good morning, everyone, welcome to "viewpoint." this morning, we're focusing on one of the top school system in the country -- montgomery county -- to talk about his vision and expectations for the new year. our deficit is superintendent of schools, dr. joshua starr. dr. starr, welcome back to "viewpoint." great to see you. >> thank you very much for having may. it's great to be back, jim. >> entering your third year. you're about to give your third state of the schools speech. what are you most proud of in

terms of accomplishment and change over your first three years? >> montgomery county is such a great school system. we've done so well for so long. the question is how do you take a great system and make it even better. we have to recognize we have long-standing achievement gaps, but we have so many strengths. there's three things we're focused on. academic excellence is of importance to us. whether it's sa.a.t.s, kids hav to be prepared. and critical problem solving is a skill for the 21st century. employers want people with skills, but they want people who can be curious, who can be creative, work in teams and collaborate and think of new kinds of solutions. the third piece of social and emotional well-being, the idea that our kids should not only be academically prepared but good people. that's what parents want for their own kids, to resolve conflict, can you get along with other. do you recognize diversity and

those things. it's about academics, social and emotional well being and be academically prepared. we're up to 154,000-plus. we'll have the official count in october, of course. it's the largest enrollment we've ever had. the biggest one-year gain. we are building buildings left and right. you know, going through revitalization expansion projects. we're hoping for additional help from the state this year. you know, our county has done a lot it invest in infrastructure. it's fabulous to see that kind of commitment from the county. we can't keep up. we're bursting at the seams and hoping the state comes through to help us out. >> let's talk about that. it's not unique to montgomery county. it's happening all over the country. you see a number of portable classrooms. you see floating teachers. is overcrowding permanent? >> you know, so we're growing quicker than any other district in the state. i think we are growing quicker. and you sea that in the suburban

extra -- you see that in the suburban areas. they are growing quicker than cities and things like that. i don't keep track of it as much in other places as i do right here. i'm hoping that it doesn't become permanent, but you know, frankly, for us in montgomery county, we know the projections go a few years out. we will be in the situation for a while. unless, of course, the state does the right thing by us and gives us what we need. we're ready to build on time and budget. it's a matter of having the money. >> how important is class size in learning more? >> you know, class size is important. it's why we keep our kindergarten, first, and second impacted schools. the kids with the most needs. typically we use free and reduced price meals to measure that. we keep them really small, but it means other classes are bigger. i visited a class at wheaton high school. 32 kids in a.p. government we keep that bigger so classes with kids who need more support can be smaller.

it's important to have a well performing, highly qualified teacher in every teacher. we want to keep our classes small, but we need to make tradeoffs. some classes are big so we can keep others small. we have a long-standing tradition in montgomery county of putting the most resources where the most needs are. and that shows up in class sizes. >> more than 100 students, i think, roughly 107 or so, have crossed over into the country. how do you address that, the different services that they're going to need? how do you prepare for that? >> we have about 57 unaccompanied minors that joined the district this year. more may be coming. that's only through the office of refuge and resettlement, through the federal department. other kids have come in, about 350 have come in total from central america that, you know, we have been taking in to our system, making sure that we work closely with our department of health and human services, and other nonprofits so that we can

give kids the wrap-around services they need. the social and emotional support, as well as, you know, enrolling them in school, getting them ready and into school. so we have a moral and legal obligati obligation, of course, to serve any children that comes our way. and our unaccompanied minors is something we're tracking closely. >> we'll look forward to talking more about the changing demographics, too, in montgomery county. the challenge and your five-point plan for improving math scores, we want to talk about as we continue after this short break. stay with us.

