A community information meeting on the new academic programs being planned for the Downcounty Consortium -- including the upcoming ninth grade academies of the four participating high schools -- will be held on Tuesday, July 9, beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of Albert Einstein High School by the Board of Education and the County Council Education Committee.

The meeting is in response to discussions that originated during the County Council's review of the Board of Education's budget request earlier this year. At that time, suggestions were made to provide an opportunity where the consortium could be reviewed in greater depth and continued efforts would be made to involve the community.

Featured speakers will include Mr. Reginald M. Felton, president of the Board of Education; Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill, vice president of the Board; and Mr. Michael Subin, chairman of the County Council’s Education Committee.

Other participants include the director of the consortium, principals, teachers, parents, and community members who are involved in the planning for the consortium initiatives, including the cluster coordinators for the participating high schools. A time for answering questions from the audience also will be provided.

The Downcounty Consortium is a partnership among the four high schools in the downcounty region of Montgomery County -- Montgomery Blair High School, Albert Einstein High School, John F. Kennedy High School, and Wheaton High School. Northwood High School is scheduled to join the consortium when it reopens for the 2004-2005 school year.

Beginning this fall, the four current high schools will begin offering ninth grade academies as part of the development of specialized instructional and career programs within each school. In the fall of 2003, eighth grade students planning to enter one of the then five high schools the following year (September 2004) will be given the opportunity to choose which high school they want to attend, based on an instructional program choice for a specific academic or career program of studies.

The consortium involves each high school in the planning of focused and rigorous programs for students, utilizing the best research and latest practices in high school reform. Each school will offer students a core curriculum and focused course work that will help to ensure that all students graduate from high school with the academic competencies and personal skills required for successful adulthood.

Further information about the Downcounty Consortium is available on the school system’s website at the link below.