Bridget Howe, president of the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCC PTA), addressed pressing educational issues during a recent government meeting, emphasizing the need for advocacy and transparency within Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Representing over 50,000 members, Howe outlined the PTA's commitment to empowering families and communities to advocate for children's needs, highlighting priorities such as safety, academic equity, and responsible budget management.

Howe noted that while the MCC PTA's formal advocacy priorities will be finalized in November, ongoing concerns include addressing hate bias incidents, improving academic outcomes for Black and Brown students, and ensuring that school facilities meet student needs. She stressed the importance of community engagement in school construction projects and the need for local PTAs to advocate for issues specific to their communities.

The meeting also featured comments from members of the Black and Brown Coalition for Educational Equity and Excellence, who underscored the alarming academic performance of Black and Brown students in the district. They pointed out that nearly half of students are not reading at grade level, a situation exacerbated by a lack of transparency regarding educational outcomes. Coalition representatives called for a clear, long-term plan from MCPS to address these disparities, emphasizing that previous funding efforts have not yielded significant improvements.

The discussion highlighted a collective call for accountability and a robust strategy to enhance educational equity, particularly for marginalized communities. Participants expressed a willingness to support necessary changes but insisted that these efforts must be accompanied by a clear vision and actionable plans from school leadership. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that all students receive the quality education they deserve.