Montgomery County Board of Education unveils 2026 legislative platform focused on student potential

The Montgomery County Board of Education is gearing up for the 2026 legislative session with a newly proposed legislative platform aimed at enhancing educational policies that benefit students, families, and the community. During the Board Business Meeting held on August 21, 2025, the theme "Purposeful Policy, Unleashed Potential" was introduced, emphasizing the importance of strategic advocacy in shaping educational legislation.

Patty Ersprung, the coordinator of legislative affairs, presented the platform, which is structured into three main sections: ongoing interests, areas for increased advocacy, and priority issues. The ongoing interests section outlines the Board's consistent priorities, including local control, adequate funding, and school safety. These foundational elements guide the Board's legislative efforts each year.

The platform also highlights specific initiatives that the Board intends to advocate for more vigorously. Among these are proposals for employee self-reporting of criminal charges, which would allow the school system to better support staff facing legal issues while ensuring student safety. Additionally, the Board is pushing for changes to the Maryland report card graduation rate calculation to include alternative diploma pathways, such as GEDs and certificates for special education students, which are currently overlooked and contribute to misleading graduation statistics.

Another significant topic discussed was the need to improve the notification requirements under the reportable offense law, which mandates that schools be informed of students' off-campus activities that involve police intervention. The Board expressed support for legislative efforts to enhance these notification processes, ensuring that schools are better equipped to respond to incidents involving their students.

As the Board prepares for the upcoming legislative session, these discussions reflect a commitment to advocating for policies that not only address immediate educational needs but also foster a supportive environment for all students. The outcomes of these legislative efforts will be closely watched by the community, as they hold the potential to significantly impact the educational landscape in Montgomery County.