Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in Maryland has made progress on the dual dimensions of excellence and equity for its 140,000 students, about half of whom are black or Hispanic. Beginning in 1999, with the leadership of Supt. Jerry Weast, MCPS managed to boost the achievement of its top quartile of students while the lower quartiles…

Highlights recommendations of seven task groups of Maryland's Visionary Panel for Better Schools to align state and local educational systems to support teachers and students. The task groups covered accountability, achievement, assessment, leadership, learning, public support, and teacher quality. (PKP)