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Montgomery County officials highlight rapid newcomer enrollment but warn staffing and crisis caseloads are straining services
Summary
MCPS officials told the Education and Culture Committee that process improvements have sped newcomer enrollment—75% of students are enrolled within two days and 95% within a week—but staff cuts to trauma‑responsive counselors (ETCs) and rising crisis referrals tied to recent federal immigration enforcement are stretching capacity.
MCPS officials updated the Montgomery County Council’s Education and Culture Committee on the work of the International Admissions and Enrollment (IAE) office, reporting quicker intake times alongside rising case complexity that strains a reduced counseling team.
Margarita Borges, IAE director, said the office now functions as a centralized trauma‑informed welcome center that does more than enroll students: staff conduct mental‑health intakes, perform credit evaluations, provide immediate needs (food, clothing) and coordinate referrals to community partners. "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." Borges said those turnaround times mark a major operational…
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