The Council is considering expanding our quality after school program, Excel Beyond the Bell Elementary, to 240 new students in the highest poverty schools in Montgomery County. THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO HEAR FROM US that they need to support expanding the program to Gaithersburg and New Hampshire Estates Elementary Schools. Expansion means that next year 720 students in poverty will have an hour of additional academic learning, an hour of enrichment, and a hot dinner 5 days a week, in addition to parent engagement in the school.

The council is also poised to put an additional $6M for affordable housing into the budget, which would put it at the highest level it has ever been, but they again need to hear from us that this is a priority.