MCPS updates pilot K–3 literacy field test at five schools; staff promise more family resources and a new intervention RFP

Montgomery County Public Schools staff reported on a K–3 literacy field test designed to inform a forthcoming district K–3 literacy policy.

Malika Brown, elementary English language arts supervisor, said five schools are participating in the field test: Rachel Carson Elementary School; Ronald McNair; Snowden Farms; Broad Acres (Joanne Lelick); and Weller Road. Staff are working with reading specialists at each site to set measurable intervention goals, monitor progress at assessment windows, and structure regular family communication. Brown said schools explored using an intervention/enrichment block and collecting family feedback on communication preferences (email and text were common).

Board members asked about pilot duration, scaling to lower‑performing schools, and whether the current curriculum (CKLA) allows time to reteach content for multilingual learners. Staff said the pilot grew beyond an initial short trial as feedback, the literacy policy and implementation considerations expanded the scope. They acknowledged CKLA is whole‑class oriented and that schools must create schedule space or use other structures to provide targeted intervention. Staff said they are drafting an RFP for a new intervention that would include materials and resources families can use at home for students reading below grade level.

The committee asked staff to return with an update at the next meeting about scaling lessons learned from the five pilot schools to schools with greater need.