Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Montgomery County reports faster international enrollment as specialized counselor cuts strain services
Summary
MCPS officials told the County Council’s Education and Culture Committee that the International Admissions and Enrollment office now enrolls 75% of arriving students within two days and 95% within a week, but reductions in EML therapeutic counselors (ETCs) to about 20 staff are stretching the district’s ability to meet rising crisis needs tied to immigration enforcement.
The Montgomery County Council’s Education and Culture Committee heard on Thursday that Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) International Admissions and Enrollment office has sharply shortened enrollment timelines, but said cuts to specialized counselors are constraining crisis response.
Margarita Borges, director of International Admissions and Enrollment, told the committee that operational changes—an on‑site Welcome Center, a new call center and an intake integrated into the district’s Synergy system—have reduced the time it takes to enroll most newcomer students. "Seventy‑five percent of our students are enrolled within just two days of arriving at our office," Borges said, adding that "95% of the families enroll within a week." She said the faster turnaround minimizes time out of school for children and helps families stabilize quickly.
Borges and newcomer…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
