.png)
The event was organized by the Black and Brown Coalition.
SILVER SPRING, Md. — Wednesday night, parents and students lined up to voice concerns and ask questions at a town hall. It was meant to ensure that all kids of all backgrounds across the county are getting the same level of education.
"This is really giving them a platform to speak directly with the superintendent about the issues that concern Black and brown parents in particular," said Byron Johns, one of the co-founders of The Black and Brown Coalition.
"For decades we've been hearing the same, 'Oh we have small improvements here and there', but if you look at the data since then to here things have not changed for young people and their families," said Diego Uriburu, the other co-founder of The Black and Brown Coalition.
The two told WUSA9 many parents are frustrated, especially by the recent test data released by Montgomery County Schools.
The data shows that less than half of Black students in Montgomery County, 46.8%, were reading on grade level in 3rd grade. While less than a third of Hispanic/Latino students were reading on grade level.
The same was the case for 10th grade students.
"Parents are desperate because they see what the possibilities for their children could be versus what they are," said Uriburo.
For about two hours, parents and students addressed their concerns with Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Thomas Taylor.
Parents and students asked him how MCPS intends to stop hate and bias incidents from happening.
They asked how the county plans to address the low math and literacy scores, among Black and Latino students.
"What is the vision in such a diverse community? How can we help children who come from different countries and different background," said Tatiana Pineda, who has two children in MCPS.
There were also questions about how funding is and will be distributed amongst schools to ensure equal learning opportunities for all students.
Taylor told the crowd that as a former MCPS student, he could verify that their concerns are valid.
"Even 30 years ago in Montgomery County when I was a student. I could have told you that my experience at my high school was very different than the experiences in Gaithersburg, Damascus. At Paint Branch, at Blair and other parts of the county," said Taylor.
"It's not okay," he said as the room erupted in applause. "The sad reality is we haven't moved the needle very significantly even in that 30 year time frame."
He said that he is committed to working to move the needle.
"We owe it to our community to be culturally responsive in the way we instruct and way we support," he told WUSA9.
He encouraged parents to look at his budget proposal.
"Watch my budget proposal to the Board of Education. Look and see where we allocate resources and why. Hopefully you'll see in very clear and compelling ways how we are addressing the needs of students on an individual basis and on a broader community basis," said Taylor.
Wednesday night was a start, organizers said, towards finding solutions.
"So it's gonna take some time but I think we're starting to see the pieces fall in line," said Johns.
English (US) ·