PTA Advocacy Alerts

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We have two important, time-sensitive advocacy alerts that came in last minute! Please review carefully below.

MCPS Budget Alert: MoCo Council to Vote on Budget Cuts TOMORROW (Thu May 14th)

The Montgomery County Council will vote TOMORROW THURSDAY MAY 14th on budget decisions that could significantly impact MCPS. MCPS has indicated that difficult cuts may still be necessary, even if additional revenue is approved. This article shares some of what the Council is discussing. And yesterday, Superintendent Taylor sent this message to MCPS staff.

If you want the Council to prioritize additional revenue to reduce the impact on students and schools, you can contact Council members before Thursday’s budget vote:

Montgomery County Board of Education Eliminating Compacted Math 

Last Thursday (May 7) at the Montgomery County Board of Education meeting, MCPS announced that cohorted enriched/accelerated compacted math will be eliminated. Instead, advanced 4th & 5th grade students will receive any acceleration/enrichment for math in mixed-ability classes. 

The Gifted and Talented Committee (GEC) for MCCPTA (Bannockburn Elementary School’s county-level PTA) has expressed serious concerns about this plan and whether gifted students will receive appropriate instruction. This shift could also deepen inequities, as some families will be able to supplement outside of school while others cannot. Dedicated classes for enrichment and acceleration ensure that students are taught at the right level each day, in line with Maryland law. 

Here’s What You Can Do:

  • EMAIL MCPS, BOE,  and the STATE to voice your opinion re: the removal of Cohorted Accelerated and Enriched Compacted Math classes in elementary school.
  • Consider signing this petition to support continuing compacted math, which was created by a GEC member but is not officially from GEC.
  • Join This Zoom Call NEXT WEEK: The MCCPTA Gifted Education Committee will host a virtual meeting next Thursday, May 21 at 7 p.m. on Zoom for PTA members interested in learning more about MCPS’s decision to eliminate accelerated compacted math in elementary schools next year. Register for this meeting here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7fHGvHFDQ8SPViNAYqLz2g

Questions? Contact Gifted@MCCPTA.org.

Want to get more involved in the issues that impact our school? Become one of the BES PTA’s delegates to MCCPTA! 

MCCPTA Delegate (1): Attend county PTA meetings and keep BES informed about advocacy efforts, MCPS issues, and countywide initiatives.