Dear Colleagues:
Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning and working environment for students and staff across our district. To fulfill this commitment, all staff are required to complete the mandatory annual Districtwide Compliance Training for the 2024-2025 school year. This training is designed to ensure that every employee has the necessary information to establish and maintain a positive, safe, healthy, and lawful climate and culture in which all adults and students are able to thrive and do their best work.
This year’s modules have been developed, organized, and updated around three important areas of focus:
The mandatory training consists of these three online modules, which are designed to be completed in one sitting. The training is available in English and Spanish versions. Topics from these modules include preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect, employee code of conduct, bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment) and intimidation prevention, recognizing and reporting incidents of hate-bias, religious diversity, and many other important issues. The modules also include new options for employees to anonymously report concerns of workplace bullying and sexual harassment.
Based on your MCPS position you may be required to complete job-specific training that is separate and in addition to the districtwide compliance modules. Your principal or supervisor will notify you of these requirements. The mandatory compliance training requirement by employee association is as follows:
Access to the online training opens July 1, 2024. [PDO Course #92589]
MCEA → Two (2) hours will be programmed within pre-service week for all Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) school-based staff to take online compliance training. MCEA unit members may elect to complete the online compliance training before the start of pre-service week. Teachers who choose to do so will be released from the scheduled two (2) hours of time during pre-service week dedicated for compliance training. See chart linked above
SEIU → This year, ALL 10-month school AND non-school based Service Employees International Union Local 500 (SEIU) unit members will have the opportunity to complete the training during the designated time of pre-service week or complete the training prior to pre-service and be compensated two (2) hours pay (Tier II). See chart linked above.
SUBSTITUTES (Permanent and Temporary) → Training Requirements will be communicated by the Substitute Teacher Office in the Office of Human Resources and Development.
All employee associations (MCAAP, MCBOA, etc.) are included on the completion deadlines chart.
Due to the importance of this training, school-based staff will not be permitted to work with students until training is completed. In cases of noncompliance, the Department of Compliance and Investigations and the Student Welfare and Compliance Unit will work directly with principals and supervisors to determine any necessary personnel actions. For support in accessing and viewing the modules, click here. For questions regarding this memorandum or related content, contact the Student Welfare and Compliance Unit at 240-740-3215, or via email at SWC@mcpsmd.org.
Thank you all for understanding the importance of this annual compliance training, as well as ensuring you are prepared to keep our students and ourselves feeling safe and valued in our schools.
Sincerely,
Monique T. Felder, Ph.D.
Interim Superintendent of Schools