Univision Washington, MCPS Launch Partnership to Inform, Engage Parents

March 22, 2013

Comunicado de prensa en español

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Univision Washington, the region’s largest Spanish TV news station, have teamed up to better inform and engage Spanish-speaking families. MCPS is producing a weekly segment on education that is broadcast on Univision Washington’s 6 p.m. newscast each Wednesday.

The segment, called Educalos: Es el Momento, provides helpful information about educational programs and initiatives. Among the topics already aired are SAT/ACT, school nutrition, early childhood education and parent-teacher conferences. Previously-aired stories can be viewed on the Educalos website.

“I am so pleased to partner with Univision Washington on this unique, innovative project,” said Superintendent Joshua P. Starr. “By sharing important information each week, we can further engage the region’s growing Spanish-speaking population and help them support and advocate for their children’s education.”

The segments are produced by the MCPS Office of Communications and feature MCPS staff, programs and schools. However, Karen Mendez, News Director for Univision Washington, said the news packages will be helpful to parents throughout the region.

“We know that education is a high priority topic for our viewers,” Ms. Mendez said. “This partnership allows us to share important information about education to our viewers in Montgomery County and throughout the region.”

According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Montgomery County has more than 140,000 residents who speak Spanish at home. The number of MCPS students receiving English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. This school year, MCPS has about 20,000 ESOL students and 63 percent of those students are Spanish speakers.

Over the past year, MCPS has dramatically expanded its efforts to communicate with and inform Spanish-speaking families, including significant outreach and collaboration with Spanish media. Among the initiatives are:

- An expanded and improved Spanish website that provides news, information and updates;
- Increased Spanish programming on MCPS TV, including a weekly news program, Noticias de MCPS;
- A Spanish Twitter feed, @MCPSEspanol
- A 90-second news update, Noticias en 90, is broadcast daily on New World Radio (1120 AM);
- A biweekly column written by Superintendent Joshua P. Starr that runs in Washington Hispanic newspaper;
- The newly-launched Informe Educativo, featuring 60-second messages from MCPS on La Nueva (87.7 FM).

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