IEA Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education
On April 12, 2018, the Board of Education amended Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education. This policy reaffirms the Board's commitment to promoting the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth and development of children in their early learning years through high quality, developmentally appropriate, challenging, and comprehensive early childhood and elementary programs.
JHF Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation
On June 25, 2018, the Board of Education made technical amendments to Policy JHF, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation. The technical amendments to the policy align with Maryland Senate Bill 725, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation - School Response, which expands the reporting of bullying, harassment, or intimidation against public school students to include specific behavior that is sexual in nature. In addition, language was added to the policy to reflect federal guidance regarding investigations and the prevention of recurring incidents or correction of discriminatory effects on the student who was bullied.
ABA-RC Vendors On or Near School Premises
On April 16, 2018, MCPS Regulation ABA-RC, Vendors On or Near School Premises, was updated to clarify that vendors seeking to do business in a Montgomery County Public Schools building during the school day must have the authorization of the principal. Additional updates highlight existing Montgomery County Code and the Code of Montgomery County Regulations which restrict vendors on a public road or right-of-way within 500 feet of any Montgomery County public school unless permitted by the director of the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services and the school principal for a special event. Montgomery County further restricts certain types of vendor activity less than 100 feet from a school bus stop within 10 minutes of the scheduled bus arrival time, and vending activity on private property in proximity to a school.
ABC-RA Parent and Family Involvement
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation ABC-RA, Parent and Family Involvement, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
ACF-RA Sexual Harassment
On July 31, 2017, MCPS Regulation ACF-RA, Sexual Harassment, was updated to align with Board Policy ACF, Sexual Harassment, and to update directory information in alignment with the creation of the Office of Employee Engagement and Labor Relations and the Compliance Unit in the Office of School Administration. This regulation is effective August 1, 2017.
ACH-RA Workplace Bullying
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation ACH-RA, Workplace Bullying, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
FAA-RA Long-range Educational Facilities Planning
On October 11, 2017, MCPS Regulation FAA-RA, Long-range Educational Facilities Planning, was revised to reflect the Montgomery County Board of Education's interest to hold a series of work sessions and hearings before making final decisions on the Capital Improvements Program (CIP).
FFA-RA Naming School Facilities
On January 3, 2018, MCPS Regulation FFA-RA, Naming School Facilities, was updated to align the selection criteria for naming MCPS schools and facilities with the criteria established by the Montgomery County Board of Education in Board Policy FFA, Naming School Facilities. The updated regulation confirms that it is preferred that school facilities, or portions of school facilities, be named for deceased distinguished persons who have made an outstanding contribution to the community, county state, or nation, and that no school, or portion of a school facility, may be named after a person currently employed by MCPS, still active in their career, or who currently holds public office.
GBA-RA Equal Employment Opportunity
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation GBA-RA, Equal Employment Opportunity, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
GCA-RA Employee Conflict of Interest
MCPS Regulation GCA-RA, Employee Conflict of Interest, was updated to align with current practice and the Employee Code of Conduct, and provide updated guidance for concerns commonly raised with the Board of Education Ethics Panel. In addition, the revised regulation updates directory information in alignment with the creation of the Department of Compliance and Investigations in the Office of Employee Engagement and Labor Relations. This regulation is effective August 1, 2017.
GCC-RA Staff Self-Reporting of Arrests, Criminal Charges, and Convictions
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation GCC-RA, Staff Self-Reporting of Arrests, Criminal Charges, and Convictions, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
GKA-RA Administrative Complaint
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation GKA-RA, Administrative Complaint, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
IKC-RA Grade Point Averages (GPA) and Weighted Grade Point Averages
On January 30, 2018, MCPS Regulation IKC-RA, Grade Point Averages (GPA) and Weighted Grade Point Averages (WGPA), was updated with revisions that address a longstanding request from stakeholders to review and revise the practice of including high school courses taken in middle school in the calculation of the high school cumulative GPA. Stakeholders also expressed concern about the variance in practice that exists for students repeating a course in high school in order to replace the grade earned in middle school. This revision will go into effect for the 2018-2019 school year.
IOE-RA Guidelines for the Continuing Education of Pregnant and Parenting Students
On February 26, 2018, MCPS Regulation IOE-RA, Guidelines for the Continuing Education of Pregnant Students, was revised and renamed, MCPS Regulation IOE-RA, Guidelines for the Continuing Education of Pregnant and Parenting Students. These revisions reflect guidance from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and recent changes in Maryland law. Revisions provide for the following:
IOE-RB Interim Instructional Services
On June 13, 2018, MCPS Regulation IOE-RB, Interim Instructional Services, was revised to ensure consistency with the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services, guidance regarding the length of instruction Interim Instructional Services (IIS) provides to students with disabilities. IIS services should be based upon individual student needs, which in the case of students with disabilities is determined by the Individualized Education Program team, and thus may exceed the minimum amount of six hours for a student in a full-day program and three hours for a student in a half-day program, as required to be provided by Maryland law.
IPD-RA Travel-Study Programs, Field Trips, and Student Organization Trips
On September 22, 2017, MCPS Regulation IPD-RA, Travel-Study Programs, Field Trips, and Student Organization Trips, was updated to clarify existing definitions, procedures for field trip approval, trip insurance, as well as orientation, criminal background checks, and fingerprinting requirements for volunteer trip chaperones.
IRB-RA Volunteers in Schools
On August 16, 2017, MCPS Regulation IRB-RA, Volunteers in Schools, was updated to codify requirements that have been in place for the past year regarding child abuse and neglect training and criminal background checks and fingerprinting for volunteers in MCPS schools, in alignment with MCPS Regulation JHC-RA, Reporting and Investigating Child Abuse and Neglect .
