Maryland Schools Insider

Maryland school news is moving

Washington Post Staff — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:08:00 GMT

Maryland Schools Insider is moving to a new format and a new page. Go to washingtonpost.com/education for the latest education news in Maryland and around the region.

This page will be redirected to the new Education Page soon.

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Montgomery County residents to review school system’s proposed budget for ‘book club’

Lynh Bui — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:19:31 GMT

It’s not exactly light reading, but the Montgomery County Public Schools budget will be the featured tome at a “Book Club” meeting Wednesday night.

The Montgomery County Civic Federation, Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County and the Montgomery County Taxpayers League are hosting “MCPS Budgetpalooza!” with plans to review the school system’s operating budget chapter by chapter. There are 11 chapters and nearly 550 pages, not including summary data and appendices, in the budget.

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Pearson previews education materials developed with Montgomery County schools

Lynh Bui — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 13:45:00 GMT

Global education and textbook company Pearson previewed its new line of instructional products for K-5 classrooms developed with Montgomery County Public Schools at conference in Florida on Wednesday.

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Montgomery schools seek parents, community members to help redefine student success

Lynh Bui — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:14:32 GMT

What kind of people do you want your kids to be when they graduate from high school? What should they be able to do before starting their first job or first day of college?

If these are questions you think about often, you may be a good candidate to help Montgomery County Public Schools recraft how it defines student success.

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Baker encourages cooperation between Prince George’s school board and education commission

Ovetta Wiggins — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:33:00 GMT

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, who has made improving schools one of his top priorities, told members of the school board and his advisory commission on education this week that the two groups must work together if the county is going to make the gains they all want to see.

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Plans underway for old Greenbelt Middle School

Ovetta Wiggins — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 19:25:59 GMT

Prince George’s County Public Schools Interim School Superintendent Alvin Crawley has recommended that the Robert Goddard French Immersion School move into the old Greenbelt Middle School.

Crawley also suggested that the Board of Education lease five classrooms on the bottom floor of the 75-year-old building to the city of Greenbelt.

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Maryland Dream Act loophole raising cost of tuition for some students in Montgomery County

Lynh Bui — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 20:04:00 GMT

The “Dream Act” that Maryland voters approved in November is actually raising the cost of education for some students in Montgomery County.

Undocumented Montgomery County high school students who haven’t yet graduated but want to take college courses at Montgomery College to get ahead will have to pay roughly triple the rate their peers do.

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Montgomery County parents ask for more school security, teacher training during budget hearing

Lynh Bui — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 20:15:00 GMT

Several parents asked for increased on-campus security and more money to train teachers as they implement a new curriculum during the first hearing Montgomery County held Thursday night for the fiscal 2014 budget.

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Crawley responds to threat at Laurel High School

Ovetta Wiggins — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:26:41 GMT

Alvin Crawley, the interim superintendent of Prince George’s County schools, sent an e-mail Wednesday to the parents of public school students after what Laurel city police called a “credible threat” by a student to “possibly shoot and kill others” this week.

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Search firm provides profile for next Pr. George’s schools chief

Ovetta Wiggins — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:12:00 GMT

Wanted: A superintendent who is collaborative, shows integrity and has a vision the he or she can fulfill.

Oh, this candidate should also be politically savvy; appreciative of a diverse school system and able to address inequity among students who come from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

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Glenn Dale Elementary School closed today due to power outage

Maggie Fazeli Fard — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:00:05 GMT

Glenn Dale Elementary School in Prince George’s County will be closed Thursday due to a power outage.

Parents are encouraged to visit the school system’s Web site at www.pgcps.org for status updates.

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Prince George’s Board of Education honors students

Ovetta Wiggins — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:52:00 GMT

Three students who represent less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors as National Merit semifinalists and 46 members of the undefeated football team from Henry A. Wise High School, who won the State 4A championship, were among those celebrated by parents and school officials for their academic, artistic and athletic achievements at Charles Herbert Flowers High School on Tuesday night.

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Montgomery parents to discuss math acceleration, Curriculum 2.0

Lynh Bui — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 15:52:49 GMT

The Gifted Child Committee of the Montgomery County Council of Parent-Teacher Associations plans to meet Monday night to discuss concerns over math acceleration as Montgomery County schools rolls out Curriculum 2.0. At least one representative from the Montgomery County Public Schools central office is expected to be at the meeting.

