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August 22, 2024
Summer is ending and families across Montgomery County are getting ready to send students back to the classroom on Monday. This edition of the Glass Gazette is all about how our local government is helping our 160,000 students and their families prepare for the new school year.
 Happy start of school!
I recently met with Dr. Thomas Taylor to discuss his priorities as the new MCPS superintendent. We had an extensive conversation, during which I shared the concerns I have been hearing from parents, such as safety in and around school buildings, hate-bias incidents, school infrastructure and bus routes. We also spoke about the importance of transparency and the steps he has taken thus far to improve communication between MCPS and families.
I look forward to working with Dr. Taylor to ensure that our students receive the best education possible.
 Councilmember Glass with MCPS Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor
Food insecurity remains high in our region, and many families rely on our schools to provide their kids with a healthy lunch. This year, 60 schools will serve free meals to all students, regardless of eligibility, as part of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). If your child attends a CEP school, you do not need to fill out any paperwork for them to receive free school meals.
You can see the full list of CEP schools for the upcoming year here. Please note that the list changes every year — if your child’s school does not have CEP status this year, you can apply for Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) by visiting this MCPS site.
Ensuring that our children can get safely to and from school has consistently been a top priority for me. Last year I passed the Safe Streets Act, which requires that the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) conduct “walkshed area studies” to determine the safety of the routes to school. As analyses are completed, actionable steps will be taken to improve area safety. I was recently informed that by the end of this fiscal year, MCDOT will have completed half of all its school walkshed studies, including 100% of those in equity emphasis areas.
The school year is just beginning, but many families are already thinking about what comes next: college. As a first-generation college student, I had a tough time navigating the college application process and an even tougher time figuring out how my family was going to pay the tuition. Thankfully we have a local organization like College Tracks to help first generation college navigate the sometimes complicated process.
In the years since I came to the D.C. region to attend American University, the federal government created the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in an effort to help students apply for federal aid, such as grants, work-study and loans. The FAFSA is free to complete and submit. FAFSA applications will be open until June 30, 2025. Additionally, FAFSA will also now be accessible to students without a social security number. Remember, the first word in FAFSA is “free” — avoid any email or website that asks you for payment when submitting an application for student aid.
In addition to the FAFSA, each of our state legislators in Annapolis has their own scholarship opportunities — you can learn more about the legislative scholarship programs and other opportunities here.
 There are lots of resources available in multiple languages to help families get tuition assistance
Whether your child is just starting at MCPS or they’re beginning their final year, make sure their vaccination record is up to date. Free vaccinations are available for all kids from pre-K through high school who are missing any required vaccines. You can learn more and schedule an appointment here.
Let’s all do our part to keep our children, our educators and our schools healthy!
The annual Back to School Fair is happening Saturday, August 24 at the Westfield Wheaton mall from 10 am to 1 pm! This is a great opportunity for students and parents alike to learn about the resources, programs and services provided by both MCPS and Montgomery County. With entertainment, prizes and information, this event is sure to be fun and informative for the whole family. Learn more about the fair and the free transportation available here.
Please do not reply to this email. To contact my office, email me at Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov.
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