Montgomery Community Media

Gov. Larry Hogan announced Thursday that thanks to improving COVID-19 metrics, all jurisdictions in Maryland are able to safely reopen schools for in-person learning. State Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon agreed with Hogan and said school systems should re-evaluate their plans by the end of the first quarter, especially those that plan to stay virtual into […]

Gov. Larry Hogan announced that as a result of improving health metrics, every county in Maryland is now “fully authorized” to begin safely reopening schools for in-person learning. “Now nearly everyone agrees that there is no substitute for in-person instruction,” he said at a press conference Thursday. Hogan said he hears from parents every day […]

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is hosting a live, virtual conversation about its new draft plan for the fall semester Wednesday evening.  Officials will address questions from the school community. Residents can watch live on YouTube and on TV on Channels 21 and 995, the MCPS website, and on Comcast 34, Verizon 36 and RCN […]

After a week-long back and forth over private schools, Montgomery County has backed down.  On Friday, County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles rescinded his order to keep private schools virtual until at least Oct. 1. The announcement comes after the state health department said on Thursday that it is policy that private schools can’t be […]

Montgomery County residents rallied against the ordered closure of private schools by County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles at a protest Wednesday. It was organized by the “Open Montgomery County, MD Private Schools” Facebook group. Parents say their private schools are taking reopening seriously and are following CDC and state guidelines. During the protest, Gayles […]

The Maryland Department of Health and Department of Education released guidance for how Maryland schools should respond to a COVID-19 outbreak when in-person instruction begins and what districts need to prepare for.  At a press conference with Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday, State Superintendent Dr. Karen Salmon emphasized that a COVID-19 “outbreak” means one case. […]

In-school learning is not a safe option right now, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said at a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) media briefing Wednesday.  MCPS Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith announced Tuesday that the first semester of the 2020-21 academic year, beginning Aug. 31 and ending on Jan. 21, 2021, will be virtual-only […]

School officials plan to announce a date on which they hope students will begin phasing back into school on Aug. 6, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith said at a media briefing Wednesday.  Smith emphasized that if COVID-19 cases increase dramatically and if trends change for the worse, MCPS may have to […]

It’s Wednesday, July 15, and here are five things to know in Montgomery County. 1. Superintendent Press Conference: MCPS Superintendent Dr. Jack Smith will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. He will discuss planning and considerations for the fall semester. The conference will be streamed on YouTube. 2. MCPS Virtual Conversation: MCPS will host […]

In June, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) launched parent and staff surveys asking for input about education for the fall semester.  On Tuesday, results were shared at a Board of Education meeting. 55,839 residents responded to the online parent survey, and about 7,000 responded to a phone survey targeted at zip codes with low online […]