Patricia O’Neill on Policy Changes to Increase Diversity in Montgomery County Public Schools

Patricia O’Neill, candidate for Montgomery County Board of Education District 3 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. O’Neill responded to this question:

MCPS schools are increasingly racially and socio-economically separated. How should the district address this and what policy changes, if any, do you want to see in effect

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.

Laura Simon, Lynn Amano, and Patricia O’Neill responded to this question.

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