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Prince George’s Board of Education chooses leadership

Ovetta Wiggins — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:43:00 GMT

Verjeana Jacobs, who narrowly won reelection for her District 5 seat, was selected to lead the Prince George’s County Board of Education Monday night.

The vote that gives Jacobs her sixth term in the chairmanship position was nearly unanimous.

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Budget, Curriculum 2.0 implementation dominate parent concerns at Montgomery schools Town Hall

Lynh Bui — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 22:16:51 GMT

Active Montgomery County parents aired their concerns over next year’s schools budget and the implementation of Curriculum 2.0 at Superintendent Joshua P. Starr’s first Community Day Town Hall.

Parents expressed worries about everything from the lack of paraeducators and the reduced number of music teachers to how students can accelerate in math under the rollout of curriculum standards aimed at meeting Common Core State Standards.

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Former Prince George’s CFO takes Philadelphia job

Ovetta Wiggins — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 21:57:00 GMT

Matthew E. Stanski, the former chief financial officer for the Prince George’s County school system, has landed in Philadelphia.

William R. Hite Jr., the county’s former school chief who left this summer to take the top job in Philadelphia, hired Stanski to deal with the Philadelphia school system’s troubled financial situation.

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Montgomery County schools to launch space study addressing Downcounty enrollment surge

Lynh Bui — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:43:00 GMT

Enrollment surges in the Downcounty Consortium have prompted Montgomery County Public Schools officials to approve a school capacity study that would avoid future overcrowding.

Twelve schools will be involved in the study, but Montgomery County education officials project space shortages will be most severe at Arcola, Forest Knolls, Harmony Hills and Sargent Shriver elementary schools in the mid-section of the Downcounty Consortium.

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Four members on incoming Prince George’s education board will hold bachelor’s degrees

Ovetta Wiggins — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:51:12 GMT

For those keeping count, it’s time for an update on the number of college graduates who will serve on the Prince George’s County Board of Education next year.

Based on election results, four of nine members on the board will hold a bachelor’s degree. Two of the board’s eight current members hold a bachelor’s degree (the current board has one vacancy).

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Zabrina Epps to fill vacant seat on Pr. George’s school board

Ovetta Wiggins — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 18:08:39 GMT

Zabrina Epps has edged out David Murray to fill a seat on the Prince George’s County Board of Education that was vacated by Rosalind Johnson in District 1, ending a nearly two-week delay in deciding a winner in the tight race.

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State officials review campaign finance complaint

Ovetta Wiggins — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 22:45:26 GMT

The Maryland State Board Elections is looking into a complaint against Prince George’s County School Board Chairman Verjeana Jacobs (District 5) that raises questions about campaign finance reports her campaign filed this year. The most recent report was filed less than two weeks before her reelection.

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Principals sue Prince George’s school system

Ovetta Wiggins — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:43:39 GMT

The principals’ union has filed a class-action lawsuit against the Prince George’s County public school system and its Board of Education.

The Association of Supervisory and Administrative School Personnel filed the suit, alleging discrimination based on age and race, on behalf of its 800 members.

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Montgomery Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr gives first ‘State of the Schools’ address

Lynh Bui — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:48:00 GMT

Montgomery County Schools Superintendent Joshua Starr called on education leaders and the community to work together break away from old education models that don’t work and close the achievement gap.

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Rebecca Smondrowski becomes newest member of the Montgomery County Board of Education

Lynh Bui — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:27:11 GMT

Rebecca Smondrowski spent Thursday evening at a facilities work session of the Montgomery County Board of Education.

Smondrowski was there to observe and learn as a member of the audience, but come next year, she’ll be on the other side of the room.

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Prince George’s school board race in District 1 too close to call

Ovetta Wiggins — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 23:01:00 GMT

For those who want to know who won the Prince George’s County school board race in District 1, you’re going to have to wait a little longer.

Possibly another week.

The race between David Murray, a college student at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Zabrina Epps, an administrator at a community college, is still too close to call.

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Montgomery County schools superintendent launches podcast with teachers’ union vice president

Lynh Bui — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 22:39:40 GMT

Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Joshua P. Starr has hit the digital airwaves.

Starr has launched a podcast called “What’s the BIG Idea?” a show he hosts with Chris Lloyd, vice president of the Montgomery County Education Association and an eighth-grade teacher.

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