The mission of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is to ensure that all students have the academic, creative problem solving, and social-emotional skills to succeed in college, career, and the community, regardless of their background. Since its inception, MCPS has been at the forefront of addressing issues of race and culture in public education. The schools were initially segregated and the NAACP initiated the first efforts here to protest the quality of African-American schools. This has had a lasting impact on the policies, practices, and interactions in all aspects of Montgomery County public schools, leading to racial predictability of achievement and success. The history of public opinion on key issues and policies in Montgomery County is one that has been shaped by the changing attitudes towards race and culture.
In the early days of MCPS, there was a strong push for integration in the schools. This was met with resistance from some members of the community who felt that integration would lead to a decrease in educational quality. However, over time, attitudes began to shift as more people began to recognize the importance of providing equal educational opportunities for all students. In recent years, there has been an increased focus on equity in Montgomery County public schools. This has included initiatives such as increasing access to advanced courses for students from all backgrounds, providing additional resources for English language learners, and implementing restorative justice practices in order to reduce suspensions and expulsions.
These efforts have been met with both support and criticism from members of the community. The history of public opinion on key issues and policies in Montgomery County is one that has been shaped by changing attitudes towards race and culture. While there is still much work to be done in order to ensure that all students have access to a quality education, it is clear that progress has been made over time. As attitudes continue to evolve, it is important that we continue to strive for equity in our public schools. It is essential that we recognize the impact that race and culture have had on Montgomery County Public Schools. We must continue to strive for equity in our public schools by increasing access to advanced courses for students from all backgrounds, providing additional resources for English language learners, and implementing restorative justice practices.
We must also recognize that progress has been made over time but there is still much work to be done in order to ensure that all students have access to a quality education.
