ISSUES

We used to have one of the top school districts in the country. In the last few years especially, that has changed and our kids are in academic crisis.

According to the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) 2022-23 results, only 57% of third graders in MCPS are reading at or above grade level. While that statistic itself is upsetting, when broken down further by race/ethnicity, there is a clear and alarming achievement gap existing in our system. Less than half of of African-American children and only 33% of Latino children achieve third grade reading proficiency; while 81% of white children and 79% of Asian children are at or above grade level. These test scores are representative of a crisis within MCPS, a crisis that has only worsened under the current leadership at the Board of Education. This is a five-alarm fire, and we need the arsonists to be removed from the fire station.

Another scary statistic: 21% of students are still chronically absent, meaning missing 10% or more of class time. That is down from its peak, but even pre-pandemic, it was still at an unsettling 19%. Additionally, the ones taking the tests are at least in school; imagine what the real scores might look like.

We need our schools to refocus on academics, not ideology.

SROs were removed in summer of 2020 by the County Executive, Marc Elrich. Media coverage explained, “The community engagement officer program replaced the SRO program, and was intended to fill a state requirement that schools have “adequate law enforcement coverage.” The police officers were largely removed from day-to-day operations within schools, and were instead assigned to geographic areas around schools. They would respond, as needed, to incidents, but school administrators were not allowed to call them directly.”

This system of maintaining safety is clearly not working. According to MCPD, last school year, there were nearly 5000 reported incidents and 57 arrests/referrals across the school system. In just the first 4 months of the 2022 school year, there were 1500 calls to 911. There was even a school shooting at Magruder High that left a 15 year old hospitalized. Violence at school this year seems to be on the same trajectory. There have been massive fights between BCC and WJ, another one between JFK and Northwood, and a violent attack at Quince Orchard. Recently a girl in middle school was stabbed with a box cutter and hospitalized. Earlier this year, a 17 year old brought a loaded gun to school. There have also been numerous bomb threats. Students and parents will tell you about gang activity and drug use.

Bullying based on ethnicity and religious beliefs are rampant as well. MCPS is experiencing a rise in anti-semitism on the part of staff and students. A religious Muslim student was mocked both by a County Council member and a Board of Education member when their families rallied in favor of their desire to opt their children out of certain content that violated their religious beliefs.

Montgomery County Public Schools has so far spent $412,544 more on legal fees this fiscal period than last, thanks to some high-profile lawsuits that pit the county school district against parents and staff. In 2021, MCPS made international news after having spent close to half a million taxpayer dollars on an “anti-racist” audit. The district is even fighting the parents of special needs students in order to try to avoid providing them with services. Meanwhile, because of budget concerns, GoGuardian, a tool currently available for teachers to monitor their student’s online activity while they’re in the classroom, has been eliminated from the MCPS budget starting next school year. Imagine all of the tutoring and extra resources that could have been made available to Montgomery County students had the Board not wasted the money on these giant expenditures. The Board clearly needs someone who will raise an objection to this kind of runaway spending.

On February 1st, MoCo360 reported, “According to interviews with more than three dozen current and former central office employees and school administrators, allegations of cronyism and a lack of accountability, collaboration and clear communication have been ongoing themes of McKnight’s superintendency that have eroded educators’ trust in MCPS leadership, as a disproportionately high number of district officials and principals have left the school system.” One party rule and rubber stamps within the county has led to a total crisis of leadership, without anyone standing up and saying what’s plainly obvious: there is gross incompetence with those who have been elected to run this school district. The citizens of Montgomery County deserve better and I would be privileged to serve as their voice.

Parents in Montgomery County want and need educational choices. Parents should have the flexibility to choose the schools that align best with their children's needs, recognizing that the optimal fit may not always be the local public school.

Many counties in Maryland offer charter school options, but in order to begin that process here in Montgomery County, it requires Board of Education approval. I will be that voice for parents looking for more educational opportunities in this county.

Additionally, all students in Montgomery County, including homeschooled and private school children, should have access to public resources like sports, extracurriculars, and the dual-enroll program in Montgomery County College, all of which are currently reserved only for MCPS students.