Board of Education Update:
September 25, 2026

At its September 24 Board Business Meeting, the Montgomery County Board of Education (Board) took action on proposed updates to three Board policies related to student wellness, appeals and hearings, and school-sponsored travel. The Board also recognized National Arts in Education Week and celebrated the students, teachers, and administrators at James Hubert Blake High School for their contributions to arts education.

Policy JPG: Wellness | Policy BLB: Appeals and Hearings | Policy IPD: Field Trips and Student Travel | National Arts in Education Week

Updates to Student Wellness Policy

The Board approved technical amendments to Policy JPG – Wellness: Physical and Nutritional Health.

The amendments bring the policy into alignment with Maryland law, which requires school systems to develop guidelines to reduce the risk of student exposure to food allergens. The updates also reflect the current responsible office within Montgomery County Public Schools.

Because the amendments are technical in nature, the Board was not required to receive public comments before taking final action.

Read the Policy JPG Amendments

Making the Appeals Process More Accessible

The Board took tentative action on proposed amendments to Policy BLB – Rules of Procedure in Appeals and Hearings, allowing the proposed changes to move forward for public comment.

The proposed updates would:

• Align technical requirements for appeals with current practice.

• Provide clearer guidance to individuals participating in the appeals process.

• Support the efficient and timely processing of appeals.

• Clarify that speaking a language other than English will not be a barrier to participating in the appeals process.

The Board will now receive public comments on the proposed policy changes before considering final action.

Read the Proposed Policy BLB Amendments 

Proposed Updates to Field Trips and Student Travel

The Board also took tentative action on proposed amendments to Policy IPD – Travel Study Programs, Field Trips and Student Organization Trips, sending the policy forward for public comment.

The proposed changes would update the policy to reflect current MCPS practices and clarify expectations for school-sponsored travel, including:

• Connecting field trips and student travel clearly to instruction and learning.

• Providing clearer guidance around international travel.

• Addressing conflicts of interest.

• Adding a nondiscrimination statement.

One proposed change would eliminate the use of field trips as incentives. The Policy Management Committee is specifically seeking community feedback on how to balance the goal of ensuring field trips are connected to instruction and minimizing high-risk activities with the potential role of celebratory or promotional trips in motivating and recognizing students.

Read the Proposed Policy IPD Amendments 

Celebrating National Arts in Education Week

September 13–19 was National Arts in Education Week, a time to recognize and celebrate the role of arts education in public schools.

At the Board Business Meeting, Board member Laura Stewart highlighted the students, teachers, and administrators at James Hubert Blake High School as an example of a community helping advance arts education.

The students of Blake High School were recognized for demonstrating how arts education can foster discipline, collaboration, and critical thinking while providing students with opportunities for self-expression and joy.

This year’s national theme, “Every Student, Every Community,” highlights the importance of ensuring students and communities have opportunities to engage in the arts.

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, October 8, Board Work Session (12:00 p.m.)

Thursday, October 15, Capital Budget and CIP Preliminary Presentation and Work Session #1 (10:00 a.m.) 

Thursday, October 22, Board Business Meeting (4:00 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!

Stay Connected

Engage with us through public hearings and public comment. 

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Email us at boe@mcpsmd.org