<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4GyASl_0viJBCMw00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4GyASl_0viJBCMw00" width="1320" height="743" >ROCKVILLE, Md. (7News) — 7News recently examined the new Hate-Bias Incident Response Procedures implemented by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).These procedures utilize a “tiered” system, categorizing the most severe incidents, such as vandalism and physical assaults, as “level red.”In such cases, school employees are directed to contact the police immediately.“I think that it is great that they’ve implemented it," MCPS parent Binnish Mustafa told 7News.We reviewed the Montgomery County Police Department’s 2023 Annual Report on Bias Incidents and discovered a nearly 200% increase from the previous year.Of the 464 bias incidents reported in 2023, 61% (or 284 incidents) were school-related.Vandalism and graffiti made up 64% of these incidents, with most cases motivated by religion and race.The MCPD attributes this dramatic rise in bias incidents to changes in reporting procedures by Montgomery County Public Schools.In 2023, the system began reporting all hate-bias incidents, regardless of whether a criminal offense was committed.On September 24, we asked MCPS parents for their thoughts on the new system.“Not every student feels confident enough to do the reporting and especially Pro-Palestinian students. We need to create an inclusive community where everybody feels safe,” Mustafa said.Tiffany Kelly is a parent who serves as Co-Chair of the Black cohort of the county’s Anti-Hate Task Force.“One of the things that I see that is missing is the outcome measures. How do we know that this initiative is successful?” asked Kelly.MCPS replied: "This effort is the result of over a year of input from diverse stakeholders including community advocates, students, parents and internal teams. The plan is to share details and guidance by the end of September."</div></body>

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Parents concerned over guidance regarding hate-bias acts involving Montgomery Co. students

ROCKVILLE, Md. (7News) — 7News recently examined the new Hate-Bias Incident Response Procedures implemented by Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). These procedures utilize a “tiered” system, categorizing the most severe incidents, such as vandalism and physical assaults, as “level red.”. In such cases, school employees are...