welcome back. our guest for the half-hour, dr. joshua starr. superintendent of montgomery county schools. dr. starr, we were talking about growth before. you've done a lot to address that this year after a record year over last korea year in -- last year in terms of new students. how many new teacher is you hired? >> about 150 new teachers to deal with growth this year. total, it's probably 700 or 800 teachers. you know, teachers retire and

things like that. we're always bringing in new folks to the county. we had to add about 150 just to keep up with enrollment. we've also hired more teachers to provide additional support in our middle and high schools for our highest needs schools in mathematics and english. again, we know that our kids need additional support in order to achieve the new standards. we have an achievement gap. it's been long-standing. we're trying to take what we've done in the malls. we're providing additional support. move that up to the middle and high schools. and so far, it seems to be working out pretty well. >> you've got a five-point plan to address math specifically. >> yep. we've been working on math for a while. math is one of these great challenges in america as we go from procedural math, the way you and i learned it, very procedural. how many problems can you do, how quickly, to now you have to think about it. you have to show your work, you have to understand the strategy, you have to collaborate. we're doing a lot of things in that area. one is a lot of professional development. we need to make sure our

teachers are mathematicians as well as teachers. we're doing a lot of sharing amongst teachers. we've identified some of our best teachers in math. we're saying, you guys, help train other people, help us understand what it is your doing. we have new materials, of course. and as i said already, wre lowering class sizes where it's most necessary. and we're also starting early. frankly, i think that we've accelerated too many kids in montgomery county. somehow grade level isn't good enough for a lot of kids. some kids need to be accelerated. it's appropriate. there's nothing wrong with grade level either. the fact is sometimes it's better to slow down, go deep, really make sure kids understand the concepts, understand it early. and if there's an issue that needs to be addressed, address it earl so we can speed up later. we're trying a bunch of different things. all research-based. we've also talked to our teachers. our teacher told us what they need. we're trying to map what we're doing to what our preaches are saying they need. hopefully it will bring improvement. >> you started out as a teacher, special education, as i recall.

>> that's right. >> what does it take, in your mind, when you look at the landscape of teachers to be a good teacher in 2014? >> you know, i wonderful some teachers in school the other day. i was watching how the teachers were doing this literacy work. standard literacy work, really good stuff. they were also doing it so the kids were in collaborative groups. you have to not only assess how the kid is doing relative to the standard we want them to achieve. you're also assessing kids on how well they collaborate. that's a whole other thing. now we're adding great new technology. the teachers love it. but they have to be experts in that. all teachers now have to have some facility with english language acquisition because we have -- 17% of kids, 22% of elementary, are english left wing learners. we -- learners. the kids rise to the occasion, but they need time to collaborate and learn from others. it is such a difficult job we're

asking them to. do our teachers are rising to the occasion, and we just can't do enough to support them. >> let's talk about standardized testing. students and teachers are judged every day. this parcc testing, p-a-r-c-c, talk about. that we've heard some from some teachers it's not rolled out fully, widespread yet. they're have something initial challenges with it themselves. >> sure. >> getting questions right. >> you know, fortunately, montgomery county we've been doing this for about five years now. we really were ahead of the curve in developing new curriculum, providing new professional development to our teachers. so now we're going to have the new test this year. it is a completely different test. i encourage you to go to the website, see sample items, it is different, what we're asking kids than what they did before. i think the test are good. i've seen the new s.a.t., the sample s.a.t., a.p. exams. they much more reflect what our kids are being asked to do in the work world, when you go out

and you're in the real world so it speak, than what we used to do in class. it's hard. and unfortunately, a lot of the spls that have come -- policies that have come from the federal government and state government have hampered the ability of teachers to be able it really embrace the standards -- to be able to really embrace the standards. they're afraid of policies that draconian and inappropriate. that's unfortunate. our teachers are enjoying it. we're trying to say, look, it doesn't happen in a year. you got to learn, it may take a few years to master. it our teachers have embraced it. they're working well together. we're see itting great things happening. -- we're seeing great things happening. >> you embrace common core? >> absolutely. the policy is coming from the federal government and the state governments that are associated with it is what's compromised the common core effort. standards themselves are good standards. >> all right. we'll take another break. we'll be right back with dr. joshua starr, superintendent of montgomery county schools.

