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August 19, 2026 |
Happy New Year, Team MCPS! We Are SOOO Back! Let’s get this year started! |
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ElevatED Inspires a Day of Learning and Connection |
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MCPS hosted its first-ever districtwide professional learning conference, ElevatED, bringing more than 400 educators together for a day of learning, connection and inspiration. Designed for new and veteran teachers, the conference offered practical tools, valuable resources and opportunities to learn from one another. ElevatED gave educators a chance to strengthen their skills, explore new ideas and connect with colleagues from across the district — all with a shared goal: to feel better equipped and supported in their work serving MCPS students and families. Watch the video.
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Back-to-School Fairs Are Saturday — See You There! |
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Join us at a Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, Aug. 22 (rain or shine)! MCPS is hosting six regional fairs to kick off the 2026–2027 school year. The fairs will help families get more connected to their school communities and get their questions answered. 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. Student immunization records are required to be eligible for the free immunizations. An informational table will be available at Albert Einstein, Wheaton and Richard Montgomery to help families find free immunization resources and locations.
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In Case You Missed It … |
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Less than one week stands between us and the beginning of another school year. But have no fear; we’ve got this! On Aug. 17, Superintendent Taylor emailed a message to staff discussing the reason we’re all here: teaching and learning.
A few highlights:
- Transition Day. Monday, Aug. 24 is our second annual Transition Day.
- Strong Tier I instruction comes first. Every student, every day, should experience rigorous, on-grade-level instruction that is engaging, inclusive and responsive to their needs.
- Clearer expectations. Changes we’ve made to secondary grading and reporting are intended to create greater clarity, consistency and predictability. Learn more about grading and reporting.
- Assessments should help us teach better, and give us a clearer picture of what students know, understand and are able to do as it relates to state curriculum standards. Learn more about the assessment calendar.
- Intentional support for special education students. Students with IEPs deserve the same things we want for every student: access to rigorous learning, high expectations and the support they need to succeed. See the grade-level best practices for elementary, middle and high school.
- Refrigerator Curriculum. We will continue sharing with families the written curriculum, a simple, one-page look at what students will learn each marking period, including major topics, themes and texts.
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Send Us Your Best First Day Photo! |
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Help us capture the excitement of the first day of school by sharing your special moments! Parents, students and schools are invited to submit their favorite first-day-of-school snapshots on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Select photos will be shared on the district’s website and social media beginning Tuesday morning. You may submit a photo by emailing us or tagging us on social media: Facebook, Instagram or X, and on our Spanish social media channels, Facebook, Instagram and X.
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Show Your MCPS Pride; Shop the Gear Store! |
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All proceeds from the sale of MCPS-branded merchandise help pay down student meal debt—so you can show your MCPS pride while supporting students! Products in the online store will change with the seasons, so be sure to check back regularly for new items. Check out the shop.
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New to MCPS? Get Set Up for Success with ERSC! |
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Get to know the Employee and Retiree Service Center (ERSC) and get important information about enrolling in benefits, signing up for direct deposit and keeping your address up to date. Learn more.
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Ten-Month Employees: Receive Summer Pay Through Extended Pay |
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Extended Pay, a pay option that allows 10-month employees to set aside a portion of their paychecks during the school year to be paid to them during the summer, will continue in Fiscal Year 2027. Learn more.
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Complete Your State Pension Plan Enrollment Within 30 Days |
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New MCPS employees who are eligible for the Maryland State Teachers’ Pension Plan must enroll within 30 days of employment. It’s three simple steps. Learn more.
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Finding What You Need Just Got Easier! |
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The Central Services homepage has been updated, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for, provides new dropdown menus and guided access to pathways for families, students, staff and career seekers to explore relevant resources. Driven by analytics highlighting the district’s most frequently accessed resources, a refreshed calendar, and a news and information section are part of the new layout. This initial homepage makeover marks the launch of a broader, systemwide initiative to refresh the MCPS website throughout the school year.
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Building Confidence and Helping Students Thrive |
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Schools are busy preparing to welcome students on Monday, Aug. 24 for Transition Day. Staff will help students entering kindergarten, sixth grade, 9th grade, some third graders, plus students new to MCPS learn about their new schools, and create a community and sense of belonging before the official first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 25. They will meet principals and teachers, tour the building, practice routines and connect with classmates. Learn more about Transition Day: English | Spanish
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Fall Professional Development Courses Open for Registration |
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Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses for the fall semester are now open for registration via the Professional Development Online (PDO) system. The fall semester runs from October through January. MCPS teachers have priority for course spaces. For details on eligibility, registration and course fees, visit the Continuing Professional Development webpage. Questions? Contact Kerri Davis in the Department of Talent Acquisition.
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Game On! MCPS Employees Get Free Admission |
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Current and retired MCPS employees (and one guest) are admitted free into regular season games hosted by MCPS schools, contingent upon proper identification and the availability of space.
Acceptable identification includes the following:
- School or central services issued photo identification card/badge.
- Retired employee card/badge accompanied by photo ID.
The season opens on Friday, Sept. 4. County Sports Zone is the official website for MCPS high school schedules. Opening day for middle schools is Tuesday, Sept. 22. Middle school schedules are available here.
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Welcome Back, Team MCPS! EAP Is Here for You |
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The MCPS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) wishes a warm welcome back to all MCPS staff! Pre-service week is an exciting time when we welcome the start of a new school year, and it can also be overwhelming as you prepare for the first day of school next week. The EAP is here to support you! Visit the EAP website to learn more about no-cost and confidential support.
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Fall Into Wellness: Find Your New Favorite Class! |
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This fall, Well Aware will offer live virtual, recorded and on-site classes to fit a variety of schedule and interests. Choose from Zumba, total body conditioning, yoga and seated yoga, core workouts, mindfulness, tai chi, and more. With options for all fitness levels, there's something for everyone. Email Well Aware to receive the full-class schedule and register for the daily wellness email to stay updated on class links, schedules and program updates. Opt in today and discover your new favorite class!
Looking to build healthy habits that last? Join us for the Head Heart and Hand program and Beyond the Cuff: The New Science of Mastering Your Blood Pressure, two behavior classes to empower you to make meaningful change. Learn more.
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