Montgomery County Public Schools

Declining enrollment is presenting difficulties for public school districts across the D.C. area, leading Prince William County School Board members to halt plans for a potential new high school. Experts cite declining birth rates, migration patterns, and housing costs as key factors contributing to fewer students enrolling in public schools. Multiple Virginia divisions, including Fairfax, Prince William, and Loudoun, reported substantial drops in student enrollment compared to previous years.

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has completed assessing 224 buildings using a new facility condition index, identifying Summit Hall Elementary and Quince Orchard High School among the worst-performing. The assessments, conducted by Bureau Veritas Technical Assessments, will influence an upcoming school closure process and boundary study.

Camp Greentree in Montgomery County, Maryland, provides summer activities and mental health support for students facing challenges like homelessness, domestic violence, abuse, and family loss. Operated by the Jewish Social Service Agency since 2024 in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools, the camp offers resources such as weekend food bags and a pop-up clothing store. It serves 90 children this summer, with registration for 2026 opening in 2026.

Montgomery County Public Schools will implement a bell-to-bell cellphone ban for all students starting the 2026-27 school year. The policy, introduced ahead of a state law, aims to reduce distractions and improve academic performance, with officials emphasizing a non-punitive approach focused on student learning.

Maryland school districts must establish AI policies by fall following the Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act signed by Gov. Wes Moore. The Maryland State Department of Education released guidelines emphasizing safety, human-centered instruction, and structured criteria for AI tool approval, developed in collaboration with educators and lawmakers.

The U.S. Department of Education is investigating three Maryland school districts and the state's education agency over policies allowing transgender students to participate in girls' athletics and use girls-only facilities. The probe, initiated under Title IX, follows complaints alleging sex-based discrimination, with the involved districts and state officials stating they will cooperate while denying fault.

Student journalists in Montgomery County, Maryland, are challenging a district memo requiring administrator review of student publications, arguing it risks censorship. Over 150 students and staff from 25 high schools cite vague language in the memo, such as 'ridicule of individuals or groups,' as a threat to free speech under Maryland’s New Voices Act. The district calls the concerns 'misperceptions' and claims the memo aligns with student rights policies.

Middle schoolers from the D.C. region showcased inventions at KID Museum's annual 'Invent the Future Expo' in Bethesda, Maryland, aimed at improving life on Earth. Projects included pollution-reducing green roofs, mental health solutions, and a solar-powered drone designed to clear trash in Indian marketplaces.

James Mulhern III, a media services technician at Walter Johnson High School in Maryland, was arrested after being accused of secretly filming female students undressing in a theater changing room. Students discovered a camera in the control booth, leading to an investigation and charges of sex abuse of a minor. The school placed Mulhern on leave while authorities recover evidence and conduct a bond hearing.

Montgomery County Public Schools faces a complaint from Trump-aligned America First Legal alleging violations of constitutional rights and federal laws through its gender transition policies. The complaint claims the district's handbook restricts parental involvement and hides gender-related information from parents under FERPA.

Montgomery County Public Schools faces a complaint from America First Legal alleging its gender transition policies violate federal laws by withholding information from parents. The complaint centers on a handbook instructing educators to assess parental support before informing families about students' gender identity changes, potentially violating FERPA and constitutional rights.