ISB-RA High School Graduation Requirements
On July 26, 2017, MCPS Regulation ISB-RA, High School Graduation Requirements, was updated to align with updated requirements for Maryland State Department of Education assessments, enrollment in math courses, and middle school students taking high school courses. Additional language describes the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy, newly adopted by the Maryland Board of Education, and consent requirements newly adopted into Maryland law for students with Individualized Education Programs which will not result in the student being awarded a Maryland High School Diploma. On October 24, 2017, MCPS Regulation ISB-RA, High School Graduation Requirements, was updated to reflect MCPS’ recent decision to allow students to receive one credit, instead of .5, for successful completion of a 3- or 4-credit college-level course. The revised regulation also addresses guidance from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) reconciling two requirements in Maryland law: the requirement in the College and Career Readiness Act of 2013 that students must enroll in a mathematics course in each year of high school that the student attends high school; and the Code of Maryland Regulations requirement that students earn three mathematics credits in order to earn a diploma.
JEA-RA Student Attendance
On February 9, 2018, MCPS Regulation JEA-RA, Student Attendance, was revised to reflect recent changes in Maryland law regarding excused absences for pregnant and parenting students. Updated Maryland law requires school districts to clarify attendance regulations to excuse all student absences due to pregnancy- or parenting-related conditions, including for labor, delivery, recovery, and prenatal and postnatal medical appointments, including
at least 10 days absences for the parenting student after the birth of the student's child;parenting-related absences due to an illness or medical appointment of the student's child, including up to four days of absences per school year for which the school may not require documentation from the child's health care provider; and any absence due to a legal appointment involving the pregnant or parenting student that is related to family law proceedings, including adoption, custody, and visitation.
JEE-RA Student Transfers and Administrative Placements
On April 5, 2018, MCPS Regulation JEE-RA, Transfer of Students,was revised and renamed, Student Transfers and Administrative Placements, to align with Montgomery County Board of Education Policy JEE, Student Transfers , as amended by the Board on March 17, 2017, as well as changes made to the Change of School Assignment (COSA) booklet. Regulation JEE-RA also clarifies implementing procedures for Policy JEE, as follows: A form must be filed for record keeping purposes, but there is no requirement to demonstrate a unique hardship in order for the COSA to be approved for -
Additional updates to Regulation JEE-RA reflect current practice, as follows:
The regulation has been substantially reorganized to improve readability and streamline language where possible, and directory information has been updated.
JFA-RA Student Rights and Responsibilities
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation JFA-RA, Student Rights and Responsibilities, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
JGA-RA Classroom Management and Student Behavior Interventions
On October 4, 2017, MCPS Regulation JGA-RA, Classroom Management and Student Behavior Interventions, was updated to clarify language as needed to ensure consistency with the principles for restraint and seclusion in the U.S. Department of Education's 2012 Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document and recent amendments to Maryland state law.
JGA-RB Suspension and Expulsion
On September 27, 2017, MCPS Regulation JGA-RB, Suspension and Expulsion, was revised to align with updated Maryland law regarding the suspension of Pre-Kindergarten-Grade 2 students, as well as efforts to streamline the suspension and appeal process which were successfully piloted in the 2016-2017 school year.
JGB-RA Search and Seizure
MCPS Regulation JGB-RA, Search and Seizure, has been revised to reflect the most current Memorandum of Understanding between Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County Department of Police and other law enforcement agencies in Montgomery County, as well as benchmarking of policies in other jurisdictions, and to clarify procedures related to personal mobile devices. This regulation is effective July 1, 2017.
JHC-RA Reporting and Investigating Child Abuse and Neglect
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation JHC-RA, Reporting and Investigating Child Abuse and Neglect, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
JHF-RA Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation JHF-RA, Bullying Harassment, or Intimidation, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
JHF-RA Student Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation
On June 26, 2018, MCPS Regulation JHF-RA, Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation, was renamed Student Bullying, Harassment, or Intimidation, and was revised to align with federal guidance and Maryland Senate Bill 725, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Harassment, and Intimidation - School Response. The regulation also was revised to clarify that appeals of a decision regarding bullying, harassment, or intimidation, may be filed in accordance with procedures of MCPS Regulation KLA-RA, Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public.
JHG-RA Gangs, Gang Activity, or Other Similar Destructive or Illegal Group Behavior Prevention
On July 24, 2017, non-substantive revisions were made to MCPS Regulation JHG-RA, Gangs, Gang Activity, or Other Similar Destructive or Illegal Group Behavior Prevention, to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
KLA-RA Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public
On July 25, 2017, the superintendent of schools approved revisions to MCPS Regulation KLA-RA, Responding to Inquiries and Complaints from the Public, to updated directory information and office changes, and to align the regulation with Board Policy ACA, Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency.
IEF Early Childhood Education
Upon adoption of amended Board of Education Policy IEA, Framework and Structure of Early Childhood and Elementary Education, on April 12, 2018, the Board rescinded Policy IEF, Early Childhood Education, given that the tenants of that policy are incorporated into Policy IEA.
CEB-RA Role and Membership of the Council on Instruction
This regulation was developed in 1979 to reflect practices then in place. Last revised in 2001, the regulation no longer reflects current practice and was rescinded by the superintendent of schools on February 20, 2018.
IPC-RA Out-of-School Foreign Language Programs in the Elementary Schools and Intermediate Schools, Grade 6
This regulation was developed in 1979 to reflect practices then in place. Last revised in 1987, the regulation no longer reflects current practice and was rescinded by the superintendent of schools on March 12, 2018.