welcome back again. our guest, dr. joshua starr, superintendent of montgomery county schools. let's talk a little about technology and how you keep up with technology and keep up with the growth through technology. you're very active in social media on twitter. >> i am. yeah, i'm very active on twitter. it's a great way to celebrate what's going on in the district, to share with people. you know, what i'm doing, what i'm seeing, great practices. also to let them know what i'm reading and thinking about. it's been a great way to interact with folks and for people to get to know me. it's such a big district, it's a way for people to get to know me. follow me at mps super. we're also rolling out chrome books. grades three, five, six, and high school social studies. our first major technology, instructional technology effort. already i'm seeing the kids just -- i was in a class this morning. i just saw kids excited about opening up their chrome books. it's really cool. we know they'll be able to engage with different kinds of

materials, we're going to be able to personalize instruction more. they'll be collaborating on line. the teachers are thrilled. so i'm just, you know, excited that we're able to finally do this. >> and if you don't have that, what a difference it makes in terms ofhoeflding a child back. >> technology is such a part of kids' lives, but it's a struggle, too, to figure out how to use it appropriately. it's why we started the cyber civility effort. i say to my own kids, i expect you to behave on line in the way i expect you to behave physically, when you're talking with people. some people don't always see it that way. and we want to make sure our kids and our adults, frankly, understand appropriate uses. we're thrilled about the technology push. i appreciate the support of the county in helping us make that happen. we're just going to do more and more as we go. >> want to talk about another hot-button issue.

that's clean times and giving high school students, in particular, a later start time. you're not a big fan of the concept. >> well, i actually am. i mean, i was the one who said, look, let's take a hard look, see if it's doable. we did a thorough analysis, extensive community engagement. problem is, it's too expensive. it would cost at least about $25 million for us to make it happen. unless -- >> because it's not just high school. >> right. it's not just high school. we could switch start times, but then i'd have element kids at the bus stop -- elementary kids out at the bus stop before it's late out. i'm not going to have that. it's much more complicated than people think it is. if i could snap my fingers and make it work with no cost, i would do it. it's not possible. >> it's not going to happen on. your watch this year or next. >> this year it's not likely. not likely next year. the board has asked me to see if we can do it cheaper. it's a cost issue. we have 52,000 students on free and reduced price meals in montgomery county. that's more kids than the total

population of the d.c. public schools, not including charter schools, right. they have needs. i can't say, you know, i'm going to take dáç25, 30, however man million dollars and put it toward bell times and say, i got to address the needs of the kids that have to meet a higher standard and have great nationwide. i wish -- great needs. i wish i could, but it's not fiscally responsible now. >> talk about the landscape of the school population and diversity and how it's becoming more diverse which is a beautiful thing but also presents more challenges and can be more costli. you know, look -- costly. >> you know, look, our most important core value is equity. the ideaed that we provide our most -- idea that we provide our most vulnerable kids and families with what they need. that means we'll continue to spend $2,500 more per student on freeway and reduced price meals than we do a typical student. this is a county that's valued education and has valued giving the most to those who need the most. we'll continue to did. that we love the diversity in gunpoint schools.

we love -- a kid who comes in and speaks spanish at home and english on the playground, that's a kid who -- coca-cola, they'll be looking 25902,5 -- 20, 25 years, bilingual kid, that's a wonderful thing. we'll continue to embrace that. but it costs. no doubt it it. we're -- we're always happen to provide those resources. but we want to make sure the county continues to provide them to us. >> off the top, talked about how you engage employers. what do you hear from them and what are they looking for today compared to maybe ten years ago when a student graduates from high school? >> you know, so they certainly want kids who have a baseline of technical skills. but what they often say is i can teach them the technical skills, i want someone with a good work ethic. i want someone who can work well in teams, who's a good problem solver. i want someone who's creative and curious about the world. i don't care if they can take a standardized test. as long as it's a certain baseline. but i want someone who's creative, who want to learn, wants to grow, is going to work

hard, who's engaged. that's what -- that's what people want out in the work world which is why the standardized test regime has done such a disservice to our kids, right. it just doesn't match what we know employers want. that's what i hire for. >> all right. important. dr. joshua starr will be back to wrap things up. talking about montgomery county schools and the new school year.

