Montgomery County Public Schools is considering major changes to Open Lunch that could impact students as early as the 2026–27 school year.

At the May 13, 2026 Policy Management Committee meeting, Board members discussed accelerating the timeline for changes and shortening the normal public comment period before the community has had adequate opportunity to review and respond.

This issue affects far more than whether students can leave campus during lunch.

At schools like Walter Johnson and others across MCPS, the current lunch structure supports:
• clubs and student activities
• academic support and makeup work
• teacher collaboration and planning
• student leadership opportunities
• and the overall structure of the school day

Even families with mixed views on open lunch deserve a transparent process with proper notice, meaningful community engagement, and adequate time for public input before major changes are considered.

We are asking the Montgomery County Board of Education and Superintendent Thomas Taylor to:

• Maintain the standard public comment timeline
• Provide clear countywide communication regarding proposed changes
• Conduct additional community engagement before taking action
• Delay any vote on rescinding or suspending Policy JEF until families, students, and staff have had a fair opportunity to participate in the discussion

Major policy changes affecting thousands of students and families should not be rushed through during the end of the school year and summer months when many community members may be unaware of the proposal.

Transparency, public trust, and meaningful engagement matter.

Please sign and share this petition.