The Maryland State Board of Education convened on August 22, 2023, to address critical issues affecting student achievement and teacher support within Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The meeting highlighted the urgent need for disaggregated data on student performance, particularly for Black students, and the importance of culturally responsive support for educators.

One of the key discussions centered on the disparities faced by Black students in MCPS. A speaker emphasized that while being Black is a shared identity, the experiences of individuals vary significantly. The speaker pointed out that the aggregated data does not accurately reflect the specific needs of these students, particularly the descendants of chattel slavery, who are increasingly underrepresented among high achievers. The request was made for the board to advocate for the disaggregation of race-based student learning data to better identify and address these needs.

Additionally, the speaker called for the establishment of full-time education boards in districts, citing the complexity of managing a large student population of 166,000 and a budget of $3 billion. The analogy of a firefighter was used to illustrate the need for comprehensive solutions rather than temporary fixes, urging the board to take decisive action to support Black students.

Another speaker, Hennessy Aguilar Chavez, a former dual language educator and MCPS student, addressed the need for differentiated support for teachers, particularly those from diverse racial and linguistic backgrounds. She highlighted the importance of culturally responsive professional development and curriculum that respects the integrity of both target languages in dual language programs. Chavez also raised concerns about the potential for a Maryland bilingual teacher certification to inadvertently exclude qualified teachers from diverse backgrounds, advocating for an anti-racist approach to certification processes.

The discussions at the meeting underscored the board's commitment to addressing systemic issues within the education system and the necessity of tailored support for both students and educators. The board's next steps will involve considering these recommendations as they work towards improving educational outcomes for all students in Maryland.