On 5/21/26, MCPS proposed cutting 20 school psychologist positions as part of their proposed budget, which is 15% of the Department of Psychological Services. The proposed cuts came at the last minute and were not part of the initial round of proposed staffing eliminations. 

Why Now?

February 19, 2026 - The MCPS Board of Education tentatively adopted the FY27 Operating Budget with no cuts to school psychologist positions.

May 12, 2026 - MCPS shares possible cuts by “Tranche” with the County Council and community.  Only 2 resource school psychologist positions are recommended to be cut.

May 21, 2026 (11:20am) - MCPS informs MCPS school psychologists that 18 additional school psychologist positions (for a total of 20 school psychologist positions) are on its final recommendation of cuts (see the end of the list) to the Board of Education.

May 21, 2026 (3:30pm) - The MCPS Board of Education meets to discuss the Superintendent’s final recommendation for cuts.  School psychologist positions are not listed on the slides but are briefly mentioned in the presentation.  The Superintendent said service disruptions will happen.

School psychologists provide a wide range of services in school. Among the most crucial and unique services provided are psychological evaluations. There are 135.5 school psychologist positions in MCPS and over 4,000 psychological evaluations have been completed this school year alone. These evaluations are legally mandated by state and federal laws to identify students with disabilities and to help them access special education services and Section 504 accommodations in school. These evaluations also help students access services outside of public education, such as DDA and Autism Waiver. School psychologists are the only  MCPS employees qualified and authorized to complete cognitive, social/emotional/behavioral, and adaptive assessments as part of the legally-mandated special education identification process. 

Currently, 80% of school psychologists serve multiple schools in MCPS. A reduced staff of school psychologists will not be able to manage over 4,000 evaluations while maintaining the high standard of care and promptness Montgomery County children have a right to. Delays in completing assessments will result in delays in student eligibility and services. Legal compliance challenges that result from delayed identification and services will cost MCPS more money due to increased compensatory services, due process and litigation fees, independent educational evaluations, and required audits and professional development as a result of MSDE complaints. 

Your signature on this petition shows that you stand with our students and school psychologists in MCPS and demand that the Board of Education:

• Keep 135.5 school psychologist positions in MCPS for next school year.
• Reduce, delay, or cut non-staff costs, such as vendor contracts, non-essential programs, or expansions of existing programs.
• Delay adding new positions in other areas of the Operating Budget. This has the added benefit of reducing severance costs.