Achievement Gap Narrows; English Language Learner Scores Surge

A press conference at Twinbrook Elementary School on January 24 at 1:00 p.m. will highlight dramatic gains in reading skills of students in Grades K-2.

Six years after the start of the Early Success Performance Plan, 81 percent of Kindergarten students are achieving at or above grade-level benchmarks in reading. There has been a narrowing in the achievement gap over time between African American and Hispanic students and their Asian American and White peers. Students learning English had the largest percentage gain of any subgroup in achieving reading skills at or above benchmarks.

The findings are part of an ongoing series of Montgomery County Public Schools studies that has followed primary students, beginning with the Kindergarten class of 2001, who have benefited from the comprehensive early childhood education reforms implemented by Superintendent of Schools Jerry D. Weast.

Information about the students' success will be presented at the press conference by Board of Education President Charles Haughey, Superintendent of Schools Jerry D. Weast, and County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. Other local officials and community members are expected to participate.