Lucy Liuxuan Zhang: Testimony at the Board of Education: Oct. 16, 2025

My name is Lucy Liuxuan Zhang.  I am here to express my deep concerns about the planned regional model for MCPS’ secondary programs.  The proposed model will decrease equitable access to magnet programs rather than increase it, as MCPS claims. 

Try an exercise. Suppose you have a child who excels in STEM like we do, and ask yourself which region you would rather live in: Region 1, where that child will be able to apply to the nationally recognized Blair magnet with experienced and well-loved teachers; or Region 3, where your child would only have access to a new STEM program put together in a rush?  I think the answer is clear.  That’s not equity.  Students in 3 of the 6 regions will still be able to apply to established strong programs, and students in the other 3 regions will only be able to apply to new programs and existing struggling programs.  That’s not equity. 

At the county council meeting last week, MCPS shockingly admitted that they don’t really know how to measure equity or understand the causes of inequity in public magnet school access.  How can they address inequity if they don’t even know all the factors that contribute to it? 

If MCPS wants to actually improve equity and access, they should do it right.  Start by understanding which areas are currently underserved and what their needs are.  Determine what goes into a great program.  Focus on establishing new great programs in the underserved areas and give them the time, the resources and the proper attention to actually succeed. 

Please keep the existing top magnet programs countywide since they have worked so well!  Please don’t create a system-wide regional model with lots of new programs and no viable plan to make them excel!  These changes will hurt equity, and do not direct our county’s resources to where they are needed the most. Thank you.