At the March 28, 2023 Board of Education Meeting, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) leaders presented mid-year Evidence of Learning (EOL) data that is focused on grade-level proficiency utilizing multiple measures to determine the success of students, schools and the District overall. The EOL framework intentionally uses multiple measures to determine student performance that include classroom grades, data from curriculum-aligned assessments, and state and national assessments.

EOL mid-year data allows MCPS to examine how successfully students transition from one grade level to the next. The data serves as a checkpoint for how students in kindergarten, grades 3, 6, and 9, have transitioned from pre-kindergarten, grades 2, 5, and 8. Further, they provide an opportunity to determine the extent to which students are meeting standards and additional support that may need to be provided for their continued success. 

EOL Results in Mathematics

This year, at least half of students in grades K, 3, 6, and 9 obtained evidence of learning in mathematics, with the highest percentage of this year’s kindergarteners (70.8%) demonstrating Evidence of Learning attainment and the lowest percentage of sixth graders doing so (48.9%).

• As compared with mid-year reporting of Evidence of Learning attainment from 2021-2022, this year’s 3rd graders demonstrated a 3 percentage-point increase, 6th graders demonstrated a 15 percentage-point increase, and 9th graders demonstrated a 2 percentage-point decrease.

• In looking at how students have transitioned from their prior grade levels, staff note fewer students are achieving that mid-year expectation.

• Transitioning from Grade 8 in 2021-2022 to Grade 9 this year, there is progress in mathematics -  improving by 17.4 percentage points. 

• Increases are seen in Emergent Multilingual Learners (EML) with 4 percentage-points in grade 3, 8-percentage points in grade 6 and 5 percentage points in grade 9, respectively.

Overall Percentage of Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Mathematics (Transition School Year (SY) 2022 vs SY 2023)

Percentage of Service Groups: Transition SY 2022 vs SY 2023 in Mathematics

Percentage of Grade 3 Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Mathematics

Percentage of Grade 6 Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Mathematics

Percentage of Grade 9 Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Mathematics

EOL Results in Literacy 

This year, at least half of students in grades K, 3, 6, and 9 demonstrated Evidence of Learning attainment in literacy, with the highest percentage observed at grade 9 (75.5%) and the lowest percentage at grade 3 (52.6%).

As compared with 2021-2022 mid-year Evidence of Learning attainment, a 2 percentage-point decrease for grade 3, a 10 percentage-point increase for grade 6, and a less than 1 percentage-point increase for grade 9. 

Overall Percentage of Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Literacy (Transition School Year (SY) 2022 vs SY 2023)

Percentage of Service Groups: Transition SY 2022 vs SY 2023 in Literacy

Percentage of Grade 3 Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Literacy

Percentage of Grade 6 Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Literacy

Percentage of Grade 9 Students Meeting Evidence of Learning Attainment in Literacy

Next Steps

The District is focusing on support to schools to ensure standards for grade-level instruction are delivered for all schools, while equipping school leaders to coach and support classroom teachers. This approach also involves working with schools on how to plan for interventions for students who need it, including Emergent Multilingual Learners and how to hone lessons to provide reteaching or enrichment opportunities. 

As part of the tentatively approved FY 2024 budget, the Board of Education is targeting investments focused on improving math and literacy across the District. This includes the addition of supervisors, instructional staff and coaches to increase math and literacy support in the schools, oversight and progress monitoring for schools, and increased professional development opportunities for staff. 

The next EOL benchmark – comparing current data with end of school year data – will be presented to the Board of Education in the fall.

To view the full staff presentation, visit the MCPS TV YouTube link.