MCPS Student Journalists Push Back Against Memo They Say Threatens Press Freedom

Student journalists from across Montgomery County Public Schools are challenging a March memo that they say could restrict student press freedom and give school administrators broad authority to review and potentially block student reporting before publication.

Student Journalists From All 25 MCPS High Schools Send Open Letter

According to a press release shared by student journalists, 154 student journalists and 8 teacher advisers signed onto the effort, for 162 total signatures representing all 25 MCPS high schools. In total, 20 student newspapers signed on.

The open letter, sent to district leadership on Friday, June 12, demands answers and calls for the district to withdraw the memo. A coalition of journalism teachers also planned to send its own letter raising concerns about the policy.

The students argue that the memo requires school administrators to review every student publication and school-related printed material before publication, while failing to clearly align with Maryland’s New Voices student press law. Critics say the memo does not provide clear standards, timelines, appeal rights, or safeguards for student journalists.

“The March memo raises serious legal concerns because, as written, it appears to impose broad prior review without clear standards, timelines, appeal rights, or safeguards required to protect student journalists under Maryland law,” the students wrote in their letter to MCPS.

Concerns Raised Under Maryland’s New Voices Student Press Law

The issue has drawn support from free speech and student journalism organizations, including the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the Student Press Law Center. The Student Press Law Center has also raised concerns about whether the memo conflicts with Maryland’s student press protections.

Student journalists say they are asking MCPS to return to the previous Board-approved regulation governing student publications, which they say only allows prior restraint under the narrower grounds outlined in Maryland law.

“Student journalists are the only reporters inside the school buildings, and often the only ones who care enough to cover the local school policies that impact thousands of students and families,” said Ian Chen, a sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School and features editor of The Tide.

MCPS Memo Criticized for Broad Administrator Review Power

The concerns center not only on prior review, but also on language in the memo that students and advocates say could be interpreted broadly. According to the press release, the memo includes categories such as “ridicule of individuals or groups,” “embarrassing or private moments,” and “sarcasm or teasing that could be interpreted as bullying” as content administrators are instructed to censor.

Student journalists argue that those terms are too subjective and could apply to ordinary opinion writing, criticism, or coverage of school leadership and district decisions.

“A student using his opinion column to harass and spread unfounded gossip about the class president is very different from a student writing a sharp critique of a speech given by a Board of Education member — yet both could be considered ‘ridicule of individuals or groups,’” the student journalists wrote in their letter.

Public Petition Calls on MCPS to Stop Censoring Student Journalists

A public petition has also been launched calling on MCPS to stop censoring student journalists. As of 11 p.m. on June 16, 2026, the petition had 559 signatures.

The petition can be found here: https://www.change.org/p/stop-mcps-from-censoring-student-journalists-fd94e230-b95c-440d-917b-76596895e941

Continuous updates on the students’ effort are also being published by The RM Tide, Richard Montgomery High School’s student newspaper, here: https://thermtide.com/29089/news/an-open-letter-to-mcps/

Why Student Press Freedom Matters in Montgomery County

The dispute comes as student newspapers remain some of the only outlets regularly covering school-level issues from inside MCPS buildings. Supporters of the students say administrator control over publication decisions risks turning student newspapers into public relations tools rather than independent student journalism.

“This new policy is egregious. With administrators editing stories, these critically-important student newspapers are nothing more than public relations tools for MCPS,” said James Libresco, a board member of the Student Press Law Center.

MCPS serves more than 156,000 students, making the dispute significant not just for student journalists, but also for families and community members who rely on student reporting for coverage of school policies, student life, and district decisions.

Moderately MOCO Supports Student Journalists and a Free Press

Moderately MOCO supports the student journalists, journalism advisers, and press freedom advocates calling on MCPS to withdraw the memo and reaffirm student press protections.

Student journalism plays an important role in Montgomery County. These students are often the closest reporters to the issues affecting their classmates, schools, and communities. Their work should be subject to responsible journalistic standards, but it should not be reduced to administrative approval or public relations review.

A free student press helps students learn accountability, civic participation, and responsible reporting. It also helps families and the broader community better understand what is happening inside one of the largest school systems in the country.

---

---