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welcome back to "viewpoint." our guest for the half-hour on "viewpoint" dr. joshua starr, montgomery county school superintendent. you've got a new code of conduct this school year. tell us about that. >> we do. this reflect the movement going on in the state and in the country to keep our kids in school. it's the right thing to do. we reduce discretionary suspensions by 50% last year and overall suspensions by about 37%, 38% because the schools took the attitude that we need our kids to learn from their mistakes. we make sure our schools are

safe, secure environment, we need to make sure kids learn from their mistakes, we know that there's disproportionality, too many black kids, too many latino kids get suspended. we're working hard to reduce the numbers. our schools have risen to the occasion. our new code of conduct can reflect the values and principles that we have to make sure kids stay in school, gives our principal discretion but makes sure our schools are safe and secure environments. it's great stuff. >> all the exciting change you've got coming up. -- changes you've got coming up. there was distraction among school board members about the overuse of credit cards. there's going to be a change there. government credit cards. your thoughts on that, and does that change the way administrators change their credit cards? you included. >> it's caused us to take a hard look at our procedures. we have a continuous improvement ethos in montgomery county. me and my staff have given up our credit card as the board has. the board did all the right things. some mistakes were made. they cleaned it up quickly, cleaned it up aggressively. the state prosecutor said there was no criminal conduct

whatsoever. so we've said -- it it was an unfortunate event, but we think we're on the right path going forward. we're very clean going forward. >> talk a little about community engagement. that's important to you and your administration. >> that's right. it really is is. you know, we know we have to work closely with our families to make sure they have what they need. and that includes working with our social service sector, we're doing a lot of great work there. we're doing about 30 to 40 family markets, we did a backpack campaign, about 1 0 -- $170,000 was raised. i so much appreciate the support is the of our community. you know -- support of the community. you know, we only have kids 6.5 hours a day. food and security and housing are two of the biggest issues families have. we can't do anything about that. we can partner with agencies to help our kids and help our families. we're doing a lot of that. we're launching new community engagement teams. so we're really trying to go deep in family engagement because we know it's a critical link for student success. >> the dropout rate the past three years has fallen in

montgomery county. and some of that is due to this program that you've got helping montgomery families initiatives. that's working with people in the d.a.'s office, too, and keeping people off the streets, out of crime, in school longer. >> we've always had a small drop outrate. it has decreased. about 5%, 6%, this last year. it's really about getting to know every individual child. you know, knowing every individual child, getting them what they need to stay in school. when i talked to principals about how they increased graduation rates, they say it's about knowy every kid. name names, know them, get them what they need. we have the resources, we're aligning resources to make sure it happens, and we're starting to see that be reflected in the numbers. >> parents listening out there, it's certainly more and more -- every year it seems, more competive to get into the college you want or any college for that matter. what do you tell them? how do you prepare your kid -- it seems to start earlier and earlier. >> yeah. it's so important when parns are

looking at colleges -- parents are look at colleges with kids, try to tune out the noise. there's competition, but there's a college for everyone. you know, our career counselors, our counselors, guidance counselors are fabulous. they know so much. people sometimes get caught up in the name brand colleges. those are great, you know. but there's the right college for you as a person. i always tell kids, it's your choice, right. your parents may be paying for it, well mother nature and more kids are taking out loans because it's gotten so expensive. but it's your choice. make sure it's one that's right for you. try to cancel out the noise and competition and fix on what's right for you. >> you mentioned a bit earlier, dr. starr, we've got a little time left, about employers wanting someone with a good work ethic. you hear from different generations, this generation feels entitled. they don't have a strong work ethic. what do you see? how do you address it if does come up? >> i don't see that at all. our kids are so engaged, when i do town halls, our kids are smart. they're focused, they're

interested in the world. they is choices, and they know they have choices. that's why ever woo to -- we're trying to use technology to engage them in different ways. i see a lot of great kids that want to access the american dreams just like their parents and their grandparents. and we want to help them do that. >> dr. starr, a pleasure as always. thank you very much, and good luck in your fore. now back to "news4 today."

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calderon. developing right now, metro transit police are investigating how someone died at the shady grove metro station. someone found the man in the stairwell of the parking garage there. this is shortly after 2:00. take a look at some of the video we received into the newsroom. we got this about an hour ago. we're working right now to learn the man's name. stay with news 4 for updates throughout the morning. >> we'll be watching this throughout the day. wel t