Karla Silvestre’s Position on Graduation Rate Disparity in the Public Schools

Karla Silvestre, candidate for Montgomery County Board of Education At-Large race, participated in the April 23, 2018 Candidates’ Forum hosted by League of Women Voters of Montgomery County. Tracie Potts of NBC 4 moderated the forum. Silvestre responded to this question:

Do you believe there is and east/west county achievement gap and how should this be addressed? As a board member, what solutions would you support to have an impact on that achievement gap within one year?

For at least the past eight years, 2010 through 2017, the four-year adjusted graduation rate for Hispanic students in MCPS has never reached 81 percent. For African-Americans, 84 percent. Versus 94 percent for Caucasian and Asian students. What can you do as a member of the BOE that differs from what’s been done by board members during the past two decades to hold MCPS accountable for closing the achievement and opportunity gaps and addressing this inequity?

The forum included Ryan Arbuckle, Timur Edib, Marwa Omar Ibrahim, Julie Reiley, Brandon Orman Rippeon, John A. Robertson, Karla Silvestre, and Stephen Sugg in the At Large race; Lynn Amano, Patricia O’Neill, and Laura Simon in the District 3 race.

Julie Reiley, John Robertson, Ryan Arbuckle, and Karla Silvestre responded to the question.

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