As the Gazette notes:

Third graders in Montgomery’s public schools did not do as well as last year on state reading exams. Countywide, according to the 2010 Maryland State Assessment, the percentage of third graders who scored proficient or higher dropped from 88.9 to 87.4. That’s the largest decline of any grade and subject measured by the exams, which test third through eighth grade in reading and math.

How did your school do? Click the links below to check.

Elementary Schools:

• Beall Elementary School
• College Gardens Elementary School
• Fallsmead Elementary School
• Lakewood Elementary School
• Maryvale Elementary School
• Meadow Hall Elementary School
• Ritchie Park Elementary School
• Twinbrook Elementary School

Middle Schools:

• Earle B. Wood Middle School
• Julius West Middle School
• Robert Frost Middle School

High Schools:

• Richard Montgomery High School
• Rockville High School
• Thomas S. Wootton High School

This is the most high schools ever from one district — and it breaks Montgomery County’s previous record of six, set in 2006.

The high schools:

• Richard Montgomery (33)
• Poolesville (59)
• Bethesda-Chevy Chase (63)
• Winston Churchill (75)
• Thomas Wootton (83)
• Walt Whitman (85)
• Walter Johnson (95)

According to the district, the Newsweek list is the latest in a string of accolades about the performance of MCPS students:

• MCPS has the highest graduation rate among the nation’s large school districts, according to a report released by Education Week on Thursday. The MCPS graduation rate of 83.1 percent is significantly higher than the state and national rates.
• The class of 2010 has earned $232 million in college scholarships so far this year, an all-time record for the district and nearly $50 million more than last year.
• MCPS has been named one of five finalists for the $1 million Broad Prize for Urban Education, which recognizes large school districts that raised student achievement and narrowed the achievement gap.

Congratulations to all the schools!

Montgomery County will have some of Pearson’s experts help district writers revamp the elementary education curriculum. In return, Pearson will market the curriculum with the Montgomery County Public Schools’ name attached. In return for the use of its name, MCPS gets 2.5 percent of the material sales.

The move was approved on a 6-2 vote by the school board on Tuesday.

In a piece by the Washington Post, Rockville school board member Laura Berthiaume criticized the move:

“It puts our system . . . in an untenable conflict, when we start to go into business and at the same time try to meet the needs of our students,” said Board of Education member Laura Berthiaume (Rockville-Potomac). “Converting our employees into salesmen is not where I think we should be.”

The district was revamping the elementary curriculum anyway, but this will allow the work to proceed more rapidly, according to district chief of staff Brian Edwards.

The Post article suggests that the deal was rushed through with little announcement (it’s buried as line item 4.4.1 of this agenda) because the contract was under negotiation throughout the weekend (so not announced until Monday) and officials wanted the work to start at the beginning of the fiscal year.

Regardless of one’s opinion on the deal, it is at least testament to the sterling reputation on MCPS, that Pearson saw the district’s brand as so potentially profitable. But — what do you think?

Montgomery County Public Schools will open two hours late on Tuesday, February 16, due to emergency weather conditions. Bus service will be provided on a two-hour-delayed schedule. Morning prekindergarten, morning half-day Head Start, other morning half-day programs and field trips are canceled. Other activities and programs that begin at 10:30 a.m. or earlier are canceled. Administrative offices will be open on time. Day care programs in school buildings will remain open as scheduled.

Montgomery County Public Schools are closed Wednesday, February 10, Thursday, February 11 and Friday February 12, due to emergency weather conditions. All school activities and community activities in school buildings are canceled. A decision about administrative offices will be made at a later time.

Dr. Weast, my kids thank you.

MCPS schools closed Monday (2/8) and Tuesday (2/9) due to emergency weather conditions. Administrative offices closed Monday.

Montgomery County Public Schools are closed today due to emergency weather conditions. All school and community activities in school buildings also are canceled. All administrative offices are open. Day care programs in school buildings will remain open as scheduled.

Snow day, kids!

Gail Fribush, the IB Middle Years Program director at Julius West Middle School recently wrote the following, which was shared with the JW community:

“Why I’m Proud to Work at Julius West”

From Gail Fribush

On January 15, three days after the earthquake in Haiti, we began an effort to collect money to aid with relief efforts. Students were encouraged to bring in spare change (or bills) to fill our large water bottle and BOSS, SGA and French students helped to coordinate and encourage contributions during lunch each day.

Here is what the water bottle looked like after 5 days.

Students had an opportunity to guess how much we collected before we counted the money, and I think we were all amazed at how much all of those pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters and bills added up. In fact we collected $2,224.32!

The money was sent to the Save the Children Foundation Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. For me personally one of the best parts of the drive was seeing the number of students who brought in zip lock bags full of change, as well as those who gave a little each day that we were collecting. So while there may be a few more empty piggy banks in Rockville, there was much to be proud of here as our students proved once again that they are well on their way to becoming responsible global citizens.

Thanks to parents for raising such great kids and for your support as well.

So, I was delighted to read this morning in the Washington Post about an effort to ensure Montgomery County public high school teachers stay up to daye when it comes to biotechnology. I was even more delighted to learn that the program is housed at our own Wootton High School!

Here’s the deal from the article:

In many school districts, teachers have to take it upon themselves to keep up to date with late-breaking research and translate it into their classrooms; in Montgomery, they get help. . . . The school system’s DNA Resource Center has developed nine lab experiments that teach biotechnology concepts. The center is funded by six-figure annual grants from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, managed by a handful of part-time staff members and housed at Thomas S. Wootton High School in a supply room filled with pipettes and flasks. The center staff trains teachers to use the lab activities in their classrooms and delivers all of the equipment and consumable materials that the exercises require.

The DNA Resource Center, which dates to the 1980s, has primarily served Montgomery County’s high schools. Beginning in the spring, it will expand into middle schools. Seventh-grade teachers will be trained in biotechnology concepts and activities, such as DNA gel electrophoresis, that once were reserved for advanced science courses.

How cool is that! I am excited to hear that this program is being expanded so that middle school teachers can stay on top of latest biotech developments too.

Montgomery County Public Schools will open two hours late today (Jan. due to emergency weather conditions. Bus service will be provided on a two-hour-delayed schedule. Morning prekindergarten, morning half-day Head Start, other morning half-day programs and field trips are canceled. Other activities and programs that begin at 10:30 a.m. or earlier are canceled. Administrative offices are open on time. Day care programs in school buildings will remain open as scheduled.