governance. Following a proposal presented by 49th Student Member of the Board (SMOB) Leul Dawit, the Board officially approved the timeline for electing the next student representative:

• January 4–28, 2027: Candidate Filing Period
• February 10, 2027: Nominating Convention
• February 11 – April 27, 2027: Official Campaign Window
• April 27–28, 2027: General Election

Organized in partnership with MCPS and the Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student Councils, this election gives secondary students districtwide a direct vote in selecting the 50th SMOB.

To explore how student leaders shape policy, visit the MCPS Student Leadership Page.

Board Receives Update on MCPS Facilities and Maintenance

Maintaining safe, functional learning environments across 211 active facilities is no small feat. District leaders presented the FY 2027 Comprehensive Maintenance and Operations Plan, detailing how MCPS manages its 26.5 million square feet of educational space.

With the average school building now 30.1 years old, the district is navigating an estimated $3 billion deferred maintenance backlog and requires approximately $560 million annually to handle routine capital replacement.

Key Takeaways from the Maintenance Report:

• 76,000+ Work Orders: Total maintenance requests addressed during FY 2026 alone.
• Data-Driven Upgrades: Transitioning from reactive fixes to proactive, preventive maintenance by exploring a new computerized work order management system for enhanced tracking and public access.
• Long-Term Strategies: Expanding student apprenticeship opportunities, executing summer capital updates, and boosting energy efficiency across aging facilities.

Watch the August 20 Meeting Segment on Facilities & Maintenance

Celebrations and Recognitions

Summer Graduates 2026

On August 12, 2026, students from across Montgomery County walked the stage as members of the Class of 2026. Grads received their diplomas, shook hands with Board Member Karla Silvestre and Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor, and celebrated this huge milestone alongside family and friends.

Watch the Summer Graduation Highlights on Instagram

Board Member Silvestre highlighted three of the 90 resilient graduates who worked tirelessly to cross the stage: Kaiden Gary (Watkins Mill HS), Keyri Diaz (Sherwood HS), and Cassiy Lynn Carter (Richard Montgomery HS). We could not be prouder of their determination and wish them all the success and luck in the world! Congratulations, Class of 2026!

Special thanks to Dr. Lakeisha Lashley and the Division of Teaching and Learning team, as well as Dr. Shawaan T. Robinson, Principal of Paint Branch High School, for welcoming our graduates and hosting the 2026 summer graduation.

Get Ready for Kindergarten

Board President Grace Rivera-Oven recognized our future kindergarteners as they prepare to start their first school year strong. With more than 9,000 kindergarten students expected to join MCPS this fall, President Rivera-Oven gave a special shout-out to the incoming students at Twinbrook Elementary School, alongside Principal Monica Kellner and school staff.

The Board cannot wait to watch these new kindergarteners grow, and we wish them a journey filled with success, excellence, and joy as they step into our MCPS hallways for the very first time!

Hear the Cubs RAWR

Important MCPS Dates:

Back-to-School Fairs This Saturday: See you Aug. 22 at one of our six regional fairs to kick off the 2026–2027 school year. Families will have direct access to knowledgeable MCPS staff from transportation, technology, special education, multilingual services, mental health and other central offices who can provide support! Find your school; find your fair location:

• Albert Einstein, 9 a.m.–noon (Albert Einstein, Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Montgomery Blair, Northwood, Walt Whitman cluster schools)
• Paint Branch, 9 a.m.–noon (James Hubert Blake, Paint Branch, Sherwood, Springbrook cluster schools)
• Wheaton, 3–6 p.m. (John F. Kennedy, Walter Johnson, Wheaton/Thomas Edison, Charles W. Woodward cluster schools)
• Richard Montgomery, 1–4 p.m. (Winston Churchill, Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Thomas S. Wootton cluster schools)
• Gaithersburg, 9 a.m.–noon (Gaithersburg, Col. Zadok Magruder, Quince Orchard, Watkins Mill cluster schools)
• Seneca Valley, 3–6 p.m. (Clarksburg, Damascus, Northwest, Poolesville, Seneca Valley cluster schools)

Free immunizations will be available at Paint Branch, Gaithersburg and Seneca Valley. Parents/guardians must bring a copy of the child’s current vaccination record to be eligible to receive immunizations. An informational table will be available at Albert Einstein, Wheaton and Richard Montgomery to help families find free immunization resources and locations.

Transition Day: Monday, Aug. 24 is our second annual Transition Day! It is the first full day for students entering kindergarten, 6th grade, 9th grade, plus some third graders and students new to MCPS in any grade. They will meet principals and teachers, tour their school buildings, practice routines, connect with classmates and begin developing a sense of community before the official first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Learn more about Transition Day: English | Spanish

Tuesday Aug. 25 is the First Day of School for all students in all grades. Welcome back!

No Cell, Bell to Bell: MCPS is implementing a new cellphone regulation that will help students stay focused and connected in the classroom. All personal mobile devices will be expected to be put away for all grade levels during the academic day — from the first bell through dismissal. This is expected to result in fewer disruptions, help students stay engaged in learning and keep students safer.

Family-Friendly Calendar: New for 2026-2027, this calendar replaces the traditional month-view calendar with a simplified, more accessible format. It makes it easier to see at a glance when students are in school, have an early release day, plus winter and spring breaks, helping families plan ahead while improving readability for all users, including those with visual impairments.

Upcoming Meetings

• Monday, August 31, Committee on Special Populations (10:00 a.m.)
• Tuesday, September 1, Strategic Planning Committee (10:00 a.m.)
• Tuesday, September 8, Policy Management Committee Meeting (3:00 p.m.)
• Thursday, September 10, Board Work Session (12:00 p.m.)

The Board is offering live simultaneous Spanish interpretation for all monthly Board Business Meetings and Work Sessions on MCPS cable channels and YouTube. Additionally, in-person attendees can request interpretation services for any meeting. Requests must be submitted at least 10 days in advance of the meeting. We’re excited to make our meetings more accessible and keep our community connected!

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